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I just bought a tank from someone and it has a LOT! of black algae on everything,water is clear,fish are ok.I have to drain it to move it so is it ok to clean everything,rocks,gravel,tank glass,etc.OR do i need to just rinse it off in tank water? I reached in the tank and pulled off some of the algae and it peels off the gravel, Tank also has live plants in it.
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Re: Black Algae---just bought it
If it peels off in sheets, it sounds to me like you have blue-green algae (which can be black in color) If this is the case, it can be elliminated by dosing the tank with Erythromycin. Since this organism is actually a photosynthetic bacteria and not a true algae, the antibiotic will kill it. This can be administered with fish and plants in the tank, however, keep a close eye on your water parameters as the antibiotic can also have an effect on your biological filter.
Alternatively, if you are unsure what type of algae it is, you can wash everything with a diluted bleach solution which will kill everything including the good bacteria in the tank. In my experience, this may cause more problems than it's worth. I would reccommend determining exactly what type of algae you have and treating it appropriatly.Bacteria: the only culture some people have -
Re: Black Algae---just bought it
while you have the tank drained I would just clean the stuff off using water and a scrub brush,
it shouldnt matter if you wash everything using tap water, as long as you keep the filter media in tank water the biological filter should survive, but keep an eye on your parameters cuz you could have a mini cycle.
if there is a lot of algae I would be weary of killing it while the tank was running, then you have dead algae decomposing in the tank and that could probably cause problems.Comment
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Re: Black Algae---just bought it
If there is something that will not come out use a razor blade.. I have yet to come across something a razor blade will not remove in the end.. when its stuck on glass.
What fish do Jesper have
180 WC T. Moorii Chilambo +1 Petro trewavasae.
110 Cyps, WC Xeno Spilopterus Kipili WC/F1/F2 T. sp red Kiku
58 S. Decorus
"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." -Margaret ThatcherComment
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Re: Black Algae---just bought it
I took the tank to the carwash,cleaned up pretty well,.....Comment
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Re: Black Algae---just bought it
Haven't seen you on here for quite some time clw219!
Welcome back!700g Mini-Monster tankComment
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