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I already have a problem with algae attaching itself to my wisteria and javamoss, would the addition of co2 help or would that make the algae worse. Assume I don't add any additional plants.

My tank is a 46g with 96watts, eco-complete substrate.



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CO2 will help plants grow faster if the other necessary nutrients are available. When plants are growing so quickly it is harder for algae to use the nutrients, because plants are better at it. The more [fast growing] plants you have in the tank, the harder time the algae will have.

Since you are running 2WPG and a plant friendly substrate, I'd recommend adding CO2.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

if you add co2, you will also increase the likelihood of more algae, but you can control it somewhat by getting plants like hornwort or java fern which are not heavy root feeders.

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"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

Great two different options.

My tank has alot of javamoss on the bottom, spread out around pieces of driftwood. My problem is I get algae on the javamoss, javafern and the wisteria, which seems to affect the lower leaves more. New growth on the top is o.k., but sometimes the 2nd and 3rd tier leaves will get the algae which slows growth.

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do you have anything that will eat your algae? maybe some mts or ottos?

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"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

I do have a school of 5 otos, but they don't seem to bother with it. They spend all their time on the dark driftwood along with my 4 dwarf plecos.

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Tetra,

What type of algae is it? Is it brown algae, green slime, blue slime, hair, etc.

Each type of algae can respond to different treatments. The treatment for one type may make another type explode!

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

BBA from the sound of it, does it look like little pain brushes around the leaf margins?

If so, welcome to BBA.

You can do a few things: CO2 is the number one way to deal with it. This has added benefits, you'll be able to grow many species and be able to prune often or not so often depending on the species you chose.

If you add the right amount of CO2 during the day peroid when the lights are on, the BBA will stop growing.

You will still need in most cases to remove what is there, trimming the lead is my preferred method, with good nutrients, CO2, growth is rapid and the plant grows back a new one.

SAE's and Amano shrimp will also eat and pick it off.
Thiese critters are more icing on the cake, the main issue is a variation in the CO2 levels.

Using a PC 96 w on a 46 gal tank will be much better if you if you add CO2.

If not, there is another way to do this, but it willt ake longer and require more patience.

Most aquarist find great pleasure in CO2 use, but there are others that prefer non CO2 methods.

I do both very successfully.

Regards,
Tom Barr

Bob and Plantbrain,

Thanks for all your good info.
When I look closely at the affected plants it looks more like little threads standing up on the leaves. When I do trim, I get some growth, but then the growth seems to stop before the plant get full.

Funny thing I have some wisteria cuttings in my kids tanks, with low light and they grow really nice, but when I put them in my tank they seem to stop growing and get weighted down with this algae.



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Here's a pic of the tank I'm talking about it.
Notice the dusty looking algae on the left front java moss.

http://image36.webshots.com/36/8/15/44/270981544YWzwBV_ph.jpg
http://image34.webshots.com/34/8/46/64/270984664VevQKB_ph.jpg

Second image is closer view

Last edited by tetratech at 10-Feb-2005 12:48

Last edited by tetratech at 10-Feb-2005 12:49

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You need to log out, then view the pics without logging in for us to see them.

Also make sure they are in a public folder.

Shannen,

O.K. Corrected problem. The second link is a closer look

http://image36.webshots.com/36/8/15/44/270981544YWzwBV_ph.jpg
http://image34.webshots.com/34/8/46/64/270984664VevQKB_ph.jpg


Last edited by tetratech at 10-Feb-2005 12:52

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