Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, so I followed that advice about vinegar and cleaning the tank...soaking the rocks yadda yadda yadda, I do ALL this Saturday, and today..we are algae every where again!
Please help!
PS:
I reduced the amount of time the lights are on.

Just curious what kind of filter do you use? Make sure there's constant water movement, I've found that that seriously helps preventing algae growth. I use a Aquaclear 500 and it moves the water a lot!

while i am the first one to sing the praises of the aquaclear filters as i have several of them, and while i DO agree that water movement reduces algal build up there is really only one way to stop a serious algae problem. That is to break down the tank and wash or throw away everything in it and bleach all cleanable parts including the filter and rinse like crazy. If even a little algae is left from your cleanings and there are sufficient nitrates and light present, it will come back. Those algae away solutions don't work very well. Nor does more partial water changes. But if you do a major tank overhaul, make sure you RINSE very very well before putting back turtle or tank decorations. Afterward try to keep the nitrates down by changing the water more often.

I haven't had much of a problem lately.

I had the bottom covered w/ the small pebbles and part of them turned completely green on 1/2 of the tank.

I only have a few pebbles now (I can vacuum easily), I changed my filter (I had a low end sponge filter that wasn't doing anything), got a pleco and a mystery black snail. They both eat the algae and as long as I keep the bottom of the tank vacuumed once a week and make a partial water change, the water has been clean.

Christi

don't forget to feed the pleco. Its unlikely that it will survive on a small amount of algae alone. Plus, as they are slow, turtles sometimes eat them

Or just get a powerful filter that moves the water a lot and algae shouldn't be a problem. Even if it is just get one of those skinny brushes (used to clean tubes and filters) and just get rid of it that way. Then just take do a water change

I don't understand what the big deal is about algae. I haven't done anything special to my tanks and I hardly notice it. Sometimes it gets over the rocks and stuff but it's no big deal. I just let it sit there and build up because I'm lazy. My water is crystal clean so I figure a rock isn't going to hurt them. I mean seriously in the wild, is there no algae? Of course there is.. tons of it, no one cleans it

Don't waste too much money on stuff to "get rid" of algae because it's impossible. Just limit it to : you can't see it (just on the rocks and hidden areas), and the algae doesn't turn black. When it turns black usually you'll need to take it out and wash it

I do have a low end filter, being that they are so small, hatchlings and all, I though that would be ok.
I clean the tank every two weeks, and it is really only the side where the basking lamb is.
I will try the better filter, and SCRUBBING everything.
I think that it more annoys me than anything...doesnt look so great. Water is still clear though...

I have lots of aquatic plants in my tank. I dont know if that helps or not, but it seems that since ive started with the plants, ive never had algae again. I guess the plants compete with the algae for nitrates or something. I just buy clumps of free floating plants from a nearby nursery that sells water garden stuff. Heres a decent pic of what they look like.

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I had a very simiar problem a few months ago. It was free floating algea, not the kind that attaches to the glass. I bleached the entire tank, and 2 weeks later it all came back. I have an Aqua Clear 500 filter. The second time I changed the filter cartridge and sponge, jsut rinsing the new ones. I have not had a problem since. I think the reason it cam back was that bleaching the filter sponge killed the good bacteria in it. Since then I have never bleached the filter sponge or carbon. Just replace them. I hope this works for you too. Also do not let the tank be exposed to direct sunlight!