Still fighting algae

[blue fin]

Well, the battle is still on... I though I'd won but the algae is coming back, after two weeks with my Eheim the water was looking very good, I have filter floss in my Aquaclear and I knew it was time to change it out but I've been waiting for the Eheim to build up some good bacteria before dismantling the Aquaclear to clean it out. Tonight I came home to cloudier water than I've seen in a week and a light green haze on the rocks and fixtures in my tank...
This is very frustrating....!!! I pulled the filter out of the tank and rinsed the filter pieces in tank water and replaced the filter floss..also cleaning all of the algae out of the tank reservoir. I hope I get the upper hand one of these days... almost worth getting rid of all of the substrate and bleaching everything else and starting over.....

[jeffs99dime]

how long do you leave your lights on?

[blue fin]

Since I have been fighting this issue the lights stay off until I come home at 6 and go off by around 11, I open the curtains but the tank is still reasonably dark during the day.

[jeffs99dime]

does sunlight directly hit your tank at all?

[blue fin]

No...nice thought though....

[jeffs99dime]

how often do you do water changes and clean the substrate thoroughly? have you ever tested your phosphate levels?

[blue fin]

I do a minimum of a 30% water change weekly, usually cleaning 40-50% of the substrate, last week I skipped this step because I want to make sure the Eheim has a good chance of establishing some beneficial bacteria, tonight I will be vacuuming and doing a BIG water change... 40-50%... I need to jump right back on this issue....

[jeffs99dime]

let us know how it works out for you! good luck!

[blue fin]

Will do Jeff, thanks...

[blue fin]

Jeff;

I did a thorough vacuuming and about 45% water change... my Nitrate was up to 10ppm and what a difference, problem not solved but the water change alone made it look much better....

[Nautilus291]

thats good to here.

I had brown algae in my 10g tank I bought one .5 inch long oto cat and in 2 days he had the whole tank cleared up. I couldnt believe it, I had algae all over the walls and my plants and decor and it only took him 2 days.

[jeffs99dime]

thats good to here.

I had brown algae in my 10g tank I bought one .5 inch long oto cat and in 2 days he had the whole tank cleared up. I couldnt believe it, I had algae all over the walls and my plants and decor and it only took him 2 days.

see. ottos are great algae eaters!

[jeffs99dime]

Jeff;

I did a thorough vacuuming and about 45% water change... my Nitrate was up to 10ppm and what a difference, problem not solved but the water change alone made it look much better....

very good! glad to hear it's better

[blue fin]

I almost wish my issue was regular algae.... my upside down cat and pleco would be giving it a real workout... but it's an algae bloom, The filter floss is the only thing fine enough to collect it in the filter I suppose I will need to continue the battle as long as I have this tank.

[blue fin]

Jeff; you asked how my Phosporous levels were, I purchased a new test kit today and they are 1.0 ppm..