Aquatic Plant Central - View Single Post - removal of algae of plants w/o killing plants

Zapins · 06-27-2009, 07:14 PM

You will never be able to have a tank that is 100% free of algae. Even if you dip and bleach everything in a new tank, algae spores float in on the wind and will grow. Algae really only grows when conditions are correct for it.

When a soil tank is set up a lot of nutrients are released into the water column, so try doing several very large water changes to reduce the nutrient concentrations and just wait it out. Sometimes there will be a 1-2 month algae period, and sometimes there will be no algae at all. Soil is a great way to go, but usually there is algae (horrible algae) in the beginning that subsides and goes away for good after the break in period.

Don't break down your tank just yet or you will have to go through the break in period all over again. Let us know some details about your tank and I'm sure we can help you shorten the amount of time the algae persists.

06-27-2009, 07:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
Zapins Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: CT, Connecticut Posts: 2,561 iTrader Ratings: 49 iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 97720	Re: removal of algae of plants w/o killing plants You will never be able to have a tank that is 100% free of algae. Even if you dip and bleach everything in a new tank, algae spores float in on the wind and will grow. Algae really only grows when conditions are correct for it. When a soil tank is set up a lot of nutrients are released into the water column, so try doing several very large water changes to reduce the nutrient concentrations and just wait it out. Sometimes there will be a 1-2 month algae period, and sometimes there will be no algae at all. Soil is a great way to go, but usually there is algae (horrible algae) in the beginning that subsides and goes away for good after the break in period. Don't break down your tank just yet or you will have to go through the break in period all over again. Let us know some details about your tank and I'm sure we can help you shorten the amount of time the algae persists.