Before & After - Aquarium Advice

marchmaxima · 05-31-2008, 08:52 AM

Before - 8th March
Aquarium Advice - Aquarium & Reef Forum - marchmaxima's Album: 15G Freshwater Tank - Work In Progress - Picture

After - 31st May
Aquarium Advice - Aquarium & Reef Forum - marchmaxima's Album: 15G Freshwater Tank - Work In Progress - Picture

It's Hygro Gone Wild!!! LOL

Anyone able to ID the green algae I'm getting in the second shot? Check the front right side of the tank where glass is.

Jchillin · 05-31-2008, 10:41 AM

That is some impressive growth, hygro on steroids?

If it's slimey and comes off in sheets, it's possibly cyano.

marchmaxima · 05-31-2008, 10:57 AM

Will check whether its slimey.... Never handled it so I'm not certain.

It does look cyan in colour.

FYI, I'm dosing with 1ml Seachem Flourish Comprehensive and 20ppm Potassium Sulphate per week. I do weekly 30% PWCs.

**An t-iasg** · 05-31-2008, 11:19 AM

That's some impressive growth! It looks very nice!

My guess is that's cyanobacteria too. I got a few bouts with that right at the front of my tank too. I don't think you have a low water flow

but since the hygro are so large now, maybe they are using up all the nitrates. Cyano grows in low and bottomed-out nitrate environments. You may have to supplement nitrates. I don't know if this will help the cyano but I dose 1 ml of Flourish Comprehensive in my 10 gallon tanks twice a week. Your plants look like they don't need any extra encouragement, though!

The cyano should easily be removable by gravel vac. You can also "bury" it - put some substrate over it - and it will die off that way. That's like giving it a mini-blackout. If it persists, you may have to do a total tank blackout for 3-5 days.

marchmaxima · 05-31-2008, 11:39 AM

It's been there for a while now. Not getting worse, just kinda being there. And you're right, I'm certainly not suffering from waterflow issues, but I might get rid of some of the hygro.

When I gravel vac, it doesn't come off. Neither does the diatoms for that matter but that might be cos I have sand, not gravel. Otos take care of most of the diatomsbut even they can'tget the ones on the sand.

Burying it might be a plan! I'dd do that to the grains of sand that are green. The stuff below the substrate's surface will be fun getting at it!

Nitrates never anything but 10ppm.

neilanh · 05-31-2008, 04:12 PM

That hygro looks happy, that's for sure.

Can you get a closer pic of the algae?

HiJaC · 05-31-2008, 06:05 PM

hi,

the best way i can notice if i've got cyno in the tank (other then the direct sight identification) is the smell. the water has a distinct kinda pond or wet dog smell in my tanks with it present to any noticable level....

when it takes a real hold its the worst algae experience ive had slowly smothering my plants, stunting growth, killing some. even after aggressive cleaning of tank and plants once it had a real hold in the tank it never went away until i took big steps. 3 day blackout didnt quite work, 5 day blackout gave me a couple of weeks rest from excessive upkeep. eventually nailed it with a week of erithromycn coupled with initial 3 day blackout. but of course adressed the underlaying nutrient deficiency of low NO3. its never come back, thanks to advice from here.

tank looks healthy though so dont let me freak you out too much

. i've just picked up my first hygro (red type) and its nice to see how it grows up.

Best Regards,

john

marchmaxima · 05-31-2008, 10:06 PM

Hi John

Haven't noticed a smell of any kind.... yet

Here's as close up as I could get.

and a bit on the sand.

Glenc · 06-01-2008, 12:58 AM

Your tank is taking off like a rocket, excellent growth! I also believe that algea is cyano. I've had it twice. Vacum it out now, if it gets a good hold it is very nasty stuff that is very hard to get rid of. It can smother everything. As already mentioned, increased current and upping the N03 will eventually kill it off. It can still take awhile but keep at it, get it out of your tank, it's a ticking time bomb.

marchmaxima · 06-01-2008, 01:55 AM

Well, there goes Sunday afternoon!

I can't vac it off cos I've tried that and it doesn't come off the sand, so I'll have to scoop out as much as green sand as I can.

Will boiling the sand remove it you think? I'd like to return the sand back to the tank.

05-31-2008, 08:52 AM	#1
marchmaxima Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 681	Before & After Before - 8th March Aquarium Advice - Aquarium & Reef Forum - marchmaxima's Album: 15G Freshwater Tank - Work In Progress - Picture After - 31st May Aquarium Advice - Aquarium & Reef Forum - marchmaxima's Album: 15G Freshwater Tank - Work In Progress - Picture It's Hygro Gone Wild!!! LOL Anyone able to ID the green algae I'm getting in the second shot? Check the front right side of the tank where glass is. __________________ Sharon : Melbourne, Australia 15G Freshwater Tank 4 x 2 x 2 FW Showpiece on the way

05-31-2008, 10:41 AM	#2
Jchillin Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New York, NY (The Big Apple) Posts: 12,970 Images: 47	That is some impressive growth, hygro on steroids? If it's slimey and comes off in sheets, it's possibly cyano. __________________ _________________________________

05-31-2008, 10:57 AM	#3
marchmaxima Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 681	Will check whether its slimey.... Never handled it so I'm not certain. It does look cyan in colour. FYI, I'm dosing with 1ml Seachem Flourish Comprehensive and 20ppm Potassium Sulphate per week. I do weekly 30% PWCs. __________________ Sharon : Melbourne, Australia 15G Freshwater Tank 4 x 2 x 2 FW Showpiece on the way Last edited by marchmaxima; 05-31-2008 at 10:28 PM..

05-31-2008, 11:39 AM	#5
marchmaxima Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 681	It's been there for a while now. Not getting worse, just kinda being there. And you're right, I'm certainly not suffering from waterflow issues, but I might get rid of some of the hygro. When I gravel vac, it doesn't come off. Neither does the diatoms for that matter but that might be cos I have sand, not gravel. Otos take care of most of the diatomsbut even they can'tget the ones on the sand. Burying it might be a plan! I'dd do that to the grains of sand that are green. The stuff below the substrate's surface will be fun getting at it! Nitrates never anything but 10ppm. __________________ Sharon : Melbourne, Australia 15G Freshwater Tank 4 x 2 x 2 FW Showpiece on the way

05-31-2008, 10:06 PM	#8
marchmaxima Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 681	Hi John Haven't noticed a smell of any kind.... yet Here's as close up as I could get. and a bit on the sand. __________________ Sharon : Melbourne, Australia 15G Freshwater Tank 4 x 2 x 2 FW Showpiece on the way

05-31-2008, 06:05 PM	#7
HiJaC Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 188	hi, the best way i can notice if i've got cyno in the tank (other then the direct sight identification) is the smell. the water has a distinct kinda pond or wet dog smell in my tanks with it present to any noticable level.... when it takes a real hold its the worst algae experience ive had slowly smothering my plants, stunting growth, killing some. even after aggressive cleaning of tank and plants once it had a real hold in the tank it never went away until i took big steps. 3 day blackout didnt quite work, 5 day blackout gave me a couple of weeks rest from excessive upkeep. eventually nailed it with a week of erithromycn coupled with initial 3 day blackout. but of course adressed the underlaying nutrient deficiency of low NO3. its never come back, thanks to advice from here. tank looks healthy though so dont let me freak you out too much . i've just picked up my first hygro (red type) and its nice to see how it grows up. Best Regards, john

06-01-2008, 12:58 AM	#9
Glenc Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,075	Your tank is taking off like a rocket, excellent growth! I also believe that algea is cyano. I've had it twice. Vacum it out now, if it gets a good hold it is very nasty stuff that is very hard to get rid of. It can smother everything. As already mentioned, increased current and upping the N03 will eventually kill it off. It can still take awhile but keep at it, get it out of your tank, it's a ticking time bomb. __________________ 125 gallon, Crypt green gecko, Crypt undulata "broad leaf" Lobelia cardinalis small and large form. H.corymbosa "compact" Crypt parva, Downoi, Bacopa. 2x 150 Wt 10000k HQI Metal Halide, 2x 65 Wt 6700k-Colourmax

06-01-2008, 01:55 AM	#10
marchmaxima Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 681	Well, there goes Sunday afternoon! I can't vac it off cos I've tried that and it doesn't come off the sand, so I'll have to scoop out as much as green sand as I can. Will boiling the sand remove it you think? I'd like to return the sand back to the tank. __________________ Sharon : Melbourne, Australia 15G Freshwater Tank 4 x 2 x 2 FW Showpiece on the way

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