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I've noticed a lot of algea threads recently, and I really didn't want to ask people's opinions again due to that fact. But here I am anyways.



Here's the Info:

Tank size: 38G, same footprint as a 30G

Tank Age: over a year old now, most plants 2 months, some newer, a few are older.

Lighting: 60 watts for most of the day, with an extra 20 watts to simulate noontime high light.

Ferts: Only root tabs right now.

Upkeep: weekly water changes of about 15%, usually on saturdays. No weekly ferts as of about a month ago. Did one dosing (less than half) because of some plants showing a lack of Iron or Mg.

Nitrates: Vary between 10-20ppm, between water changes. Currently 15ppm.

pH = 7.0

GH > 15

Kh = 6

PO4 > 2.0ppm. I quit using the PO4 pillow due to a general consensus that PO4 doesn't contribute greatly to algea growth.

From pH and KH:
CO2 = 18ppm using 2 bottles of DIY in a Reactor that I made about a month ago. Previous levels of CO2 were much lower.

Plant Species:
5-6 Sunset hygro
1 Large Amazon sword
6 green wendtii
1 Large Brown wendtii
Several Java Fern
1 Large Anubias barteri var. angustifolia (afzelii)
1 tiny peice of watersprite
Multiple Jungle vals

Algea species:
Green spot and beard algea.

That's about it. Anyways it's been a month since my last post (about algea), and over two months since I've seriously been planting. Algea growth has died down somewhat, but is still taking over some of my plants. I had to take out ALL of my watersprite except one tiny piece (which I hope to grow back) due to algea infestation, but I still have some fast growing hygro in the tank. On the bright side, all my plants are growing faster due to the increased CO2, but don't seem to be outcompeting the algea enough to get rid of it (at least to a level I can deal with).

Here is a pic of some of the new algea growth:




mattyboombatty attached this image:


Anyways I'm just looking for some advice, or maybe it will continue to diminish. Maybe there's too much light in comparison to CO2 and other nutrients, or something like that. Any Ideas?

Thanks,
Matt

Last edited by mattyboombatty at 09-Dec-2004 17:53[/font]

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Hi,
About the only test you don't mention is the results of
a nitrate test. There has been some discussion about
nitrate levels, and a suggestion that you would want
the nitrate level to be between 10 and 20mg/l. Folks
can use stump remover (I use the Grant's brand from
Home Depot).

The main thing that I noticed about your plant list is
that they are all (with the exception of the Sunset
Hygro) slow growing root feeders. You are really
"heavy" in that area and have nothing floating or
very few of the faster growing stem plants. You might
try increasing your stem plants, and possibly give some
thought to some floating plants. Stem plants grow
very rapidly and will use nutrients in doing so. The
floating plants will soak up nutrients directly from
the water and between the three types of plants could
easily out compete the algae for the available nutrients.

You also did not mention anything about the stocking
level of the tank but I assume that there are enough
fish in the tank to generate the waste products necessary
for the bacteria and plants.

Frank


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

Thanks Frank

My fish stock and water changes do keep the nitrates between 10 and 20ppm. They are currently 15 ppm (my nitrate test was hidden up above I guess). The complete fish stock is in my profile.

I had a large bunch of watersprite, but despite how fast it grew, the algea recently overtook it and I threw it all out save a small bit that I am hoping will grow back. for this reason I am hoping it will grow quickly and I won't have to buy another stem plant. If this does not work, I may just use cuttings from the hygro, as it is really taking off. It's grown about 6 inches in the 2 weeks I've had it in the tank, but it is showing signs of the algea too.

Even with that bunch (6-7 more waterprite or hygro) do you still think I won't have enough fast growers? If that's not enough, I'd have to "trade" one of my other plants for another stem plant, because the tank is pretty much full. Or I could look into floating plants like you said. I heard that riccia is actually supposed to be a floating plant, would that do well floating in my tank? I know it wouldn't survive as a substrate plant in my tank. What are some other good floaters that you've had experience with?

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Hi,
After reading your reply, I looked back at the origional
post and yes, you are right the Nitrate reading was hidden -
in plain sight, I just missed it. It sounds like you are
following the cululative advice of all of the threads and
yet you still have the algae problem.

I resolved my persistant algae problem by cutting my lights
back to two watts/gallon for 10 hours, and turning on a
second bulb for 4 hours (10am-2pm), maintaining my nitrate
arround 10ppm, and bringing the pH into the acidic range
and holding at a pH or 6.8. I maintain the KH at 4-5 giving
me a CO2 saturation of 19-23mg/l. I'd been changing my tank
(30 gal) water at 5 gal/change (slightly over 10%) and then
decided to shift to 20%.
For me, it worked, the algae retreated visably to nearly
nothing, of course the plants pearl very nicely, and they
grow like weeds.

Frank


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

How long did it take approximately for your algea to disappear? It might just take more time, I'm kind of impatient with these things.

Oh another quick question....do you gravel vac your substrate when doing a water change?

Last edited by mattyboombatty at 10-Dec-2004 13:26

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Hi Matt,
It took a couple of weeks, and I do vacuum the exposed
gravel. For the parts that are heavily planted, I wave
my hand around over the areas and then between the syphon
and the filter, that takes care of any detritus that I
manage to stir up.

Frank


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

Thanks again for the help Frank! Still not too sure what I'm going to do. I think I'm going to replace a bulb which might be older than I thought, and see if I can't find some floating plants to help get things under control.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients