Tam
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Black (and to a lesser extent green) algae have been problematic since I started my tank a year and a half ago. I have a 140 gal tank with 384 watts of light on for 10 hours a day. There is no direct light on it. I have 5 ottos, 4 algae eaters, 1 SAE, 2 plecos, and a bunch of other non-algae eaters. It has always been a stable system with:
pH: 8.0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 5 ppm
Ammonia - 0 - 0.25 ppm
Phosphate - 0 - 0.1 ppm
and added salt to 0.1%.
I have never checked hardness but am sure it is high considering my water supply.
I tried Algae Fix last year but it didn't help and now, despite multiple water changes and 6 months, every time I try to add shrimp, they die. (How long will that last?)
Do I need to do CO2? Should I try a UV filter? Is this just an unavoidable problem?
Thanks for any help.
pH: 8.0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 5 ppm
Ammonia - 0 - 0.25 ppm
Phosphate - 0 - 0.1 ppm
and added salt to 0.1%.
I have never checked hardness but am sure it is high considering my water supply.
I tried Algae Fix last year but it didn't help and now, despite multiple water changes and 6 months, every time I try to add shrimp, they die. (How long will that last?)
Do I need to do CO2? Should I try a UV filter? Is this just an unavoidable problem?
Thanks for any help.