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I just spent about $100 on a new light and some pretty expensive plants to make my 20 gallon tank look all nice. But then this morning i realized my plants looked a little weepy and when i got a closer look i could see that there was white stringy stuff over every leaf of every plant! I hope all my plants are not going to die, anyone know of a solution? Should I add more plants? Is it an algae? HELP! (i also have snails...could they have anything to do with it?)

It sounds like an algae to me, maybe staghorn. I guess before I can suggest anything I need to know the water parameters (Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia, Phosphate if possible), what plants you have, how much light, what ferts you are/aren't adding to the tank, and your fish stock. These will all be helpful in determining a cause, and hopefully a way to help.

Matt

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I am so sorry but i cannot give you the NO3 or the NO2 or the NH4 or the P04 b/c my test kit ran out I am trying to get a new one but i have finals this week and the lfs is out of them so i am trying to get one somehow. I have java sword, java moss, and a few other plants i cannot remember! Im sorry! I have finals this week so i am trying to see what i can do in my limited time! AAAHHH!! I am going crazy! lol...well any help you could give me i would greatly appreciate! Thanks for your quick response and i am sorry about the test kit issue. Would having the light on for a shorter period help with the problem? Any suggestions, thanks!

Well I'll just assume that everything could be wrong, probably not, but this is the safest bet(read that my advice could be wrong, because of lack of information).

I'd reduce the time the lights are on to 10hrs, if they are on longer.

Stop dosing any ferts if you were doing so, this will be less for the algea to feed on.

I'll assume your tank is cycled, but that you have too much nitrate and phosphate - in this case do a small 5% water change everyday to reduce the concentration of these nutrients.

Since you have low light plants, I'll also assume that you have low lighting, and no CO2. DIY CO2 could be added to promote plant growth and consume excess nutrients, helping to minimalize algea.

Also manually remove any strands of algae you can.

good luck with finals!
matt

Last edited by mattyboombatty at 20-Jan-2005 23:18

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

The lighting on my tank is a 65 watt compact flourescent light. I have a nurtagrow (i think that is what it is called) CO2 system on my tank...it is still bubbling but should i replace it...just to make sure it is giving off a good amount?

If it's bubbling at a constant rate, then there is no need to replace it. However, the only way to know the concentration of CO2 is with a pH test and a KH test. If you know these then you can go [link= here ]http:// www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_co2chart.htm " style="COLOR: #FF0000[/link] and read the chart to find the concentration.

Does your set up include a reactor or diffuser? Either of those will help get the co2 into the water at a higher concentration.

Since you have High light and CO2, I will suggest that you use a lot of fast growing stem plants. A new favorite of mine is myriophilia, if you can find that, if not the usuals are good: cabomba, green hygro, rotala, hornwort, wisteria, ambulia, ludwigia, and many others. You can research plants at [link= tropica ]http:// www.tropica.com " style="COLOR: #FF0000[/link] or here at [link=FP]http:// www.fishprofiles.net/faq/plant.asp " style="COLOR: #FF0000[/link]

matt

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Thank you so much for your help. Is there any chance this could kill my plants?

You are very welcome. Unfortunately, there's a chance that if your plants don't outgrow the algae that they might be overcome by it. It has happened to me, but stick with it as my tank is algae free 10 days after I completely tore down and started over. Here's a [link= link ]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Planted%20Aquaria/52902.html?200501202258 [/link]to a diary of how I started over. It just takes some experience I think.

Last edited by mattyboombatty at 21-Jan-2005 15:44

Last edited by mattyboombatty at 21-Jan-2005 15:45

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients