Please help.. quick. black algae

[tiffsplaties88]

ok so my tank has slowly been overpowered with black algae and right now i'm trying to clean it. any advise to naturally getting rid of it??!?!?

[Fishguy54]

Yes add 3 siamese algae eaters.

[emc7]

not to that size tank. Mine outgrew a 55.

[GoodMike]

again....find myself posting to correct bad information.

It is best to learn something about the tank first. What is in it? how much light? how long is the light on for? what is the nitrate reading of the tank? how often do to you waterchanges? how often do you feed?

is the black algae tough and furry? or is it more slimy?

[tiffsplaties88]

ok so the tank is a 29 as the signature says. and the light is on probably a little longer than is should be a day b/c my husband and i work weird schedules. what would u recommend for the tank to be at? the levels are good i do believe but i'll check them again. but um. i do water changes once a week. usually about 20% or less and i feed teh fish 2x a day. the algae is more of a slimey kind. i have a breeder net in the tank and i took it out today and realized that it was solid black on one side that is how bad it was getting even though i cleaned the net probably two weeks ago. the algae isn't too bad on the glass mostly just the plants and items closer to the light.

[tiffsplaties88]

ok the nitrates are definately at zero which is what i thought it is a pretty well established tank.

[GoodMike]

u sure about that? an established tank will have nitrates. should have no nitrites or ammonia.

[Fishguy54]

Siamese algae eaters will eat that slimy dark algae. Again I would get 3 of them. They will be about 1 to 1 1/2 inch long at the LFS. If you only get 2 usually one will harass the other one. You don't see that as much if you have 3. If they get to be around 4 inches and they seem to be out growing the tank like EMC7 suggested they might just trade them in at your lfs for 3 small ones again I think that would be your best bet at getting that algae under control naturally.

[COM]

Originally Posted by GoodMike

u sure about that? an established tank will have nitrates. should have no nitrites or ammonia.

Unless you have tons of plants. I have a 29 gallon filled with Cabomba and the nitrates read zero all the time.

In this tank, the photos make me think that those plants are plastic.

As for the solution to your algae problem, I think that your own postings identify the issue. You have most algae near the light source. That makes me think the solution is altering the lighting. You can:
a- figure out the exact wavelength of light that causes black algae to thrive (very difficult) or
b- get a timer to control the light and limit it to maybe 8 hours per day or less until the algae gets under control, then go up to maybe 10 for a few months. (very easy)

[tiffsplaties88]

well the tank is over a year and a half old and the nitrates are at zero. it has a biowheel filter that is more powerful than the tank actually needs. so the reading is right it was with a drop test too not a strip and it was the lowest color on the scale. but thanks for the advice i'll try the timer

sorry i can't explain the reading but yes the tank is established ammonia and nitrite zero as well can't explain the other reading.. but yeah..

[COM]

Tiff- that's impossible. If that is what your test is reading, your test is wrong.

Fish produce waste (poop, exhalation, etc.). A major component of waste is ammonia. A bacterial colony will develop over time (or instantly if you transplant it). Some bacteria will eat ammonia and produce nitrite as a waste. Some more bacterial will eat nitrite and produce nitrate as a waste. As far as I know (and I've been at this for like 16 years now) nothing other than live plants will consume nitrate. There are some chemicals / rocks on the market now that will supposedly "absorb" nitrate, but they are rare.

[tiffsplaties88]

ok i understand it's not right but that's what the test said and i can't help it. so don't criticize me for it ok. i'm sorry my test kit said that we know they aren't always accurate i'm just telling u what it said.

[lohachata]

"that's impossible"........................famous last words...lol
anything is possible;but not a;ways probable...lol
after all murphy's law does not exist without reason..
in an extremely well established aquarium that gets regular water changes and is not overfed;it is possible to have readings at zero.just not likely.there is also a black algae that grows in "no light" situations..but this is not that kind.
i must agree that a timer should be used for the light.almost all of my lights are on timers..and if you only have plastic plants,you can cut it back to only 8 or so hours..
i don't know what is causing your algae problem.i know very little about things that i don't have any real life experience with.but i think that with all of the knowlegable people here;you will have an answer soon.

[tiffsplaties88]

thank you very much for that reasonable answer and i will try the lighting and i will get back to u guys on the results. and yes i do frequent water changes

[COM]

Tiff - no criticism intended. If you look, I said that your test is wrong, not you. I'm sure you are reporting exactly what you see and I know from your other posts that you're pretty up on your stuff.

[tiffsplaties88]

thank you i guess i misunderstood ur post.