my algea-ridden, but filter free tank... need some advice.

GabrielT · 09-09-2006, 11:53 AM

i've got a 5 gallon tank (I'd like a bigger one, but i'm leaving for college in a year or two, so i won't have anywhere to put it), one of those plastic, hex shaped ones. I have two red eye tetras and a betta in it, they all get along well. When you look at my tank though, you can barely see into it. the walls are coated with algea, thick green stuff that's starting to form web-looking growth in one top corner, reddish stuff that grows in roundish patches here and there. However, when you look down into the water it is crystal clear. I haven't run my filter for more than a few days in welll over 4 or 5 months. I don't really mind the algea, but i was wondering what the deal is. Is all of the algea the reason my tank is so clean without a filter? (I have a bubbler thing running to keep the water oxygenated, don't worry) I wouldn't mind cleaning some of the stuff out, but i don't want to scrub it away or risk using chemicals, everthing is so balanced. I'm wondering what the best option would be to get rid of some of it? i've tried snails, i bought a total of four, on two seperate occasions, but they've all died. Maybe a catfish orsomething? and would live plants be benefcial to my tank? thanks a lot.

ahill3780 · 09-09-2006, 01:11 PM

Welcome to FishTankForums Gabriel!

Here is what jumps out at me in your post:

5 Gallon tank.
2 Red Eye Tetras and a Betta.
Don't run filter for more than a few days in well over 4 or 5 months.
Added 4 snails on 2 different occasions and all have died.

What I don't see listed here:

Nitrate level of tank.
Ammonia, Nitrite levels of the tank.
Feeding habbit.
Lighting used (how much, what type?).
Water Change frequency.
What type of filter do you have?

You have a very small tank volume to house three fish in. If you feed them even once every day then you are polluting the water very quickly. If you are not changing your water out then that waste has nowhere to go and it sits in the tank.

An environment that has little to no water movement, with lights on more then 5 hours each day, with plenty of excess nutrients is the ideal place for algae to grow. This is what I believe is the problem with your setup. Although I cannot say for sure without the missing information above.

Here are a few things you can do to rid the tank of the algae:

Start doing water changes every 2-3 days if you feed the tank once or more each day. Once a week if you feed them every other day.
Run your filter every day using bio-media to promote beneficial bacterial colonization in your tank. Drop a mesh-net bag of bio-media in the tank if it doesn't fit in the filter.
Use lights closer to the 10,000K spectrum or below rather than anything heavy with the blue spectrum.
Vacuum out any debris (waste, uneaten food, scraped off algae) off the bottom of the tank as often as you change the water out. I would suggest every third day at the least.
Start testing your water and keeping a chart of your results. This will clue you in when things start to change and will warn you of impending algae breakouts as well as fish health risks.
Don't add any more livestock to your tank. No catfish, no snails, no fish. You are stocked to the limit of your 5 gallon as it is.
Come back to us with any questions or concerns. We are here to help you out any way we can.

That about breaks it down from my perspective. Try these suggestions out and I am confident you will see an end to the algae.

HTH,
Aaron

Jay · 09-10-2006, 06:28 AM

Algae is a single cell chlorophyll owning, photosynthesing entity. You have a healthy algae farm which is happily keeping your water clear and sucking up all the nutrients you are providing.

Plus..I am assuming from your description that it is growing on the glass, which means you have a mixed colony of algae and protozoa feeding on your tank water.

Your bio filter (the nitrifying bacteria which eat ammonia and nitrites) abound in the tank, are probably part of the algae/protozoa colony and seem to be functioning well.

Sounds like you have achieved the same balance of healthy Plants/Clear water that exist in a planted tank except you are substituting algae for plants.

I'm frankly surprised that you have not attracted some of the really nasty algae out there.

You could use a credit card and scrape off one panel of your hex and then filter and water change out the floating debris. It will grow right back, probably start within a few hours.

OR

You can get rid of all the algae and make some changes to your maintenance routine to keep it away. Getting rid of the algae is easy.

Let us know which way you want to go.

Regards,
Jay

GabrielT · 09-10-2006, 07:32 AM

well i scraped away a couple of the front walls somewhat so i have a decent view in. I've also started running the filter, and i'm going to put in some Java Moss and Java Fern, i've heard they're easy to grow and are beneficial to a tank. thanks Jay, from a couple other forums people had me thinking my fish were about die @______@

Jay · 09-10-2006, 10:39 AM

I would still be curious about you tank parameters.

pH KH GH Nitrates etc.

The fish might adapt to high nitrates, but it can kill snails.

You may need to break down and change the water more frequently.

Regards,
Jay

GabrielT · 09-11-2006, 03:49 PM

i'll try to get a water test as soon as I can, and i'll let you guys know the results. I barely have time to sleep lately though... :'( cross country, junior year of HS in honors classes, so i've got loads of HW, plus I don't drive yet. but i'll post them ASAP when i get a test done. thanks for all the help.