bloom

[Outdoor101]

there's algae all over the glass and when i scrape it off it comes right back

trumpet snails seem to do the most damage to it but there's only one or two that came with some plants i got

and i dont want to many because they breed like rabbits

[siymdapolio]

Hey what tank is this??
how long is your lights on??
Have you added any nutrients other than tabs and fizz types?? like liquid ferts?

[doug z]

Hard to diagnose the problem without more info..

What's the lighting? How long are you leaving it on?

Where is the tank located? (near a window?)

Are you adding ferts? Which kind? How often?

How much are you feeding the fish?

Long long since you cleaned your filter?

Are you adding C02?

Do you have live plants in your tank?

Have you ever tried bristlenose plecos or otocinclus fish in any of your tanks?

[Outdoor101]

10 gal.

no ferts or anything

lights
ive got them set so that they come on for about an hour three or four times a day

it is by a window but the blinds are always closed

[doug z]

Ok, let us know about those other conditions I listed..

Plants in the tank?

Ever tried BN or otos?

What do you feeed your fish?

Filter cleaning?

PS

Sim I got your PM, but your box is full..

[Outdoor101]

yes to plants

explain BN and otos

no fish
9 or 10 baby prawn

they eat any decaying plants

[siymdapolio]

I would suggest a bristlenose! a 2 inch bristlenose so a youngin can keep upto 55 gallons tank free of algea and thing... They are great for algea and they will work hard! I have one in my tank and he is only 3 inches long but i have never seen algea in my tank since he has arrived...

Even though itsblinded some light be coming through but donno abiout that

[doug z]

Bristlenose plecos

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/fish/ancistrusdolichopterus.php

Otocinclus

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/fish/otocinclusaffinis.php

Both really good algae fighters..

But of course it's better to solve the cause of the problem than play keep-up..

So have you cleaned your filter, lately? How did you clean it? What kind of filter is it?

How often do you do water changes?

[siymdapolio]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Doug is so right, i did not have an algea problem before i got him either so this is a very good poin to take into consideration!

Well done doug! :thumb:

[Outdoor101]

its an HOB filter

i did a water change yesterday
i usually do one every two or three weeks

i cleaned the filter about a month ago
and i need some new cartridges

i htink i might get some trumpet snails from the fish place
and possibly a little clown loach to keep them in check

[doug z]

Hmmm..

How do you clean your filter?

In tank water I hope, and not TOO vigorously..

If you clean it under the tap, or try to get it too clean, you get rid of all the good bacteria that breakdown your ammonia and nitrite, and you end up with a mini cycle (ammonia spike, algae bloom)..

What percentage of water do you change?

[Outdoor101]

i clean it with tap water but that wouldn't be it because the bloom just happened and i cleaned it a month or two ago

30 to 40 percent water change
we finally got our R/O filter hooked up so thats what i put in to top off
and for water changes

[doug z]

May not be the cause, but from now on clean it in a bucket of tank water, ok?

I'm stumped..

Hopefully someone who knows more than I can figure out what happened..

[Outdoor101]

its very vaguely possible that the algae was with one of the plants i put in there

[doug z]

When did you add the plants?

Algae in an established tank, even if it comes in with a new plant, shouldn't be able to get a foothold..

[Outdoor101]

early februaury

[doug z]

You would have had a bloom before this if it was on a plant that you put in, I think..

Hopefully and algae/plant expert can chime in, here..

[Outdoor101]

where are cocoa and dave when you need them

[doug z]

PS we never discussed what you're feeding your shrimp, etc, and how often..