Algea?

[YaYgoldFish]

So i noticed that i ALWAYS have this green-brown algea that grows on my glass. I scrub it off at night turn off the lights. In the morning it looks alright, i turn the light oon at 10 and go to work. I get back from work at about 9 at night i see it fully grew again! Even if the light is turned on from 10hours, to 5 hours a day, it still happens. I was thinking, maybe it's still cycling? I know or think i had finished cycling the tank, but im not sure anymore. My amoniac is at 0, my ph is at 7 and my nitrates and nitrites arent tested yet. I'm going to a lfs to buy one of the kits. Could this be caused by my lighting? It's a 20 watt 18inch (came with the tank, i think its a fluorescent lighbulb) or because of nitrates or nitrites? More info on the tank is in my sig..And if it mathers i do about 20% water changes weekly.

[gm72]

If you haven't tested nitrItes or nitrAtes yet there is no way to tell if it is cycled.

The algae you are describing sounds like it is being triggered by high nitrAtes.

20% weekly water changes are not enough for your stocking. You really should step up to at least 40% water changes to clear out the nitrAtes.

Let us know what your water parameters are after you have tested. BTW, make sure you get a liquid test kit and not those crappy strips! The strips are no where near as accurate.

[YaYgoldFish]

yeah i will..thanks for your info. And yes i definitly use liquid...

[zackish]

API Master Test Kit....the way to go man!

[salman]

Get yourself alot of plecos, depending on the size of your tank. And they will eat all the algae on the glass.

[gm72]

Well just remember though that plecos become less and less interested in eating algae off the glass as they get older. Not to mention that common plecos will grow well over a foot long.

A healthy tank shouldn't have any algae problems though to begin with.

[marek313]

Most of the time algae is caused by nutrient imbalance. CO2 plays a big part in algae outbreaks and it always helps. Here is a link that might help:

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