Help! Tough algae on glass

[Pat]

Hi folks,

I've got a 38-gal community planted tank with an algae problem. It's been set up for about four months now (most of the stuff moved from an old address and reset up at my new house). The problem is algae on the glass. I've bought two different glass-aquarium algae pads, and nothing's budging this stuff. I can't get it off!!

I've got a bit of black brush algae on one plant, and I'll pull those leaves, but what's really got me bummed is the glass on the front of the aquarium. The algae is really kind of ruining the look of the aquarium, and I really want to get it off. A guy at my lfs suggested steel wool(!!). I'm almost desperate enough to try it. The tank sits right next to a window, and I suspect that's the problem. I can put black fabric on that side of the aquarium to block it. The tank's got two 20-watt fluorescent bulbs on top that are left on about 12 hours or so a day.

Help?! The main reason I keep an aquarium is the beautiful, crystal-clear water and view I'm used to. That algae on the glass has got to go...... sure would appreciate any help. Thanks.

-- Pat

 

[ddaquaria]

Try a razor blade - it works but takes some time to do. Make sure you do not drop any small gravel articles or you will scratch the glass.

Try a credit card - if the green spot algae is still soft then this works fairly well.

 

[Pat]

Thanks--I'll try a razor blade. It's not the bright-green spot algae--it's the duller green that looks a little bit like a green dust layer.

-- Pat

 

[aspen]

steel wool!! man, i'm glad that you asked before you did that. you would be in the market for a new tank. if you thought the algae looked bad, try an opaque scratchy pattern. donald has the right idea. there are actually scrapers that are just a rasor on a stick.

rick

 

[vancat]

some folks claim razors can scratch the glass (?).
Credit cards work great!

 

[vancat]

some folks claim razors can scratch the glass (?).
Credit cards work great!

 

[aspen]

i use those blades for the utility scrapers. close inspection will reveal that the corners are actually rounded off. this is GOOD! but... scraping too hard can scratch the glass i suppose. i tried a credit card, and it works good for softer stuff, not so well for the hard to get stuff, like brown, or some green stuff.

jme, jmo, rick

 

[ddaquaria]

I got a little tired of the slow scraping mechanisms (ie credit card, algae scraper, small razer blade). I bought a 4" scaper by American Line Personna.

The body is a hard plastic, and of course the blade is metal. I was able to get the hard algae off my 120gallon (4 ft) in about 5-7 minutes . This item was only about $3 or $4 at Lowes and Home Depot. After use, I dry it as much as possible and inspect it before each use.

 

[Jason]

I think bristlenose plecos (Ancistrus sp.) are the best remedy. They are cleaning glass better than anything. And they are very handsome fish!

 

[Neil]

Jason,

WELCOME TO THE FORUM

Nice to have you with us. Do you have any Dwarf Cichlids or are you mainly a Plant Tank enthusiast?

 

[Jason]

For close to 20 years I thought a tank with lots of plants and some colourful fish is the nicest thing on earth. Only about a year ago I discovered how ignorant I was: a planted tank with A. cacaduoides (1 male + 2 females) and their ofsprings in another planted tank is an incomparable experience.
Merry Christmas!