Algae Destruction 101

mikellini · 10-15-2006, 12:25 AM

I hate algae. With a passion. And my tank was infested with purple slimy thick gunk. So, being a FO tank, I cut the lights. One day, the algae stopped to spread, two days the algae was nearly gone. The third day, I added the light and it began to grow back within hours. So, I shut the lights off again. I did a water change with a bit higher salinity to bring it up to 1.024 from 1.023. Is this high enough? Also, I know I should be doing changes more often.....

So, the tank has been without light for an additional two days, the algae seems to be mostly gone. How long is it OK for the fish to live with only ambient light? Is this harming them, or my hermit crabs, or snails? I discovered one dead snail today (being munched on by two crabs), but I think it was pretty big and old (not sure of the lifespan), and maybe the crabs were hungry with the absence of green algae. When should I turn the lights on? Any other suggestions? How about trying to raise the salinity again?

Mike

Raggamuffin · 10-15-2006, 01:12 AM

the purple thick slimy gunk is more then likely Cyno Bacteria, it reacts like algea but it isn't. My battle with it was easily won, cut your light cycle down your animals need it too so it can't be totally absent. I went with an 8 hour lights on cycle, the other thing is high nutrients in the water, small water changes and lots of them. I was doing 2-3 10-20% changes a week. Most important when syphoning the tank suck up all the gunk ya can and export the nutrients...it's in the gunk.

This is a bit of work I must admit but it's the safest way to get it all out I have found and only took a few weeks. After the battle was won I never had a problem again... mostly because I lowered the ammounts I fed my fishes when I remembered all the work I would have to do all over again if I didn't

gwen_o_lyn · 10-15-2006, 11:11 AM

What kind of lights do you have?

Do you use RODI?

mikellini · 10-15-2006, 02:00 PM

i have 65 watt PC lights. I use bottled water that is purified with Reverse Osmosis, then a UV light. I also have a smaller in-tank UV sterilizer.

gwen_o_lyn · 10-15-2006, 07:37 PM

Are the bulbs due for changing?