Film Alage in QT

[TheEngineer]

I feel like I'm missing a step with my QT. I'm currently medicating a single clownfish in a 10g tank. She's well fed, but no food is left in the tank to decay. She is eating live blackworms so I just feed her them a few at a time. I am getting a film of algae on everything (heater, pump, glass, pvc, etc.). Is this normal? I have a bunch of bioballs in there that have been seeded in my DT for over a year (I always keep some in the sump) and I've dosed Fluval Cycle twice.

Maybe this is normal and I shouldn't worry?

 

[Greenstreet.1]

Never had that problem in any of my qt setups you may need to run some carbon.
It may be coming from the bioballs or the fluval cycle is causing some kind of reaction. I never ran fluval or bioballs so cant say for sure.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

It can be normal for film algae to pop up in a QT system. Keep an eye on your water parameters as well, you may have some higher ammonia/nitrite/nitrate in the tank.

 

[TheEngineer]

Thanks. I'm running meds, so I can't run carbon unfortunately.

 

[TheEngineer]

It can be normal for film algae to pop up in a QT system. Keep an eye on your water parameters as well, you may have some higher ammonia/nitrite/nitrate in the tank.

OK. I have an ammonia alert badge in there. It shows normal. I'll check the nitrates. Maybe the bio balls just being in the tank isn't enough. I was saving my power filter for when my new fish arrive tomorrow. The clownfish is going back in the DT tomorrow morning, she's all better

 

[Greenstreet.1]

What’s your flow like in the qt ? May not be enough

 

[TheEngineer]

What’s your flow like in the qt ? May not be enough

I'm running a Tunze wavemaker. I think flow is OK.

 

[Humblefish]

What kind of lights are you running? (I use only low level lighting in QT.) Any direct sunlight hitting the tank?

 

[TheEngineer]

Just a single CFL aquarium bulb. It does get about an hour of sunlight right on it each day.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Just a single CFL aquarium bulb. It does get about an hour of sunlight right on it each day.

If your diligent in waste removal I think it’s your light I use 0.75 watt led strip with 3 little LEDs. But how long has the QT been running?

 

[Big G]

 

[Big G]

How about a pic of the clown in the qt? Love me some clowns

 

[TheEngineer]

Her name is Jaws. She’s 9

 

[Maritimer]

If you've got water and light, you're probably going to have algae. Copper and other medications are pretty rough on the stuff, so film algae may be the only variety you get ... but I've never kept a QT through an entire round without it. (Which some fish appreciate deeply!)

~Bruce

 

[TheEngineer]

If you've got water and light, you're probably going to have algae. Copper and other medications are pretty rough on the stuff, so film algae may be the only variety you get ... but I've never kept a QT through an entire round without it. (Which some fish appreciate deeply!)

~Bruce

Totally reasonable. I’ve only run a QT once prior to this and it ended poorly (and algae covered). Just double checking myself before there are 3 fish in this tank next week.

 

[Greenstreet.1]

Forget to ask how long has this qt been up and how often you do water changes ?

 

[TheEngineer]

Forget to ask how long has this qt been up and how often you do water changes ?

Since Sunday. Haven’t done one yet.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Since Sunday. Haven’t done one yet.

That’s pretty fast I’m getting more confident that the light is to strong. I wouldn’t worry about your new arrivals tho some people grow algea in there QT on purpose

 

[TheEngineer]

I think humble’s thought about the sunlight is the kicker. No way this light bulb is too strong. I think it is 7 Watts.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

I think humble’s thought about the sunlight is the kicker. No way this light bulb is too strong. I think it is 7 Watts.

That makes sense. Just seems a little fast compared to my current situation. I have 7 fish in 24g for almost 2 weeks and I haven’t ran into algea yet. But your film algea still looks super minimal