Algae bloom, will it harm fish?

[stratusfearrr]

I just realized that i have an algae bloom in both my 46 bowfront and my 10 gal. I really dont want to use any sort of chemicals. I just ordered a uv sterilizer, and hopefullly itll be in by next friday. My main question is will the algae bloom hurt my fish? I just really dont like the idea of continously adding chemicals to my tank.

Will the algae bloom harm my fish, if i let it go for a week or so?

 

[DevilSpirit]

if it's not too severe, I don't think it'll be much harm.

 

[chazzbo77]

In the wild, algal blooms are harmful to fish species. When the aerobic bacteria in the wild begin to break down the algae, it makes the oxygen levels in the water plummet, usually suffocating fish. I'm not sure if this applies to a fish tank though.

 

[TechAquaria]

Use a little care ...

I just realized that i have an algae bloom in both my 46 bowfront and my 10 gal. I really dont want to use any sort of chemicals. I just ordered a uv sterilizer, and hopefullly itll be in by next friday. My main question is will the algae bloom hurt my fish? I just really dont like the idea of continously adding chemicals to my tank.

Will the algae bloom harm my fish, if i let it go for a week or so?

When you fire up that new UV unit, you are going to have to also use some good common sense.

One thing which is going to occur when you turn on that UV is that, algae is going to start dying. You are going to have to clean your filters and make sure that the dead and decaying algae does NOT become a lethal problem in and of itself.

Too much dead rotting algae in the tank can skyrocket ammonia levels and/or deprive the fish of oxygen as bacteria multiplies to consume the algae.

Just watch and remove algae as necessary. I have had the algae begin to clog HOB filters within just a few hours of operation, making frequent filter cleaning necessary, and/or water changes ... usually I notice green staining of the filter floss/foam/pads/etc.

Don't be afraid, just be prepared and react properly and timely ...

Regards,
TA

 

[stratusfearrr]

would water changes help keep the algae bloom from getting too severe?

 

[DevilSpirit]

algae multiplies fairly quickly. Water changes will help if its combined with lower light levels.

I also agree that you should be careful when using the UV sterilizer. I've heard that putting daphnia in a "cage" that allows water to pass through, but not the daphnia works quite well.

 

[TechAquaria]

would water changes help keep the algae bloom from getting too severe?

My water has zero nitrates, >5ppm potassium, >1ppm phosphorus, plenty of iron, plenty of silicon, etc.

Water changes, for me, knock the socks off of an algae bloom. However, the plants stop growing also. Then, when I add back the nutrients, BAM, there goes the green water and/or diatom bloom ... a vicious cycle. UV lets me worry about other things and never have to play with things to fight green water.

Depriving the algae and slowed plant growth is NOT an option for me. But yes, until you get the UV on the tank and induce a stable condition, you WILL consider/use water changes to get rid of putrefying algae in the tank--and, watch for a build up of that putrefying material in the filters--cleaning as necessary--no big deal--armed with this knowledge your common sense will make it all easy.

In the future, you should never have to repeat this. If you shut off the UV, either by accident or by design, just switch it back on when you begin to notice a green tinge and/or diatom blooms. It is only on severe algae booms that decaying matter can pose these problems. A healthy tank can handle the recycling of sane amount of organic matter back into nutrients for the plants.

As I have said, my UV runs 24/7, it is plug it in and forget about it ...

Regards,
TA

 

[jm1212]

you are actually better off doing lots of water changes instead of using that UV sterilizer...you'll end up doing lots of water changes anyway.

 

[DevilSpirit]

found a page on the daphnia cage idea. I think it's worth a try if you have daphnia or some other small filter feeder.

http://fins.actwin.com/live-foods/month.200212/msg00019.html

 

[TechAquaria]

you are actually better off doing lots of water changes instead of using that UV sterilizer...you'll end up doing lots of water changes anyway.

I don't.

With UV, a denitrator, decent filtering, etc., I am able to get by months without a water change. I am in the process to see if I can turn that into years. As of now, nitrate buildup is my limiting factor--and that is, most likely, because I insist on overstocking the tanks with fish!

Like I said, common sense is NOT an option, it is a requirement, well, either that or constantly keep a hose in your hand!

Regards,
TA