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So this morning I was reading in my plant book (Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants by Peter Hiscock). In the section about lighting it states that algae needs long periods of light to grow while plants can start and stop photothinisis rather quickly. Thus he says that running the lights for 5-6 hours then a break(the siesta) for 2-3 hours with a final lighting for 5-6 hours will cut back on algae growth.

Has anyone ever tryed this? I have been getting a far amount of green spot in my tank and I would like to get rid of it if all possible. Today is going to be my start day for this experiment. Thanks for your help as always!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings,

I tried that in my 29G, about a year ago. I don't think I had any specific reason to do so, I just felt like following this less-algae-growth attempt. Later, I changed it back to one full period. Didn't make a change in this low tech tank.

In a high tech tank, what are you supposed to do with the CO2 while your lights are off? Keep it running, I guess.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hi,
He is right in that plants do respond to light faster than
algae. My only comment is that it means that cloud cover
and passing thunderstorms would slow down algae and not
bother plants. The sun remains "up" regardless.

I think it would be more appropriate to figure out the
cause of the algae than to disturb the light cycle of
the tank.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

CO2....Yeah that is going to go off too being everything is on the same timer.... Maybe I can change that.

Frank,
As for algae cause. I am thinking right now it has to do with the lighting. It is only on slower growers and the glass. I have tried to shade a lot of the slower growers but it seems to keep popping up.

Any other thoughts?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings,
If you like to experiment then by all means go right ahead, but I wouldn't do that if it was my tank.
GSA is no big deal and isn't usually a big problem or sign of a problem. Maybe reduce light by an hour or so. If your plants are growing well then it's a light/waste thing.
Are you keeping up with water changes? Even if your doing 50% WC every week some tanks require more depending on stocking and plant mass and light. It's a lifestyle
Bensaf Bensaf

My Scapes

Didn't Bensaf always say he knocked out his GS by upping P?

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Back in the saddle!

Yep, and I agree. If P is low then increasing P can get rid of it. I had never run into that problem as our tap is a great source of P but at work my boss for some odd reason likes to use 50/50 RO/tap and his tank always had green spot. When I took it over I started using mostly tap, then all tap, and added some P and it went away. There can be other reasons for green spot though IMO.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Ok I am going to run this experiment for a week or so just to see what happens. Keeping everything else the same. If I am to truly learn anything then I must dig my hands into it. What is the worse that will happen?

I have been keeping up on the 50% water changes every week.

I am pretty sure that light is the major cause of the algea. I have cut my light back from 12 hours to 10 to 9 and I have been still getting the GS.

As for Phosphate. I am adding in 2.87ppm (1/8 tsp KH2PO4) 3x a week. I would think that I am adding in more than enough. I have been running right with what Tom Barr's sugested in one of his EI articles.

Thanks for all the help and advice. I really like your guys's input.



55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

This "theory" has being knocking around for a while and I must admit it never made much sense to me.

It's one of those things that sound good on paper but in reality things don't work that way.

It's thru that plants can build up photosyhthetic energy very quickly , this why the "mid day blast" system works well for a lot of people. But's a lot different to turning off the lights. IMO this just befuddles plants and stops photosynthesis.In the tropics even on a stormy day there is a lot of light (worse sunburn I ever had was on a cloudy day here !), and storms here tend to be very short and sharp.

GSA is going to happen in any tank where there is good light. But I have, as have many others, absolutely knocked it out with Phosphate, it's a very rare speck on the glass.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

So the great Ben things Phosphate will take it down. How much do you think I should run with?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

I was going to ask about this myself as i saw it mentioned in the most recent TFH magazine. Its in the article with the guy talking about his outdoor aquarium with his archerfish.

clownloachfan,

I read this article as well, I am not certain what I should think about his approach. I see quite a few issues with his algae problem (that he had in the past, like green water), most of it coming probably from inappropriate fertilization and the lack of CO2. All he tries to do is to cope with this shortcoming. Even if a tank is in the shade outdoors, it gets an enourmous amount of light and should receive proper treatment. I assume that with such a little plant mass he will run into issues eventually. His screen converts the tank at least for part of the day into a pond (light only from top), but even ponds get algae.

He sure did not convince me.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

So what is the basis of this artical?

Here is an update: I have not see a major change in aglae growth. Plants seem to be growing just fine on the half and half cycle. I will keep it going for a bit longer.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric