Poll Regarding Algae Species

[jarrod0987]

If I believe my test results I usually have between 20 to 40ppm nitrates, 2 (or so) phosphate and around 100ppm potassium. I do overdose potassium but that was under high light for giant hygro (sorry don't have proper name). So not sure on that potassium reading.

BBA has been a pain. Very little green spot algae. One plant has some hair algae.

Since sorting CO2 injection, dropping lights to 6 hours, increasing glut dosing and possibly help from fish/snails; the BBA has reduced over last month or two. First couple of weeks nothing seemed to happen but now I can see a difference. Recently swapped back to T5HO (from LEDs) so will so how that goes. Running lights for 7 hours.

This tank used to get green spot algae on one side that had a little natural light.


The best planted tank I did was one where I was away for 6 months. That had no algae at all.

There was no ferts dosing, never replaced bulb for years, never knew what I know now eg on water changes, no co2, gravel substrate with ugf. I can only guess I hit some balance that the plants liked (although I wish I could go back in time and test ph to see what the swordtail fry were swimming in).

How do you test your K? My test kit doesn't work right.

I have heard a lot of stories about how increasing PO4 got rid of green Spot Algae.

 

[Delapool]

How do you test your K? My test kit doesn't work right.



I have heard a lot of stories about how increasing PO4 got rid of green Spot Algae.

This is the one I use. Only lasts for a year apparently (according to box) and was expensive so not sure if I will buy again. Test kit read high but plants were short in potassium so not sure which to believe. Now I use it as a relative test, if it goes higher than ~100ppm I cut back dosing but no idea if 100 is true. The kit has 5 bottles to step through on using/testing so I can only assume that it was put together by someone who knows what they are doing.

I've got no idea what the guy in the website is doing..

http://www.coral-shop.com/shop.php?code=detail&detail=284

 

[jarrod0987]

This is the one I use. Only lasts for a year apparently (according to box) and was expensive so not sure if I will buy again. Test kit read high but plants were short in potassium so not sure which to believe. Now I use it as a relative test, if it goes higher than ~100ppm I cut back dosing but no idea if 100 is true. The kit has 5 bottles to step through on using/testing so I can only assume that it was put together by someone who knows what they are doing.

I've got no idea what the guy in the website is doing..

coral-shop.com - Seawater Analysis - Test Kits - [TEST] CS TEST Potassium

I have been toying with the idea of getting a soil K test and making some sample standards to see if I can come up with my own color chart. Doesn't have to be perfect, just cheap and relative. I have also read recently that Urea is a player in the algae game. I always thought urea degraded into ammonia instantly in water but I am now understanding this is not so. There are urea tests for labs which are expensive and need refrigeration. The soil test people might have something cheaper. Would just be a no low high kind of test I suppose.

 

[Delapool]

Would be interested on what you find with soil tests. Only briefly looked around at soil or aquaponics test kits but would love to find something cheaper.

 

[jarrod0987]

Soil tests all look dirt cheap. Pun intended . They don't have a ppm range so we would have to make test solutions for calibration. They have some cool ones we don't have for aquariums. I imagine you would soak the dirt in di water to do the test so that is probably very easy to just use aquarium water instead.

Edit:It looks like soil tests are always a package deal and you only get a few of each N P and K test. That make's it more expensive then I thought. I think you probably could do the test once a month with K just to see what your long term average was. I will keep looking for a cheaper way to get them.

 

[Delapool]

Soil tests all look dirt cheap. Pun intended . They don't have a ppm range so we would have to make test solutions for calibration. They have some cool ones we don't have for aquariums. I imagine you would soak the dirt in di water to do the test so that is probably very easy to just use aquarium water instead.

Edit:It looks like soil tests are always a package deal and you only get a few of each N P and K test. That make's it more expensive then I thought. I think you probably could do the test once a month with K just to see what your long term average was. I will keep looking for a cheaper way to get them.

Long term average would work for me. I'll have to check out soil tests again for pricing here.

Ps "groan" on the pun ?