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I would go to the pet store and get about 15 to twenty small snails that they gave me free. They cleaned up the algae and the fish would eat the snails too.I have two 10 gallon tanks, a 20, and a 29. I mainly have shrimp and guppies. I'm curious if anyone on here has any tips about getting rid of algae growth? Three of my tanks have bad algae problems.
I’m closing up shop soon. Already took the 10 gallon tank down and gave away one the betta males.
I’m closing up shop soon. Already took the 10 gallon tank down and gave away one the betta males.
I try to do water changes every week. What is confusing about it is that the three tanks with problems have barely any fish in them. The 29 has a couple guppies and a tetra (I'm planning to get it a school soon), the 20 has around 5 guppies, and the 10 has a couple red cherry shrimp. I rarely turn on the lights for two of the tanks, and the third one only gets 5 hours of light. I think part of the problem is that the tanks are by windows. I'm pretty sure it's not overfeeding, since the shrimp don't get fed at all.Algae is generally from too much light or too much pollution. Either over feeding, or not doing regular water changes to remove the nitrates.
I have a lot of pest snails.I would go to the pet store and get about 15 to twenty small snails that they gave me free. They cleaned up the algae and the fish would eat the snails too.
Sunlight will feed algae. Have you run any tests for nitrate levels? Sometimes you get some readings coming right out of the tap too which isn't good. Also having algae can lower the readings, so it isn't always an accurate reading.I try to do water changes every week. What is confusing about it is that the three tanks with problems have barely any fish in them. The 29 has a couple guppies and a tetra (I'm planning to get it a school soon), the 20 has around 5 guppies, and the 10 has a couple red cherry shrimp. I rarely turn on the lights for two of the tanks, and the third one only gets 5 hours of light. I think part of the problem is that the tanks are by windows. I'm pretty sure it's not overfeeding, since the shrimp don't get fed at all.
I have a lot of pest snails.![]()
I didn't think about the possible nitrate levels in my tap water. I have live plants (which is why I don't completely blackout my tanks). I actually have a couple uv filters that I got for an unrelated problem..Sunlight will feed algae. Have you run any tests for nitrate levels? Sometimes you get some readings coming right out of the tap too which isn't good. Also having algae can lower the readings, so it isn't always an accurate reading.
Moving the tanks away from direct sunlight may help, or adding some live plants. Regular filter cleaning and maintenance can help too. I know in saltwater systems they use an ultra violet filter to kill algae. I'm not sure if they are applicable in freshwater or not.
This kinda covers most of what I said, but is a bit more informative.
https://www.liveaquaria.com/article/6/?aid=6