Algae problem

[litebrite8765]

I have had my tank for a long time, and added real plants about 6 months ago. They were doing great for a long time, and then my algae eater started to break the leaves off my wisteria. I found him another home. But lately I have been getting more and more algae, and I don't know what is causing it! My tank is a 37 gallon tall (22 inches high) (about 19 inches from top of ecocomplete gravel) I have two 24 watt 6700k t5ho bulbs. They are on for about 9 hours each day. I use api co2 booster, and under gravel fertilizer tabs under big plants, every 2 months or so. I don't add any liquid or dry ferts. 50% water change every week, nitrate between 5 and 10 ppm. The algae is getting worse and worse, and I scrub it off the walls every water change. Any ideas what I could be doing/not doing That is contributing and causing the algae? Thanks


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[Brian_Nano12g]

I'd reduce the photoperiod to about 7 hours. Add more liquid carbon like your CO2 booster -- Excel or Glut (glut, aka: metricide 14 is much cheaper). Get some nerite snails and otos. You can also spot treat the hairy algae with h2o2 or excel using a syringe.

 

[litebrite8765]

Where is the best place to buy glut?


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[Brian_Nano12g]

I bought mine on Amazon and eBay before. Just know it's about 2x stronger than excel. It also comes with an activator bottle that you DO NOT use.

 

[BiagioArt]

How do you use the H2O2? Will it not affect the fish?


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[Fresh2o]

How do you use the H2O2? Will it not affect the fish?


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You can use a plastic syringe to directly treat the affected areas. I use the plastic syringes used for giving oral meds to babies. Found it in the baby section of the grocery store for $0.79. There are usually markings for 1, 5, and 10 mL. Attaching a length of air hose to the end will help with hard to reach areas. I believe the dosing amount (maximum) is 3 mL per gallon of tank water.
1. Turn off the filter
2. Fill syringe with H2O2
3. Place tip of syringe (or tubing) near the area to treat and SLOWLY dispense the fluid
4. Repeat at all affected areas
5. Let tank sit for about 20 minutes
6. Restart filter



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[Sk3lly]

Too much light...... Inadequate co2 supply..... That's your problem


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[BiagioArt]

Oh WOW!! Thank you very detailed. I gotta give this a go. I'll post back to update.


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[BiagioArt]

I'm going to lower the light. I'm currently trying to figure out a way to culture CO2 to make it more of an ecosystem.


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[litebrite8765]

Too much light...... Inadequate co2 supply..... That's your problem


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Why have I just started seeing this problem when I've had my lights for 6+ months? And do you think I should start adding more co2?


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[Brookster123]

Why have I just started seeing this problem when I've had my lights for 6+ months? And do you think I should start adding more co2?


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Plants grow and spread, require more of everything in the process.

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[aqua_chem]

I have had my tank for a long time, and added real plants about 6 months ago. They were doing great for a long time, and then my algae eater started to break the leaves off my wisteria. I found him another home. But lately I have been getting more and more algae, and I don't know what is causing it! My tank is a 37 gallon tall (22 inches high) (about 19 inches from top of ecocomplete gravel) I have two 24 watt 6700k t5ho bulbs. They are on for about 9 hours each day. I use api co2 booster, and under gravel fertilizer tabs under big plants, every 2 months or so. I don't add any liquid or dry ferts. 50% water change every week, nitrate between 5 and 10 ppm. The algae is getting worse and worse, and I scrub it off the walls every water change. Any ideas what I could be doing/not doing That is contributing and causing the algae? Thanks

I agree this Sk3lly's sentiments; too much light for too little resources. Reducing to 7 hours of light might help, but it sounds like more of an intensity issue than a duration, which I think you're trying to address. I would also, in addition to spot treating whatever's in there, I would increase the dose of CO2 Booster. You could probably easily double it. Do you have shrimp in the tank by chance?

 

[litebrite8765]

I agree this Sk3lly's sentiments; too much light for too little resources. Reducing to 7 hours of light might help, but it sounds like more of an intensity issue than a duration, which I think you're trying to address. I would also, in addition to spot treating whatever's in there, I would increase the dose of CO2 Booster. You could probably easily double it. Do you have shrimp in the tank by chance?

No, only tetras.


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[evil Nick]

ottocats or bushynoses out of the question?

 

[Sk3lly]

ottocats or bushynoses out of the question?

Both great for algae but not really a solution just a quick fix


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[t4runnr]

Both great for algae but not really a solution just a quick fix


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+1

I have both but not because I wanted them to eat algae. I got them because my daughter thinks they're cute. When they were all juvies they ate some of the algae. Now that they're full grown, they don't touch any of the few bits of algae in my tank. The bn Plecos pretty much feed on the driftwood and any of the food that makes it to the bottom. The Otos pretty much eat whatever film grows on the plants. Maybe its its algae but I can't tell. Sometimes I see them on the glass and there are some green algae on the sides. I left the spots there to see if the Otos would take it but they ignore it. My nerites snails pretty much clean up thin films of algae. I have a little bit of bba on the driftwood that I don't mind as my Amano shrimps sometimes grazes on them.


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[Sk3lly]

+1

I have both but not because I wanted them to eat algae. I got them because my daughter thinks they're cute. When they were all juvies they ate some of the algae. Now that they're full grown, they don't touch any of the few bits of algae in my tank. The bn Plecos pretty much feed on the driftwood and any of the food that makes it to the bottom. The Otos pretty much eat whatever film grows on the plants. Maybe its its algae but I can't tell. Sometimes I see them on the glass and there are some green algae on the sides. I left the spots there to see if the Otos would take it but they ignore it. My nerites snails pretty much clean up thin films of algae. I have a little bit of bba on the driftwood that I don't mind as my Amano shrimps sometimes grazes on them.


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Green spot and bba. Sounds like you got an algae problem too lol ?


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[t4runnr]

It's not a lot. I don't mind the bba. It's not a lot and only on the driftwood. The green spot is new. But manageable. Adjusting the photoperiod like I've done before.


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[Sk3lly]

It's not a lot. I don't mind the bba. It's not a lot and only on the driftwood. The green spot is new. But manageable. Adjusting the photoperiod like I've done before.


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Yea I hear you. I'm forever doing different things in my tank. If I get any new algae growth of any kind I revert back to my standard setting. My new favourite thing I'm playing around with is co2 circulation in the tank. Really helps massively


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[t4runnr]

Co2 coming in spring 2015.


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