algae growth in established tank

**2xtheman** · 01-31-2010, 06:30 PM

My tank (see profile below) has been up and established for over a year now. I recently bought some new fish and have changed how much food I give out during feeding time because of the extra mouths. I have also been turning the lights on earlier because of my work schedule change. I've been doing the lights for longer than I've had the new fish, and new feeding quantities.

Needless to say, there has been more than usual algae growth. Is the extra algae growth due to overfeeding? Would adding an extra hour or 2 of light a day be responsible?

I couldn't really tell if the algae slowly grew or if it just popped up in a couple of days. I just know that a lot of the leaves on my plants have started to grow algae on them and this is resulting in small holes in the plant leaves. I use flourish excel every weekend during water changes.

What do you think the problem is?

**gm72** · 01-31-2010, 06:32 PM

Is this just standard green algae growth?

How many hours per day is the lighting on?

**Algenco** · 01-31-2010, 07:12 PM

probably a combination of longer photoperiod and the increase in nutrients

**VoidParadigm** · 01-31-2010, 07:51 PM

Cut the lights down an hour, or feed a little less.

If that doesn't work, do both.

**2xtheman** · 01-31-2010, 10:17 PM

I'm pretty sure its normal green algae. My hair algae went away months ago after a good 10 days with no lighting.

I will start feeding a little less, but I don't have much of an option for the lights, as I am gone all day. I guess I just need to find a more suitable quantity of food for all the fish.

My main concern is that the algae is hurting the plants. not much of it shows up on the glass, just the ornaments and plants. All my stemmed plants only have leaves at the very top because algae has killed the older, lower leaves.

**Sarkazmo** · 01-31-2010, 11:06 PM

Put your lights on a timer.

Dose Excel daily, not weekly.

Yes the algae will eventually cause damage to the plants.

Sark

**2xtheman** · 02-01-2010, 10:37 PM

I have flourite substrate so I only dose the flourish every weekend. I let the plants get the rest of their nutrients from the tank.

Should I also remove the leaves with algae on them? I don't know if leaving them in the tank will help the algae spread. I don't really want to cut ALL the leaves off my plants, but maybe the ones which have the most algae on them?

**Kevin.W** · 02-05-2010, 11:41 PM

My buddy had the algae problem as well and he cut/trimmed his plants that had the algae growth and that seemed to help. Sarkazmo is right, get a timer for your light as too much light if it si the right type of bulb can cause increased algae growth... man I love this forum...some smart people here

**2xtheman** · 02-06-2010, 07:38 AM

I am leaving the lights on the same amount of time, but one of the two burnt out the other day so only 50% lighting intensity. That should help a bit, while still making the tank visible.

I also removed the leaves with the heaviest amount of algae on them.
Other leaves I scrubbed with a toothbrush, to try and get the algae off them, but the bristles must have been too stiff because I ripped a few of the leaves.

Also did 50% of a normal water change in the middle of the week to help vacuum up any extra food which could be providing nutrients for the algae.