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I have a 10 gallon hex tank with 1 male beta. Just recently Algae starting building up pretty fast. I scrubbe the glass and used a gravel vacuum and did a 50% water change. How ever I noticed some algae build up on some of the gravel on the bottom. Do I need to remove the gravel with build up??? If so what is an easy way? Also, would some type of bottom dweller help in the future ?

Mike,

It is more than likely a imbalance between light and
nutrients. 'Algae' is a very broad term, can you describe the
algae to us, since it will help us diagnose what the problem
is, and also tell you how to correct it. Even if you remove
all the algae in teh tank it is more than likely going to
return unless you find the balance. Also is this tank near a
window? Can you tell us what is in the tank? are there
plants, the type of fish.. What is you Water changing
schedule like? anyway you can run water tests and post teh
results for us?

Megil.

lets see, the algae is green. It appeared pretty quick. I think it may be from leaving the light on too much. I have been leaving it on for approx 17 hours per day.

1. the tank is not near a window

2. 1 male beta fish, and 3 fake plants are in the tank along with some gravel

3. I have been changing approx. 25% of the water every 2 weeks, I use a gravel vacuum when I do this. I also have to add some water every 3 or 4 days to the tank


I just did a strip test and here are the readings:

PH - 6.8
Nitrate - 0
Nitrite - 0
Total Hardness - 75
Total Alkalanity - 300 (this is high according to my chart)

17hours is way too long not just because of algae growth but for fish health. Fish need to sleep too. Lights should be on no more than 12hrs max and then it's only good to do so when you have a planted tank. You would be better off turning the lights on for 8hrs or less. Since you have no plants you can break up the lighting time and have them on some time in the morning and some time in the evening or whenever you are home. So long as you keep it consistent such as with a timer it shouldn't bother the betta when the lights are on.

alright, yah a 17 hours photoperiod is more than likely your
problem, not even heavily planted tanks have such lengthy
photoperiods. I recommend you bring it down to around 10hours
or so and see what happens. everythi ng else seems alright.
it would have been nice to have some nitrate values , but
it is alright that you don't, might be a consideration for
future purchases .

HTH,
Megil.

Thanks, I'll cut down the hours right away. Should I try and remove the rocks with algae on them??? I was thinking of getting a small bottom dweller too, would a dweller eat the algae off the rocks ? The water is cloudy too, that just appeared today.

17 hours is way too much light & that's your problem. Try to switch on your tank for 10 hours & see how it will go.



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after waking up this morning, the tank is extremely cloudy.

Mike,

It is more than likely a green algal bloom. cutting thelights
down should help over come the green water(it may look cloudy
now, but within a few days it will probably be pea green). I
wouldn't remove the rocks or gravel, the algae should die off
for the most part and will be sucked up when you do WC.

HTH,
Megil.

okay. Thank you. After reading up on algal bloom, it sounds like that is what it is.