Rid Green Dust without UV?

[GaspingGurami]

Have anyone been able to rid tank of Green Dust Algae without using UV?

I normally wait till it grows really crusty and lumpy then I scrape them off with the water level at half (because by then, it is too thick to wipe). I have not been able to scrape off the bottom half as I can't drain the tank with fauna inside.

This way, I can slow down the growth (becomes obvious by the second week unless you look at the glass insides sideways down, there you'll be able to notice the green film much earlier) but not completely eliminate it. Otocinclus been eating the stuff, but not enough to have clean glass, as it only eats the old crusty ones, not new growth.

Is there any way to rid this algae without the use of UV? I ask simply because I don't own one and I'm trying not to have too much accessories hooked up to the tank.

I'm dosing EI on the high side (NO3 30ppm weekly, blah, blah, dKH 6, pH 6.

[PeterGwee]

If you let it finish its life cycle and then scrape it off and quickly do a large water change well (maybe 2x in a day) while maintaining good tank conditions, it shouldn't come back. I don't have it coming back since I did the exact thing and keep my CO2 good and high while dosing enough nutrients via EI method. The CO2 is something you need to focus on the plant and fish health to hit the optimal level.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[GaspingGurami]

Peter, when you scrape it off, did any scrapings fall off into the water? It seems very difficult to keep all the scrapings from falling into the water. Also, what to do with the remaining crust at the other half of the tank under the water line? Do you scrape it too? Come to think of it, do you scrape before draining or after draining the water? And when you do a twice a day water change, did you have to scrape again on the second time?

Thanks.

[Plantbrain]

I've knocked it out that way, most have high degree of success with it.

The other way is brute force.

I scrub it off, and do a 80% water change very quickly.
Then I refill, wait a bit, scrub a again and do another 80% water change.
I add ferts back and Excel at full dose.

the next day, I do this again.
The 3rd, I do this again.
Not much makes it after the 3rd day.
From then on, things have done fine.
Lots of work one way, the other requires no work but more patience.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[richietay]

i followed the method which PeterGwee mentioned, so far til now don't have it coming back. done a water change 2x a day!

[winston77]

I have this issue too. Have cleared them on the glass tank. But problem is that my Echinodorus are also tainted with GDA.

So any recommendation on how to deal with those GDA sticking onto plants?

[FC]

I fighted green dust algae for at least 3 years. I tried ALL methods I can find but ALL failed. These GDA just love my tank . Finally, with UV and the right procedure I figured out myself, they are gone - finally.

Below is the most effective and least effort pocedure of using UV steralization:
1) get the right UV power rating for the tank - bigger tank, higher pump flow rate, more powerful UV is needed. Do not waste money on UV wattage lower than 10 watts, they are not (UV) output efficient. I am using the 13 watts one for my 4 footer with pump rate at 1,000 L per hour, just sufficient.
2) before using the UV, clean the glass walls well and then water change 100%.
3) once the water is refilled, start the UV and keep it on for at least 2 weeks. Redo step 2) if you see any green dust algae surface (very unlikely to happen).

You can keep the UV light on all the time to keep all water-bourne algae away. It has no side-effect on the water nutrients. Some claimed it attack/oxidise traces, I did not find it true at all. UV also kill bad bacterias that attack plants, causing leafs yellowing/browning and dropout.

[Milk]

Yup...Uv light will also kill/reduce the diesease or bateria that's attacking your fishes...But cannot say if it will reduces the Benefical bateria that the tank needs...
1 question...Do you guys using UV light mount the light b4 ur filter or after the filter???

[FC]

But cannot say if it will reduces the Benefical bateria that the tank needs...
1 question...Do you guys using UV light mount the light b4 ur filter or after the filter???

UV is always after filter because you wish all bacterias (good and bad) to accumulate in the filter. Once pass the filter, kill all.

[blackBRUSHalgae]

UV is always after filter because you wish all bacterias (good and bad) to accumulate in the filter. Once pass the filter, kill all.

UV light is contained within the UV unit, therefore how would it affect anything else, other than those are exposed to the UV light?

[FC]

UV light is contained within the UV unit, therefore how would it affect anything else, other than those are exposed to the UV light?

Sorry but I do not understand your question. Can you please elaborate a bit?

[Aquaculture]

I was comtemplating on purchasing UV sometime ago but a lfs told me that it is actually unhealthy for the fish... as supposingly it would be too much radiation. Is this true?

I won't wanna have mutant fish and shrimps swimming around my tank in the years to come. Though there might be a new demand for it...heeheehee

Any recommendations on the usage of UV? The no. of hours use per day? How are your experiences like...

Thanks in advance.

Cheers