Is this the right kind of green algae?

[JoeG]

Can someone tell me if they have a similar algae to this light green fuzz that grows in my 5 gallon tank?

The tank has been running for about 17 months and this algae has been there for at least a year. The question is, is this a type of algae that the shrimp eat? I definitely see them picking through it but it might only be the biofilm that clings to it that they are eating.

Thanks for any replies.

[i<3Opae]

The algae looks okay to me, very pretty too. Water looks clear which is good too. Does the water smell? Try no feeding, as the access nutrient prompts algae growth as well.

[JoeG]

Water has no real smell. Haven’t fed for over a month and that feeding was the only feeding in about 4 months. There is shrimp poop that shows up on most of the algae so I think it is just recycling the shrimp waste. There are 30 shrimp in the tank.

[mike.d]

That looks very similar to the algae I have in my 10 gallon tank. Mine has been set up for almost 2 years and I've never fed them anything. I had to get a fleet of snails (3 nerites, now countless MTS - started with 14) to help keep it under control.

Here's a pic.

[sliphorn]

That looks very similar to the algae I have in my 10 gallon tank. Mine has been set up for almost 2 years and I've never fed them anything. I had to get a fleet of snails (3 nerites, now countless MTS - started with 14) to help keep it under control.

Here's a pic.
algae.jpg

-------

Have your shrimp been re-producing? It's nice to not have to feed them because of the ample algae supply.

=====

[mike.d]

Yes. I started seeing floating larvae after about 15 months. But from June '17 to September '18 I had nothing. See my post below.

https://www.petshrimp.com/discussions/v ... 14&p=43800

Now I always see larvae floating around and there are always a few 1/4" juveniles out and about.

[sliphorn]

Yes. I started seeing floating larvae after about 15 months. But from June '17 to September '18 I had nothing. See my post below.

https://www.petshrimp.com/discussions/v ... 14&p=43800

Now I always see larvae floating around and there are always a few 1/4" juveniles out and about.

====

Thanks

-----

[JoeG]

Mike.d thanks for the words of encouagement. Your algae does remind me of mine. I will definitely not feed again until the algae is gone. I was looking at the tank last night and the shrimp are active so they must be eating either the algae itself or the biofilm on it. I was thinking about adding some MTS to control the algae in the tank but I think if it isn’t broken just leave it alone. The shrimp seem healthy and active and they are definitely entertaining and low maintenance.

[mike.d]

The only reason I added snails is because I couldn't see into the tank. I added the nerites first. Then I threw in the MTS because the local pet store (PetCoSmart) had an infestation and they gave them to me for free when I was buying more nerites for another tank.

I'm with you on the "don't fix it if it's not broke" philosophy.