Algae on surface

[ikan]

I have green layer of algae on a water surface. It must be because I scrubbed the algae on the glass.
It reduces the amount of light getting to the plants.
I use a newspaper this morning to absorb some of the algae.
Is there anything I can do to eliminate this floating algae so it doesn't occur again?

[bclee]

Does the algae occur in stagnant areas? Does it smell like BGA?

Water circulation near the surface may help.

BC

[ikan]

I am not familiar with BGA smell but it doesn't smell much.
The surface has a little bit of movement but the green layer covered the entire surface. Yesterday after I took a plant out I noticed that my arm was green from algae. Is this a common problem in a planted tank?

[wynx]

Is your algae condition that bad? Your arms get stained green from the water? That's bad...Looks like you got Blue Green Algae.. I suggest you quickly do a water change....

[ikan]

The plants are doing well and some leaves have thin layer of algae. The water is crystal clear, only the surface is green. I have never experience this before. And yes I get green stain on my hand. Do we have fish that can help with this problem?

[loupgarou]

a) make sure its algae, ie: very fine dust like. if its a 0.5 mm size thing, then it could be micro duckweed.

b) use a fine net with cotton wool. tissue paper in it to sieve it up.

c) black out the tank.

---
if it doesn't go away, then you can resort to some kind of algicide.

(ie: nutrient control will not work, since in all probability, floating algae can fix nitrogen from the air.)

[ikan]

Thanks for the help guys.
Yes they are dust like and when I disturb the surface it creates some bubles on the surface.
I winder how long I can black out the tank without affecting the plants too much.
Also I can probably install a surface skimmer to remove the layer.

[juggler]

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On 3/26/2003 2:50:50 PM

I have green layer of algae on a water surface. It must be because I scrubbed the algae on the glass.
It reduces the amount of light getting to the plants.
I use a newspaper this morning to absorb some of the algae.
Is there anything I can do to eliminate this floating algae so it doesn't occur again?
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Does it look like that described in this thread?

[theodore]

Check out Tom Barr's advice on how to tackle BGA in the following thread (I started it thinking that i caught BGA but that turned out to be false alarm):
Can this be BGA?

[bclee]

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On 3/26/2003 3:38:59 PM

Thanks for the help guys.
Yes they are dust like and when I disturb the surface it creates some bubles on the surface.
I winder how long I can black out the tank without affecting the plants too much.
Also I can probably install a surface skimmer to remove the layer.
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Since the algae is on the surface, you may not even need to black out the tank. Just manually remove everything.

Introduce some surface movement to prevent it coming back.

Check NO3 level too. It may be low.

BC

[ikan]

Okay, now I know is not BGA and it is exactley the same problem with Juggler.
Sounds like I will have to install a surface skimmer, I don't like playing around with skimmer it's troblesome but no choice.
Thanks again guys.

[bclee]

I believed KF(Juggler) ever posted on the APD about his problem. It was suspected to be a type of cyanobacteria (similar to BGA).

This is one of the answers to KF's post on APD.

BGA or cyanobacteria is known thrive on low NO3. Maybe you would like to check that.

BC

[ikan]

Okay, hopefully after removing most of them it will sort out itself. I will move the spray bar closer to the surface to increase water movement also. Honestly I never check NO3, the only thing I check is PH and conductivity and I do water change 30 - 50% every week. So far I have not lost any fish from this algae.