Algae showing up in new planted tank -- Any Advice?

[wdcolo]

The tank was established about 30 days before planting: Substrate installed, filters / Heaters running, Lights installed, natural [acronym:b58c3fa4f7="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:b58c3fa4f7] system installed, but not turned on.

The tank was planted about 3 weeks ago and [acronym:b58c3fa4f7="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:b58c3fa4f7] was started. Fish added a week ago -- the tank has not cycled yet so am watching for ammonia, nitrites, etc. Fish are happy and schooling, but Algae has now started to take hold in the tank (only faint traces visible). I would like to nip this in the bud right now. I also don't understand why the [acronym:b58c3fa4f7="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:b58c3fa4f7] has changed so suddenly, and what may be causing that to occur.

Any Advice?


Tank Specifics:

20 gallons
3.25 Watts / Gallon (Light)
Natural [acronym:b58c3fa4f7="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:b58c3fa4f7]
ammonia: 0 [acronym:b58c3fa4f7="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:b58c3fa4f7]
Nitrite: 0.25 [acronym:b58c3fa4f7="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:b58c3fa4f7]
Nitrate: 0 [acronym:b58c3fa4f7="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:b58c3fa4f7]
[acronym:b58c3fa4f7="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:b58c3fa4f7]: moved from 7.6 down to 6.0 in the last week.
[/u]

[malkore]

First of all, Welcome to Aquarium Advice!

Now, I need a little more info on your tank. pH is currently 6.0? what is your Kh, or Carbonate Hardness? (sometimes called Alkalinity)
You need to know this so that you can determine what your [acronym:574ffb786d="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:574ffb786d] levels are sitting at. With your high light tank, you'll want 25ppm of [acronym:574ffb786d="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:574ffb786d] minimum, but don't exceed 35ppm.

This may require adding a second [acronym:574ffb786d="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:574ffb786d] bottle to your setup, simply connect with a T-connector.

I would also suggest purchasing Seachem's Phosphate test kit (www.drsfostersmith.com sells it if you can't find it locally).

Let me know the Kh levels, either in degrees, [acronym:574ffb786d="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:574ffb786d] or [acronym:574ffb786d="milligrams or magnesium, depending on context"]mg[/acronym:574ffb786d]/L and then we'll know if you need more [acronym:574ffb786d="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:574ffb786d].

Spend some time thoroughly reading the Stickied posts at the top of the planted forum. They will shed some more light on [acronym:574ffb786d="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:574ffb786d] testing, and how to avoid algae by properly maintaining NPK levels, and trace nutrients. Your low nitrate level is the cause of your algae...the phosphate level is too high in relation to nitrate. You want about 10ppm of nitrate for every 1ppm of phosphate...you probably have 0:1 or above, a recipe for algae.

cycling your tank
I'm not going to chastise you for not fishless cycling, because a high light [acronym:574ffb786d="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:574ffb786d] injected, densly planted tank doesn't cycle like a non-planted tank.
Keep testing ammonia, nitrite and nitrate...but don't be surprised if you never see ammonia. Plants will use ammonia as a source of nitrogen just as readily as they'll use nitrate. But they won't touch nitrite, and nitrite becomes toxic by 1ppm. at your 0.25ppm levels, most fish won't be harmed. Be careful when it hits 0.5ppm, and do a 50% water change. You might have to do this every day for a week, but one day you'll see it disappear.

[wdcolo]

I will give the tank a check as you suggested above, and get back to you. I will have to go out an get a test kit before we can discuss.

By the way, I checked the Nitrites today, and found out they went back to zero as expected. The bacteria appears to be doing its job. I am looking for Nitrates, but they have not appeared. It may be too early to find them. The Ammonia levels are still at zero.

Ok.. I've had many tanks, but have learned this mainly on my own -- so my knowledge is lacking. What is fishless cycling, and how is it accomplished?

[malkore]

http://aquariumadvice.com/showquesti...q=2&fldAuto=15 - Fishless cycling faq

you may not end up seeing nitrates. in high light tanks, we pretty much have to dose nitrates, phosphates (not too much though) and potassium, as well as a trace mix and iron. soft water people also dose epsom salts to provide magnesium and calcium traces for the plants.

[Jchillin]

Fishless cycling is done by using an ammonia source other than fish. Pure ammonia (not the commercial household type), fish food or raw shrimp (fresh from fish market) are the most common methods.

By using the above method, you're tank can be cycled without subjecting fish to the dizzying array of toxins and prevents unnecessary fish deaths.

In regard to the lack of nitrites and nitrates, your tank has only been running for a week. Nitrites usually show up after 10 days and nitrates after 25-30 days.

[wdcolo]

Many thanks for all the advice from Malkore and Jchillin.

It is very much appreciated. I was aware that with plants, that Nitrates might not show up in high concentrations, but it didn't think this meant they might end up being zero.

I should have a Carbonate Hardness (Alkalinity) test kit, and Phosphate test kit by Friday of this week if all goes well at the local stores.

Will post the results when I have them on Friday (if all goes well).

Malkore: Buy the way.. nice bike

[travis simonson]

Good to see a serious planted tank enthusiast from CO If you're in the Denver area let me know and I might be able to help out a little more than just advice.

[wdcolo]

Sorry.. forgot to put in the Phosphate results:

Phosphate = 0 [acronym:16915d2726="milligrams or magnesium, depending on context"]mg[/acronym:16915d2726]/L
_____________________________________________
I did a 33% water change on Thursday, and so my chemistry changed a bit. I decided to run the tests again, and see what happened. Here are the new figures, along with the total hardness, and Carbonate Hardness results that were requested:

General (Total) hardness - ([acronym:16915d2726="General Hardness"]GH[/acronym:16915d2726]) = 180 [acronym:16915d2726="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:16915d2726] ([acronym:16915d2726="milligrams or magnesium, depending on context"]mg[/acronym:16915d2726]/L [acronym:16915d2726="Calcium carbonate"]CaCO3[/acronym:16915d2726])
Carbonate Hardness - ([acronym:16915d2726="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:16915d2726]) = < 10 [acronym:16915d2726="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:16915d2726] ([acronym:16915d2726="milligrams or magnesium, depending on context"]mg[/acronym:16915d2726] /L [acronym:16915d2726="Calcium carbonate"]CaCO3[/acronym:16915d2726])
[acronym:16915d2726="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:16915d2726] - 7.4 ; This was 6.0 prior to a water change
Nitrites = 0 [acronym:16915d2726="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:16915d2726]
Nitrates = 0 [acronym:16915d2726="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:16915d2726]
Ammonia =0 [acronym:16915d2726="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:16915d2726]

Some observations: I did the [acronym:16915d2726="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:16915d2726] test twice when I got the 6.0 answer and both tests agreed. I was quite surprised by the 7.4 reading today, although I did add new water on Thursday. I confirmed the new [acronym:16915d2726="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:16915d2726] results using the high [acronym:16915d2726="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:16915d2726] test to confirm the result (for [acronym:16915d2726="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:16915d2726] above 7.2) - Its more sensitive; The general hardness is moderately hard (Water comes from the Rocky Mountain snow run off); and the amount of [acronym:16915d2726="Calcium carbonate"]CaCO3[/acronym:16915d2726] in the tank was almost negligible.

Sounds like I need to increase my [acronym:16915d2726="Calcium carbonate"]CaCO3[/acronym:16915d2726] levels; Book says it needs to be up between 105 [acronym:16915d2726="milligrams or magnesium, depending on context"]mg[/acronym:16915d2726]/L and 125 [acronym:16915d2726="milligrams or magnesium, depending on context"]mg[/acronym:16915d2726]/L.

Comments?