FishProfiles.com Message Forums

My 20g is planted with crypts and bacopa, lighting is 1 wpg, no direct sunlight, lights are on ~10 hours per day.

I have a recurring algae problem on both the plants and driftwood. Below is a pic of part of the wood; the algae on the plants is green and looks velvety. There is minimal algae on the glass of the tank.

A while ago I used Algae Fix which took care of the problem temporarily (obviously ) but I'd rather not use checmicals.

It's an Asian biotope so I don't have any algae eaters, unless MTS eat algae (?). Is there anything else I can or should do? I actually don't mind the looks of it but I'm concerned if it's bad for the plants.

Thanks


Theresa_M attached this image:


~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is water at the bottom of the ocean

Theresa,

You can try dosing Flourish Excel. It really gives a boost to your plant, especially in a low light tank. My plants are going crazy since I started dosing it.

Many hobbyists have also reported that algae has died in their tank after using it. One example can be seen here.

Hope this helps.

I forgot to mention I use regular Flourish; is it supposed to have the same effect as Flourish Excel?

~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is water at the bottom of the ocean

Yes, the Flourish Excel definitely does work against algae, even thread. The only problem is on a big tank it gets to be expensive. The think a 500ml bottle is about $6 USD.

I never really had much success with it as far as plant growth. I believe it works well with co2. I have a diy 1.9 litre bottle on my 46gallon and I'm dosing excel and many of my plants are pearling, although for some reason I still have a tought time with Cabomba.

Here's a pic:

http://client.webshots.com/photo/270980865/344045006UcnoDX



Last edited by tetratech at 12-May-2005 18:32

Last edited by tetratech at 12-May-2005 18:33

My Scapes

Excel is a carbon source
Regular is just the nutrients.
IMU anyway .
You might actually want to back off on the ferts some with that low of lighting. I've had a horrible time with cyano that seems to correspond to flourish usage even in 2wpg &Co2 tank.

^_^ [hr width='40%']"Has someone taken your faith? Its real, the pain you feel.
The life, the love, You die to heal.
The hope that starts, The broken hearts...
I’ve got another confession my friend, I’m no fool.
I’m getting tired of starting again, Somewhere new."

Babel is your tank near a window?

My Scapes

Flourish and flourish excel are quite different. Regular flourish adds nutrients which will be used by plants and then algae if there's excess. Excel is a carbon source meant to replace or enhance co2 usage and has also been know to kill or slow the growth of some types of algae. I've never had any problems using flourish. The one time I overdosed a little all I got was more spot algae. Excel doesn't seem to affect spot algae.

Theresa,

With that lighting and plant stock adding Flourish would be very unneccasary and may be the root of the problem.

You could try the Excell, which is completely different and seems to have a good effect on this particular type of algae.

Ease off or eliminate the regular Flourish.

---

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.