I got a 3 gallon eclipse recently and put a temp dividre down the middle and house my two male bettas in it. Seems like I am having a huge overgrowth of algae. I turn the tank light off at night but it needs to be on during the day for the couple ribbon plants that are in there. I am not used to having compact flourescent bulbs in a tank hood. Does the compact flourescent tend to grow more algae? I have been thinking about using some algae no more fizzing tabs by jungle to help. it has also discolored all my white gravel- the algae that is

I am considering a apple snail . I do not know if it would help. I have very hard water

How about placing the plants in the smallest aquariums you have..and then leave the light off for a couple of days..

I've found white gravel is almost impossible to keep white


As for the apple snail, it will probably only produce a bunch of waste and eat no algae
I have no experience with the type of tank set up you have so I don't really have any advice on cutting the algae.

Just purchase some cheap algae killer(only if you have a filter) or wipe it off as it appears. I agree that an apple snail would produce too much waste. Maybe try some small rams horns instead. They don't produce near as much waste as an apple snail. Be sure to purchase a species that fits in your tank. Some rams orns are small while some get nearly as big as apple snails(brigs).

I did manage to get rid of all of it. I took my betttas out of the tank and put them in a couple of beanine boxes while I cleaned the tank. I took the plants out while cleaning. I got some of Jungles fizzing no more algae tabs . It came with a free algae scrubber . I put the partial tab in and let it fizz while I was scrubing the walls of the tank. Then I emptied the water and rinsed the gravel with believe it or not about 4 gallons of water before the gravel was fairly clean of algae and the water did come back green but clear instead. I think putting the tab in before rinsing the gravel with water good probably helped take the algae off the gravel. The gravel was rinsed well so then I put everything back in including the plants and a new little fern plant and a new filter.

What kind of ramshorn snails do you have? I have columbian ramshorns and they poop so much it's hard to believe something that small can poop that much, same as the apple snails I used to have.

I get that green spot algae that is the hardest stuff to get off, I have to use an algae scrapper to get it off the tank and if I want it off any thing else like my silk plants or my gravel I have to bleach it. Everything else I have tried just doesn't work, including the snails and algaecides.

are you using a compact flourescent? Maybe get a lesser watt bulb?

An otto on each side would clean it up. Also more plants would work as they take the nutrients away from the algae.

Whoa, people, wouldn't putting in 2 snails (one per side), or putting in 2 Ottos (catfish? i assume) overstock a 3 gallon tank that already has 2 bettas in it???

I agree with Sushi67, you could buy some liquid algae killer like those seen here! I've used the "Algae destroyer liquid advanced" before, and it worked fine for me.

I would also suggest investing in an algae scrubber brush (especially one with a handle), instead of one of the hand-held pads, the brush makes scrubbing the algae off very quick and easy. Just run that along the sides of the tank as often as needed. I'm not sure how that would work on real tough algae, though, a brush gets mine off easy, but so would a paper towel.

IMO, a little bit of algae is good, gives the tank a "lived in" homey look, but too much is just trashy.

Adequent filtration can support one otto on each side. I wouldn't do that if I could put in enough plants to kill out the algae.

here is my post above. as you can see I got rid of the algae with the above mentioned method. I also have started leaving the light on less during the day. I am down to one betta now which should lessen the bioload. I thought it unfair for for the two of them to be cramped in 1 1/2 gallon each. I adopted Chilli out Saturday to a lady who works at Pet*smart. She is knowledgable about bettas and had lost one not to long ago due to it growing a tumor. She says she spoils all her fish and I know Chilli is in good hands. Chilli got a the best deal out of it. He went from being in a 1 1/2 gallon tank to a heated 10 gallon all by himself with new plants and tank oraments and adoration from her four year old son who likes to put his finger on the glass of the tank and watch Chilli follow it all around
I do not know if a male betta would tolerate having a loach in there with him. He might kill the loach.I have had male bettas kill a snail because it was a male and let the female snails live. Also that would be a lot of fish for 3 gallons

So-called "columbian ramshorns" are, in fact, apple snails in a ramshorn-style shell. Real ramshorns have observable anatominal differences from an apple snail, and can breathe air. See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marisa_cornuarietis

bettaqueen: I'm sure he'll be happy in his new home! Also, how many watts is your compact fluorescent bulb? using a lower output bulb should slow the algae growth without causing problems with your plant.

Thanks Penquin. I do not know what wattage is . It is the stadard bulb that comes with my new 3 gallon eclipse setup.