algae dominates again

[shadypat]

well, my new plants have been doing great up to now. I did I 25% water change, and viola, two days later I have utter domination of hair algae on any leaf surface that is wide enough. All my poor brand new runners and recently planted dwarf sags are completely covered! It grows along the leaf margins, of my ozelot sowrds. Looks distgusting, a grey color. It basically cant be removed from the leaf surface without a bulldozer. God I hate my tap water.....I added another phosphate cartridge...that did the trick last time. Also, the water is very cloudy since that last water change.

Will I have to always add phosphate cartridges along with my tap water? Dont plants need these nutrients too? IMO algae eating organisms dont make a significant difference, even in large numbers.

 

[Lotus]

Is this black beard algae or green hair algae?

I would recommend you get a phosphate test kit, just so you can track the levels in your tank. Keep your nitratehosphate ratio at 10:1 (10ppm nitrate to 1ppm phosphate).

Phosphates in tapwater can be seasonal, usually in areas with a lot of agriculture in the water capture area.

I believe you're adding CO2, but I don't remember what system. Making sure your CO2 levels are good is an excellent way to get rid of black beard algae.

SAEs are excellent for hairy algae types, but they get to about 5". They are very peaceful, though.

 

[shakedown]

Does too much co2 help BBA or too little? I have just a lil bit starting, but the 4 SAE's that will be here on Friday should help.

 

[TurbineSurgeon]

From what I have read at AquaticPlant Central, the first thing that is usually suggested is to crank up the CO2 to around 30ppm.

 

[shadypat]

CO2:
I have a half-assed DIY system, using brown sugar as suggested by the LFS. two bottles, not exactly 2 liters but a lil smaller. connected to a hagen ladder. I thought the addition of a little plastic bell over the ladder. would be good to catch the bubbles after they get through the ladder....so I would imagine my CO2 is quite pathetic. infrequent bubbles.

Nitrates:0
I just added a phosphate removal thing. I would do a water change, but I guess that would be adding more phosphate back in again!!...I guess I'll fork over more money for the kit...

 

[shadypat]

i have decided to cut off any leaves with the hair algae, it seems like the newest growth doesnt have it as much. hopefully this will spur new leaves and clean up the tank a bit. At least the algae doesnt seem to be hurting the plants.

 

[Lotus]

Nitrates at 0 isn't a good thing in a planted tank. You should try to keep them at 5 or 10ppm.

You may need to change your CO2 solution every few weeks. When the bubbles start becoming few and far between, it's time to make a new solution.

 

[djlen]

The new, fast growing leaves will typically not have the algae on them. This is why it's a good idea to cut off the BBA laden leaves and get the plants growing well.
The SAE is a wonderful suggestion, and will eat the new stuff but leave the old, established algae to grow.
You need to find a way to get your CO2 up as close to 30ppm as possible and keep your N=10 - 15, and P=1.0 - 1.5.
If, over time you don't see a decrease, you may need to bleach bath the contents of the tank.
Cleanliness and the above parameters should do it for you along with an SAE if you can get one. You will probably see it growing on areas where the water flow is the greatest. ie. filter returns. Clean it up wherever you find it.

Len

 

[CS_sg]

I was told by a hobbyist that SAE also picks at the mosses besides eating the hair algae in the tank, is that true?

 

[shadypat]

well i did just that, and added a phosX cartridge along with a water change, water is clearing already. T

"Nitrates at 0 isn't a good thing in a planted tank. You should try to keep them at 5 or 10ppm."

Why cant I find a fertilizer that containes N? the seachem flourish is all micros! what do i have to mix up a batch myself...god! Or should I let all the fish poo and dead leaves rot and get my N that way!!!


new prob: my stupid weak piece of $hit thai fox injured his sucker and is presumably dead somewhere in the forest of plants in the back of my tank where i cant get at him. so hes gonna phuck up the water even more....i tell you it never Phucking ends

 

[TurbineSurgeon]

I understand your frustration. It was largely from a similar situation to the one you are now in that I started browsing aquatic plant specific forums.

It is possible to get Flourish Nitrogen, although I mix my own ferts because it is much cheaper and I have a better idea of what I am adding, how much, and how often.

Nitrate is one of the easier things to supplement as an excellent source can be found at Home Depot in the form of Grant's Stump Remover. It is pure Potassium Nitrate (KNO3). You could mix up a stock solution by dissolving 45 grams (approximately 8 teaspoons) in 250ml of water (I use distilled, but you could use tapwater). 1ml of this solution would provide ~0.69ppm of Nitrate (and as an added bonus ~0.44ppm of Potassium). A one pound jar of the stuff cost me about $6.

BTW: You should clean up that last post before the kids see it

 

[Lotus]

Calm down Things happen.

It's one of the reasons I don't mind a few snails in the tank, they clean up any lost bodies that you can't find. Have a look around to see if you can find a body. He may still be alive, though. Smaller injuries don't usually kill a fish very fast.

You can get Flourish Nitrogen, although it's not very economical. If you are running high light and CO2 with a small fish load, you will have N deficiencies. One option is Green Light Stump Remover, which you can probably find in Walmart/Lowes/Home Depot in the gardening section. Another option for N is to order some from www.gregwatson.com, get the KNO3, which will add nitrate and potassium to your tank.

edit: posted same time as Turbine

 

[shadypat]

Thanks guys. I'd be more than willing to buy a small bottle of flourish N if its under 10$...I'm a student just dont have time/space to mix ferts..

My population is up to about 6 med fish, tons of barb fry, a few shrimp, snails. I have been feeding everything almost daily now in order to increase N. I Usually starve them all, and they revert to grazing for algae, which is plentiful.

 

[shadypat]

I have to add that if it wasnt for your kind encouragement I woulda given up on this a long time ago.

 

[shadypat]

Hopefully the snails will be hungry and eat the whole thing, I'm not going into that jungle jungle again to look for it, the plants are too delicate. . Hes pretty much done, his sucking face seems to be ripped off entirely, he can no longer suck on the walls. He used to be on the front of the tank but i havent seen him for quite a while. Are there any fish I can get to eat his remains? so sad...

 

[TurbineSurgeon]

Since you have "6 med fish, tons of barb fry, a few shrimp, snails" the corpse will get disposed of if you can't get it out. I used to have a reef tank and getting the deceased out was virtually impossible.

A small bottle of Flourish Nitrogen will probably set you back about $4 plus shipping if you get it online (figure a couple of bucks more if you purchase it locally) and last 3-4 weeks or so. 1 pound of Potassium Nitrate will cost you $2.17 plus shipping and last for many months.

 

[Lotus]

I find snails eat a smallish dead fish pretty quickly. I try not to leave dead fish in the tank, but it happens occasionally (especially with fry). Sorry to hear your fish is so injured

The potassium nitrate in bulk is definitely a better deal. I have 3 tanks that I dose regularly with nitrate, and I haven't even used 1/4 of a pound in 6 months. I just mix up a bottle of it, and it lasts for months.

Just a warning, there may come a point when your plants aren't taking up so much nitrate. You will need to test it to see when it is needed.

 

[shadypat]

when will that point in time be might I ask?

 

[Lotus]

That's a hard question to answer. Sometimes it will be a few days, weeks or months. It's a good idea to have some nitrate source available for when the plants are "hungry."

These days I generally check my nitrate levels twice a week in the high light tanks, to see if they need nitrate added. Lately they haven't needed it. Maybe my fish are growing and producing more nitrate. A couple of months ago I was dosing twice a week.

 

[TurbineSurgeon]

I test NO3 and PO4 twice a week and adjust as needed to have the 10:1 N ratio.