[Trevor Knight]

Had a demo by Tucker Poles and they looked at our system in our van. The guy said that because we use a clear 650 ltr white tank we will suffer algae in our tank and contaminate our water from the sun, unlike their black tank!!

Is this true or just a sales pitch??

regards,

Trev

[Morph]

Ali G is ok in your tank, just don't let David Blane get in there!

[Trevor Knight]

Nice joke but not sure it really helps me lol

[chris@c.m.s]

Partly true I guess not that I have a tank, algea needs to be in sunlight to grow painting a tank with black emulsion would do the same as a black tank

[David 'Duck' Clare]

its a bit of a tricky one this. i keep marine fish (on a largish basis) and algae doesnt always need sunlight to multiply. if you have a translucent tank or a light coloured hose pipe there is potential for algae growth. - so in your case a tank in the van if translucent can get algae in it via refraction of sunlight by the inside of the van metal work! 

i use RO water in my 350 litre fish tank and it has no direct sunlight near it atall (and no chance of refraction off the room walls either), yet the man made artificial light creates lots of algae infact once a year i have an algae bloom just like you get in the wild!

the question here is therefore two fold:

1. is the algae actually bad in your van tank? i.e. will it affect your pole / the clean on the windows?

2. once its in your tank can you get rid of it? now this is very difficult - the only way i have ever got rid of algae if to drain a tank (or holding tank i.e. your van tank) and leave it empty and dry for about 3 to 7 days!!!! 

however IMO painting your tank black will certainly help reduce algae and may even stop it. this is another reason why many fish keepers paint the back of their tanks in dark colours (it also shows the fish up well) it helps reduce algae growth!

i may even post a picture of my fish tank now ive mentioned it!

DC

[busydaffodil]

DC would love to see a pic of the fishtank.   I've acquired an outside raised pond about 7ft x 4ft.   We've just purchased a pump & green genie UV/filter box as we discovered the previous owners had missed 1 fish when moving out.  Didnt want it to die.....but how expensive it all is!!!! 

Anyways, we're getting more and more into it so would love to see the tank/setup

[David 'Duck' Clare]

right ill go get the camera.

ps Trev you could use an inline hose UV sterilizer to iradiate algae bacteria before it gets to your RO unit (or after it if you store water and then pump it to your van tank?). these cost from £30 to £300 depending on scale and the size of the bulb etc.

[David 'Duck' Clare]

Heres 2 pictures of my main marine fish tank - sorry they arnt that good it was hard to take a pic that didnt totally reflect the flash of the camera as the front glass is rounded.

[David 'Duck' Clare]

just to show here about algae. i havnt cleaned the sides of the tank for about a week (lazy boy i know) and as you can see at the rear (on both sides) algae gets everywhere, even on the tidal pumps.

DC

[Trevor Knight]

I am glad to see that I have created the most colourful thread on this site lol 

On a more serious note, think I will be buying a can of paint in the next couple of days.

regards and thanks,

Trev

[busydaffodil]

How pretty DC.   Looks like you have spent alot of time working on your tank.   Reminds me of those underwater programmes on TV where the cameraman shows coral, etc.  I am impressed!!   Cannot see the Algae though

I've been told to buy grass carp to eat algae.    1 shop said that info is to scam people into buying them as grass carp will only eat algae IF they are starving...and in a pond in the garden, thats very unlikely.

Another shop told me they do eat it along with koi food, etc.  He said it was part of their diet.    Oh well, I bought 2 anyway.......albino grass carp....very pink & pretty & noticable!!

Thanks for showing us the pics DC.

[Alex Gardiner]

If you are continually emptying and refilling your 'clear' tank algae should never have a chance to build up.

I have had a clear 1000litre holding tank in my back Garden for about 5 years now, and never once has any algae built up as the water is constantly being changed, the submersible pump sucks it from the bottom and the feed is from the top.

Alex

[Trevor Knight]

Thanks Alex, point taken

Cheers Trev

[JM123]

yeah I wouldn't worry about algae, its really easy to remove if you do get any as well - some jeyes fluid and a quick rinse will clean it out.

[petetaylor56]

 :)the only plase i get algae is in my filter housing cant see how it will live in pure water nothing for it to feed on dont get none in my tank