Red hair looking algae EVERYWHERE!

[Currdawg12]

So I just started my tank 2 and a half weeks ago and last night everything looked good then I woke up this morning and I have algae everywhere. I don’t have fish of anything just trying to cycle the tank! How to get rid of the algae ??

 

[ashleyt]

So I just started my tank 2 and a half weeks ago and last night everything looked good then I woke up this morning and I have algae everywhere. I don’t have fish of anything just trying to cycle the tank! How to get rid of the algae ??

Is your tank near a window? How long do you run the lights. If so limit the lighting and try to keep the window covered during the day both cause algae growth. Also take this little siphon hose and run across your sand or gravel just skim it over the top.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Take a look at your phosphates. It is cyano bacteria and has much to do with water quality. Tap water will be a contributor also.
Chemi Clean is very effective with this issue but is not the ultimate solution. Blow with a baster to loosen and vacuum it up with a siphon. Astrea and Trocus snails Do help battle cyano

 

[vetteguy53081]

Is your tank near a window? How long do you run the lights. If so limit the lighting and try to keep the window covered during the day both cause algae growth. Also take this little siphon hose and run across your sand or gravel just skim it over the top.

Window would cause green or hair algae. This is more of a bacterial bloom stemmed from water and its elements such as phosphates high

 

[Currdawg12]

Yeah it’s a new tank and pretty close to a window

 

[Evan28395950]

Yeah it’s a new tank and pretty close to a window

What kind of water do you use?

 

[Currdawg12]

Tap but looking for good rodi system

 

[Evan28395950]

Tap but looking for good rodi system

That could be one of the main causes for it. Try to get distilled water from Walmart or nearby store, way better than tap, it’s what I’m using right now before I’m buying rodi.

 

[Currdawg12]

Which rodi are you looking at?

 

[vetteguy53081]

That could be one of the main causes for it. Try to get distilled water from Walmart or nearby store, way better than tap, it’s what I’m using right now before I’m buying rodi.

The drinking water from dispenser at Walmart is RO and would work. Used it until I installed a large unit as I have 3 tanks

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

The drinking water from dispenser at Walmart is RO and would work. Used it until I installed a large unit as I have 3 tanks

I had to use “glacier” water machines from the local grocery store while waiting to repair my RODI last year. 5 gallons was $1.50 and usually tested between 3-8 TDS which was a thousand times better than tap water.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Same here with success

 

[Currdawg12]

Can I order water offline?

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

Can I order water offline?

I’m not sure how economical it would be with shipping costs. Most grocery stores have the “fill your own bottle” machines in them. I used to just take buckets with lids and fill them.