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Hey Everyone,
I came home to my tank today (i've been away to college and have had people feeding them for me). The problem i ran into is green algae. It's a 33 gallon tank with 2 parrot cichlids, 1 electric yellow, and 1 plecostamus. The problem i ran into was when i tried to remove the algae with a toothbrush. It is stuck on there and so far is impossible to remove. The toothbrush wasn't strong enough and my fingernail barely allowed me to cut through it, however, there is so much on the glass it would take all day to get off. It is also coating my ornaments (rock and castle). What is this, how do i cure it, and how do i remove it? Thanks!

i would get a pleco to take care of it.

I already have a pleco in there, he's about 5 inches long. My guess is that the algae is stuck on there too strongly for him to clean it off. I can't see his suction being stronger than my own force with my fingernail.

I'm thinking that this is fuzz, hair, or brush algae. My tank has alot of this stuff and its a pain to take off. I don't know of any fish or snail that eats the stuff, so you either have to remove it by hand (or a power brush, or soemthing) or use chemicals. I'd try to avoid chemicals though.

Last edited by seedkiros at 30-Oct-2004 18:26

Just use a paint scraper. I use one I picked up for $1.50 at WalMart that has a blade about 3 inches wide an a plastic handle. Additional blades are available. After I scrapre the algae, I run a larger filter that I keep around to pick up crud in my tanks.

Is it sort of green spotty stuff on the glass? If so I dont think many fish will actually eat that off for you. Go to your lfs and get a magnetic cleaner.

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Before you criticize someone walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

i had stuff like that and after i totally lowered my nitrates to about 10 (they were like 50 before! i changed the substrate and in the process replaced probably 70% of the water) it completely dissapeared and only reappears when i havent had time to do a water change

Thread algae and quite a few other algal pests succumb to the addition of Siamese Algae Eaters (Crossocheilus siamensis). I had some in 1999 to deal with thread algae, and they NUKED it. Watch it though, they grow fast, as in about an inch per week if they have a lot of food to snack upon as mind did ... mine ended up over 4 inches long in no time at all (they were less than 1 inch when I bought them) !!!

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Good food for a good algae eater. I would suggest trying a bristlenose catfish for your tank size. They are known for brown algae but I'm sure they will help. I have one in a 30G and it cleans my tank in 24hours.

Good luck.

PS Pleco's suck at eating algae - they are big and lazy. They are great for pairing with an Oscar though (good cleanup).