algae

Question
I have a 35 gallon tank with a canister filter.    I have 2 Bala Sharks about 5 1/2 inches from nose to tail (they were less than 2 inches when I bought them about 1 year ago)  1 smaller something and a large snail.  The water tests within normal range but there is a fair amount of long strings a algae.  The tank gets almost no direct light.  I do not understand the long strings.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.  Paula

Answer
Hi Paula,

Algae cannot form without waste to live on.  Light is a feeder, but so is waste.  Water tests are "okay" but when you take out the water and put some in a white bowl, what color is it?  Is it crystal clear?  If so, you are okay.  If it's yellowish, then that is what the algae is living on.

Canister filters work great, if used correctly.  Unfortunately, most pet stores (even manufacturers) claim they can be cleaned every 3 months, when in fact, if they are not thoroughly cleaned monthly, and the media changed every month, they become what is called a "nitrate factory".

Canister filters work by filtering out waste and by breaking it down biologically by good, beneficial, bacteria forming, which dissolves the waste, running water over various media to clean it and then returning it back to the tank.

The problem is that after 3 months, the waste gets too much for it to break down, so it returns it to the tank.  It's a bit cleaner then when it went in, but it is waste, just the same.

That water is not clean after a month - 6 weeks and by then, owners start noticing slower fish, or algae forming, or fish at the top of the water.

My advice:

To get rid of algae:

1. Never use an anti-algae product.  It makes the algae worse, down the line.  It cures the immediate issue, but not the problem at hand.  I compare it to using nailpolish on a stocking run.  You know the real issue is going to break loose, eventually and the nail polish is a temporary cure, rather than getting new hosiery and fixing the problem at hand. :)

2. If you feed fish enough food that it hits the bottom of the tank, they are overfed.  They need only enough to eat in 1 to 2 minutes.  Once daily.

3. Water changes are necessary for freshwater aquariums.  10% every other week.

4. Remove all algae in the water now.  Clean gravel and do a 50% water change.  Don't add chemicals, if you can avoid it.

5. Increase flow.  Long strings form on areas of flow, and they can't form if the flow is high enough.

Additionally: If you have the lights on more than 8 hours a day, cut back.  That will help.

Algae cannot live without food.  It is a symbiotic plant, living on waste in water and sunlight combined.

Remove the food, lower the light, and the algae disappears.

:)

Paula, certainly email me back if it doesn't and I will do my best to help.  I truly enjoy helping.  

Algae can be frustrating, but once you beat it, you will know how to beat it from now forward.  

Have a great night and happy fish-keeping!

Renee