How to clean up after A-Sexual Algae?

[yiliyang]

Please help. I have a 29 gal tank with some trumpet algae in there. It grew great for about 2 month. Then this morning it went a-sexual. My water is now green. How do I clean it up? will carbon work? Filter media?

Please help.

I know it is better to get Chaetomorphea because it does not go a-sexual, but I can not grow that in my tank, Chaeto just turn white and melts on me.


Thanks

Yili

 

[DrHank]

Personally, I'd go with a series of water changes probably starting with 50% today, maybe 30% tomorrow, 20% the next day and see how things go. Skim 24/7 on the wet side. Keep an eye on water parameters. I would also run my UV sterilizer to try and kill as much of the spores/gamates as possible. Running carbon is always a good idea. If you run floss, expect to change it daily. Good luck!

 

[jmanrow]

Diatomaceous Earth Filters, such as Vortex http://www.diatomfilter.com/ , System 1 http://www.aquatichouse.com/FILTRATION MENU_files/System 1.asp and Magnum (always use diatomaceous earth powder with pleated cartridge) will clear algae and gamete blooms in an hour or so.

 

[Samala]

All of this is great advice, you might consider throwing an extra aerator and air line on the tank for the next few days just as added insurance. A little more stable O2 levels cant hurt. Keep up partial water changes and pay attention to the skimmer (which is probably going crazy) and any other filtration on the tank. Carbon could definitely help clear up the tank along with all the rest.

The extra filtration mentioned (UV and diatom filter) may also work very well. I havent tried those myself since I dont have ready access to them in surprise events like sporulation.

>Sarah