Habitat - Indoor :: How do I keep the algae away?

[emma]

I have a regular lamp for light above my tank and it really seems to speed the grow of algae on my plants, rocks, and other things the light hits. Its really hard to clean the algae off also when I take the plants out, so I end up having to buy all new plants.

Is there something I can use to keep the algae away? Or should I buy a specific lamp at the store? I just want to light one end of my tank.

Btw, I have separate lights for my basking area.

[Marcus.85]

Algae feed on Nitrates. You should use something which absorbs those like real plants(outside of the tank with only the root in water) and duckweed.

[happycamper]

Marcus, that's a cool idea with the plants outside the tank... Do you have that in your tank?

[Marcus.85]

Yeh look here i posted some pics in this thread:
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=26470
What you need to do is protect/shield the plants' roots, otherwise the turtle's gonna eat 'em and the plant will die.

[happycamper]

Wow, Marcus, your set up seriously rocks! That is now what I will think of as my dream habitat for Sheldon! Beautiful

[vic021]

i have a ball moss its pretty neat my res like to play with it and there cheap and they absorb all the nitrites in the water that algea needs to survive u just need about 5 for a 100 gallon

[untsmurf]

where did you buy them?? I've been looking for those all over.

[Marcus.85]

Thanks, but it was quite cheap to make.
All the silk plants, rocks , driftwood , corkbar, real plants I got really cheap throughout a whole year of slow build-up. The beauty of it is you can calmly add stuff you find cheap scattered around stores or the internet.
I started out with a bare tank with one piece of corkbar and 2 silk plants.

[vic021]

this seller sells the cheapest http://myworld.ebay.com/aquatics--2008/
some of his buy it know items real cheap since if you go to store there way over priced like $15 a piece
http://cgi.ebay.com/JAPANESE-AQUARIUM-F ... 2a078cbbac
http://cgi.ebay.com/X5-JAPANESE-AQUARIU ... 2a079ec242

[Marcus.85]

i have a ball moss its pretty neat my res like to play with it and there cheap and they absorb all the nitrites in the water that algea needs to survive u just need about 5 for a 100 gallon

Don't the turtles just destroy them by attempting to dig in them or just outright chew on them?

I never even tried to buy one because of that possibility.

[untsmurf]

Wow what a deal!! I haven't even been able to find any available in stores, so this is great. Now I just have to justify it to the hubby!

[happycamper]

I see those moss balls at all the big box pet stores in Boise. Never tried it but might be worth a shot.

[vic021]

i have a ball moss its pretty neat my res like to play with it and there cheap and they absorb all the nitrites in the water that algea needs to survive u just need about 5 for a 100 gallon

Don't the turtles just destroy them by attempting to dig in them or just outright chew on them?

I never even tried to buy one because of that possibility.

nope there actually very thick my turtle sticks his nose under it throws it in the air then plays with it and ive had it once where he bit it but nothing happened you saw the lil marks but ur able to squeeze the ball and make it denser and harder so they cant do it ive never seen moss ball pieces in my tank and ive had moss balls for about 3 months now

[Marcus.85]

nope there actually very thick my turtle sticks his nose under it throws it in the air then plays with it and ive had it once where he bit it but nothing happened you saw the lil marks but ur able to squeeze the ball and make it denser and harder so they cant do it ive never seen moss ball pieces in my tank and ive had moss balls for about 3 months now

I always had the impression they were fragile or something.
Also on youtube I saw in this vid moss balls annilhated by musk turtles, check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3mn7imoPEc
Btw theone in the video is one of the best turtle setups i've ever seen, maybe one of the best ever in the world

[happycamper]

Wow, the setup on that video was very impressive!