Hey everyone, I'm having a nightmare with algae in my 10g tank with a male betta. I've tried everything to get it under control, but it's still covering the glass, sand, and decorations. I'm at my wit's end - short of taking the betta out and doing a full tank scrub, I'm stumped.
Are there any algae-eating fish that could work with a betta in a small tank like this? I know it's a long shot, given the space and betta's territorial nature, but I figure it's worth asking.
If that's not an option, does anyone have any advice on how to tackle this algae problem? I'd really appreciate it.
choosing a suitable tank mate for an algae eater
Re: choosing a suitable tank mate for an algae eater
I'd advise against introducing more fish to your tank. Considering the territorial nature of bettas and the limited space, it's a challenging environment for tankmates.
However, you might find success with some invertebrates. I've had positive experiences with shrimp and snails in my own betta tanks. They seem to do a great job of keeping things clean.
It's also worth examining your tank's maintenance routine. Perhaps you could increase the frequency or volume of your water changes. Take a closer look at your lighting setup as well. Overfeeding, inadequate water changes, or excessive lighting could be contributing to your algae problem.
If the issue persists, it might be necessary to remove your betta and biomedia, and give the tank a thorough cleaning. But keep in mind that this is only a temporary solution – you'll still need to reassess your tank's maintenance and make adjustments to prevent the algae from returning.
However, you might find success with some invertebrates. I've had positive experiences with shrimp and snails in my own betta tanks. They seem to do a great job of keeping things clean.
It's also worth examining your tank's maintenance routine. Perhaps you could increase the frequency or volume of your water changes. Take a closer look at your lighting setup as well. Overfeeding, inadequate water changes, or excessive lighting could be contributing to your algae problem.
If the issue persists, it might be necessary to remove your betta and biomedia, and give the tank a thorough cleaning. But keep in mind that this is only a temporary solution – you'll still need to reassess your tank's maintenance and make adjustments to prevent the algae from returning.
Re: choosing a suitable tank mate for an algae eater
I'm in agreement with the above sentiment. Problem algae is typically a symptom of an underlying issue - an imbalance of light and nutrients. Unless you address the root cause, you'll find that the algae will return, even if you take the time to scrub it out now.
Bettas are not community fish, and a male in a 10g tank is the maximum capacity for fish. Even if there were fish that could eat this algae, which is unlikely given the tank size, it's worth noting that so-called algae-eating fish tend to be very particular about the species of algae they'll eat.
Bettas are not community fish, and a male in a 10g tank is the maximum capacity for fish. Even if there were fish that could eat this algae, which is unlikely given the tank size, it's worth noting that so-called algae-eating fish tend to be very particular about the species of algae they'll eat.
Re: choosing a suitable tank mate for an algae eater
I've got my betta's tank set up in a closet, away from direct sunlight, and it's lit with a regular LED strip. I stick to a weekly maintenance routine, doing 25-30% water changes. The substrate's sand, and I've got no live plants, but I did try adding an Algae Ball to see if it'd make a difference - it didn't really help.
I'm dealing with all sorts of algae here - brown on the sand, green on the glass, and string algae that's taken over the decorations. I'm really struggling to figure out what to do.
My 20g tropical community tank is right above this one, and it's got a similar setup - LED strip, fake plants. The algae does show up occasionally, but it's easy to deal with - just scrape the glass and it's gone for a while. I added an Algae Ball to that tank too, and it's been really effective. I'm not sure what's causing the algae in my betta's tank.
I also have a 125g goldfish tank in a different part of the house, and it hardly ever gets any algae. I think it's because my goldfish would just eat it off the glass and decorations before it had a chance to take hold.
I'm at a loss - should I try increasing my water changes? Or take the plunge and get some live plants? I'm getting desperate - the algae's taking over.
I'm dealing with all sorts of algae here - brown on the sand, green on the glass, and string algae that's taken over the decorations. I'm really struggling to figure out what to do.
My 20g tropical community tank is right above this one, and it's got a similar setup - LED strip, fake plants. The algae does show up occasionally, but it's easy to deal with - just scrape the glass and it's gone for a while. I added an Algae Ball to that tank too, and it's been really effective. I'm not sure what's causing the algae in my betta's tank.
I also have a 125g goldfish tank in a different part of the house, and it hardly ever gets any algae. I think it's because my goldfish would just eat it off the glass and decorations before it had a chance to take hold.
I'm at a loss - should I try increasing my water changes? Or take the plunge and get some live plants? I'm getting desperate - the algae's taking over.
Re: choosing a suitable tank mate for an algae eater
I've found that increasing water change frequency can really help. I do 100% water changes on my betta tanks, but I split them into two 50% changes during the week, on Wednesdays and Sundays. You might not need to go that high, but bumping up your water changes could definitely make a difference.Scripta wrote: ↑Fri Mar 14, 2025 10:41 am Hey everyone, I'm having a nightmare with algae in my 10g tank with a male betta. I've tried everything to get it under control, but it's still covering the glass, sand, and decorations. I'm at my wit's end - short of taking the betta out and doing a full tank scrub, I'm stumped.
Are there any algae-eating fish that could work with a betta in a small tank like this? I know it's a long shot, given the space and betta's territorial nature, but I figure it's worth asking.
If that's not an option, does anyone have any advice on how to tackle this algae problem? I'd really appreciate it.
Re: choosing a suitable tank mate for an algae eater
Algae in aquariums is a normal occurrence and cannot be completely eliminated, but we do want to keep it under control. There are certain types of algae we'd rather not have present in our tanks.
The root cause of algae growth is often linked to light and fish nutrients. To manage this, I would suggest increasing your weekly water changes to 50-60% of the tank volume. I personally do 60-70% water changes in my planted tanks.
When performing water changes, vacuum the substrate to remove as many organics as possible. Without live plants, these organics can contribute to algae growth. Regularly clean your filter to prevent the accumulation of organics.
I make it a point to clean the front glass during every water change, even if I don't see any visible algae. This helps prevent the formation of biofilms that algae can attach to.
Fish load and feeding amounts also play a role in organic waste, which can contribute to algae growth.
LED lights, like the one in your tank, can be prone to promoting algae growth due to their high blue light output. While this is more relevant in planted tanks, it's worth noting.
Introducing live plants, even simple floating plants, could help reduce algae growth by utilizing nutrients and cutting down on light. Your betta might also appreciate the reduced overhead lighting.
As for the "algae ball" you mentioned, I assume it's a Marimo ball, which is a type of cladophore algae. I'm not sure how effective these are at preventing other types of algae growth.
The root cause of algae growth is often linked to light and fish nutrients. To manage this, I would suggest increasing your weekly water changes to 50-60% of the tank volume. I personally do 60-70% water changes in my planted tanks.
When performing water changes, vacuum the substrate to remove as many organics as possible. Without live plants, these organics can contribute to algae growth. Regularly clean your filter to prevent the accumulation of organics.
I make it a point to clean the front glass during every water change, even if I don't see any visible algae. This helps prevent the formation of biofilms that algae can attach to.
Fish load and feeding amounts also play a role in organic waste, which can contribute to algae growth.
LED lights, like the one in your tank, can be prone to promoting algae growth due to their high blue light output. While this is more relevant in planted tanks, it's worth noting.
Introducing live plants, even simple floating plants, could help reduce algae growth by utilizing nutrients and cutting down on light. Your betta might also appreciate the reduced overhead lighting.
As for the "algae ball" you mentioned, I assume it's a Marimo ball, which is a type of cladophore algae. I'm not sure how effective these are at preventing other types of algae growth.
Re: choosing a suitable tank mate for an algae eater
Can you post a picture of the tank, that way we can get a better look at the algae you're dealing with.
There are different types of algae, some are plants and others like Blue Green algae are actually Cyanobacter bacteria. Dealing with them requires slightly different approaches.
Reducing light can be a big help in controlling algae growth, as can doing bigger, more frequent water changes and cleaning the substrate. It's also a good idea to cut back on the amount of food you're adding to the tank, especially dry foods that sink to the bottom. Make it a habit to remove any uneaten food after a couple of minutes.
Adding some floating plants could make a big difference. I'd recommend trying something like Water Sprite - it's easy to find at most pet stores, and if they don't have it, they can usually order it for you. You only need one plant to start, just let it float on the surface. It grows quickly, and you can plant the baby plants in the gravel to get some growth going there too.
There are different types of algae, some are plants and others like Blue Green algae are actually Cyanobacter bacteria. Dealing with them requires slightly different approaches.
Reducing light can be a big help in controlling algae growth, as can doing bigger, more frequent water changes and cleaning the substrate. It's also a good idea to cut back on the amount of food you're adding to the tank, especially dry foods that sink to the bottom. Make it a habit to remove any uneaten food after a couple of minutes.
Adding some floating plants could make a big difference. I'd recommend trying something like Water Sprite - it's easy to find at most pet stores, and if they don't have it, they can usually order it for you. You only need one plant to start, just let it float on the surface. It grows quickly, and you can plant the baby plants in the gravel to get some growth going there too.