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While doing a water change today I noticed that I have a fare amount of algae on some plants, back glass and heater. I have the brown kind which I think is diatoms(sp?) then I have some red/brown which I don't know what it is then some green stringy stuff which I think is hair algae. I'm wondering if it's from fertilizer overdose

I have a 45 gallon tank with 1.6 watts of light i believe

my fert schedule is:
Flourish Excel
Days: Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday
Amount: 3 ml for one month then 4 ml
Iron
Days: Monday - Wednesday - Sunday
Amount: 4 ml
Potassium
Days: Monday - Wednesday - Friday
Amount: 7 ml
Nitrogen
Days: Tuesday - Thursday - Sunday
Amount: 3 ml
Phosphorus
Days: Tuesday - Thursday - Saturday
Amount: 6 ml
Root tabs

( I've been dosing like this for about 5 days)

I tried to follow the dosage recommended from web sites and the bottles. And I saw that some of my plants are browning and yellowing so that's why the fertilizer amounts are so high. Maybe there just not settled enough? I think read on here that someone called the Seachem business and they helped work out a schedule, did this help at all?

thanks for any help

tigermom

It might be a good idea to invest in some test kits so that you know exactly what's going on. Imbalances, overdosing one thing and being deficient in another, is a common cause of algae. Also consider that your lights aren't high so your plants won't consume nutrients very fast. At least nitrate and phosphorus tests would be a good starting point. Nitrate should be around 10-15ppm and P .5-1ppm.

That seems a lot to use I have been using Seachem for a while and with the advice from Seachem it was decided to use in my 32lt Betta tank
Excell 1ml every day
Nitrogen 1ml at change Sun, and Wed
Potassium 2ml at change Sun, and Wed.
1 fert tab every three months.

I contacted Seachen and they advised me what tests to get done and what the levels should be.
I think you will find there is no set rule as exactly what to use it mainly depends on your water supply. About a month of the first test run I had another test done and Seachem adjusted the dosage slightly.


Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

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