Algae Bloom

[23matt3]

This is not necessarily a newt problem but I have a 55 gallon planted tank for my cynops orentalis. Over the past week it seems that my tank has had an algae bloom. All my plants are covered in hair algae. and my glass has algae starting to grow on it. I usually scrape it off and I do about 20% water changes weekly. What would you recommend to control the algae? Snails? Otto Catfish? Some type of water solution like flourish?

 

[jewett]

Hey Matt,

Perhaps you've already read this but just in case: Caudata Culture Articles - Aquarium Invaders: Algae, Snails, Worms and Other Critters

The methods that have worked best for me in combating algae are to decrease the amount of light and stepping up water changes. Also, if you don't already have some, "greedy" plants like hornwort can help as they compete for nutrients that the algae also need.

In my experience snails have not helped much, though most of my aquariums have some anyway. And unless you would temporarily move the orientalis to another home to add the Oto catfish, I strongly recommend not adding the fish. Newts and otocinclus have such disparate needs as far as temperature and current that I think this would be a bad choice. Also, my otocinclus (that live in my zebra danio tank) seem to mostly eat the brown algae. I have never seen them eat the hairy stuff so they may not be effective in your situation. And newts and fish just are a bad combo in general

Best of luck! Algae can be such a pain but for the most part is just an aesthetic nuisance.

HJ

 

[23matt3]

Thanks for the link!

Haven't read it yet but will do now. It is just weird because my tnk has been fine until recently and now all my plants are covered in the hair algae, I even do water changes weekly, I run the light for 6 hours a day at the max. My aquarium is covered in plants and even have a few hornworts(Looks like a jungle in there lol)

 

[AuSu]

I read your other thread and wonder if it's due the sudden growth of fertilizer (poop)? If this is the tank where you earlier had only three newts and now 11. Well, this is just a guess. Many times I feel algaes are a great mysterium