Tank algae (or something)

My divided 6g is giving me nothing but grief. At the bottom of the left side of the tank, down the side of the gravel there seems to be some sort of algae or fungus growing. Its quite a dark green colour. I can't show you photos of it because I'm away for the weekend but I could get photos on Sunday if need be.

A friend said that it might be because that side faces the window. I gave that section a good scrubbing with a toothbrush and sucked it all up. A few weeks later it was back. I done the same again and decided to cover that side with a towel in case it did happen to be because of the sunshine, or something. It came back. Now I've cleaned it again and I'm sure the start of it will appear again when I get back on Sunday night.

The tank is running just under 29C. Do you think it could be the temperature? I don't know what else to do to combat it and its driving me insane!

I know I'll probably be advised to strip it and bleach it out but I thought I'd ask for opinions first before I look for a second hospital tank in order to do it.

Do you have any live plants in there? i had a 30l that used to get algae within days of cleaning it. So i cleaned it all out added a few moss balls and ive never had any algae since and that was months ago. From what ive heard the moss feeds of the same stuff as algae so if you get rid of all the algae and add a moss ball theres never enough for the algae to come back. If that doesnt work then like you said the best bet it to take it apart and bleach it.

Do moss balls need lights to survive? The lid on the 6g doesn't allow for a light.

No i keep them in a 6G tank with no light apart form not direct sin light.

Where do you get them Kiz? I've never seen them in any of my LFS or LPS

Moss balls are my new love! I rarely have the lights on in any of my tanks but they do so well, even if the tank isn't right by the window. I have half the algae prob I used to in my puff tanks, estimating that will go down once I add more moss balls.

They nom on nitrates too, so my tap = nearly 50 atm

betta tank = less than 10!

You can buy them off ebay much cheaper than the shops, I got 9 for £10

I get that exact algae in my hexagon tank, it drives me wild but it only seems to be the side thats away from the kitchen window.

I did strip the tank down and milton bleach it and it lasted quite a few months without it growing back but it did eventually grow back.
I just keep scrubbing it off when i do my weekly water change...its so annoying! I do have live plants in it but it grew before when i didnt have live plants in there.

Hopefully you'll get advise about it and il be able to try it out too.

silverrabbit wrote:You can buy them off ebay much cheaper than the shops, I got 9 for £10

Iv just bought 10 for £9.99 free p+p so may put some in that tank too.

Irish_Lass wrote:Where do you get them Kiz? I've never seen them in any of my LFS or LPS

Like silverrabbit said the cheapest place is off ebay.

silverrabbit wrote:Moss balls are my new love! I rarely have the lights on in any of my tanks but they do so well, even if the tank isn't right by the window. I have half the algae prob I used to in my puff tanks, estimating that will go down once I add more moss balls.

They nom on nitrates too, so my tap = nearly 50 atm

betta tank = less than 10!

You can buy them off ebay much cheaper than the shops, I got 9 for £10

Duck weed is good for getting rid of nitrates. It needs low light and you dont have to work about Co2 because its a floting plant it will get that from the air.

How long do they last? Like, how often do they need replaced?

Oh and how many would you put in a 6g?

Irish_Lass wrote:How long do they last? Like, how often do they need replaced?

Ive had one of mine for almost 2 years with no problems and still looking healthy so dont no

Irish_Lass wrote:Oh and how many would you put in a 6g?

As many as you can get in there my betta used to love them. i would go for about 4 but a few more would be fine. You could always get 10 like Nataliey and spread them over a few tanks all my fish like them.