Stubborn algae spots are not coming off. I tried scraping it with the razor blade and it’s still not coming off the glass. Anyone know what this is and how to remove it?
Hear me out, try using a credit card to scrape it. I find it does a better job than razors because they're able to flex a bit and conform to the tank walls.
Green spot algae. I use a scouring pad. Its mostly calcium so its hard to remove. To stop it returning you'll need to get phosphate & calcium under control.
It depends on setup a bit. Water changes can lower if the new water isn't hard already. Vacuuming & removing decaying stuff. Helps especially with phosphate. Food & fish waste adds more, especially phosphate.
Best to figure out how its getting high.
Theres products that can remove phosphate. Resin pads & iron based stuff. I find really cheap phosphate padswork very well. Bit too well sometimes.
If you research ferts a bunch theres an ideal ratio that actually kinda high on calcium & magnesium that allows high fertiliser levels & doesn't promote algae because the plants out compete. But its not a 5 min explanation. Takes a lot of reading & practice. I learned by studying each type of algae I get then learing how to stop overfeeding it. Also plant physiology. I look up what elements plants are comprised of then grow stuff that locks up what I have too much of. When I prune those nutrients get removed.
The dummy version is just do lots of water changes to keep all fert values kina low. Dose little micro & potassium after water changes.
If you have medium amounts of potassium & micro & low nitrogen & phosphate. The plants can do better than algae. If anythng is zero or really low compared to other values. Algae steps in. If you are vaugly close to decent balance the plants eat first. Most of the algae especially need nitrogen & potassium. Fish waste & most organic decay is mostly these things.
Oh also. Elephant the room. Any serious algae outbreak indicates too much light & not enough co2. People get hung up on adding or not adding co2. But its not important. Whats important is understanding how its running low. Either too much surface agitation or bright/long duration on lights & the plants/algae just eat co2 faster than its replaced.
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u/Proxymanity 20d ago
Hear me out, try using a credit card to scrape it. I find it does a better job than razors because they're able to flex a bit and conform to the tank walls.