Staghorn algae - Causes?

[Tiffi]

I have a problem for a couple weeks now with staghorn algae. and a smaller problem with beard algae on my gravel. The beard algae first appeared after I made some plant free space in the front of my tank. The staghorn algae sits on the filter outtake, the breeder net and various plants.

I did a lot of research about staghorn algae but did not find what could cause it.

The tank does not get direct sunlight, the lights are on for 12 hours, I have pressurized CO2 and so forth as you can see in my signature. I make water changes once a week about 50%, my plants are growing very well (have to prune them about twice a week), but my algae does too.

So what can I do to get rid of it?

 

[malkore]

I've never personally dealt with staghorn, but most all algae blooms are directly caused by a nutrient imbalance.
Check nitrates and phosphates, and if possible, validate your test kits to make sure they aren't starting to get inaccurate due to age/expiration of the kits.

you also mention beard algae, which in my experience, is cuased by phosphates being too high for nitrate level (losing that 10:1 ratio), so that's where I'd start...by focusing on phosphates.

everything else sounds fine...I'm assuming your CO2 levels are up around 30ppm?

 

[azn_fishy55]

I had terrible trouble with staghorn algae.I found no problems with my nutrients since I wasn't dosing any at that point but CO2.I never really found any solutions to this type of algae but tearing down the tank which I did and I haven't seen it since.But a possibility is a deficienty of nutrients,since I wasn't dosing any ferts when I got it and when I did start dosing ferts I haven't seen it since.

 

[greenmaji]

not dosing can get the NO3:PO4 out of ballance as much as not having accurate readings when dosing.. theoridicly..
if your NO3:PO4 is in ballance after double checking your test kit results...
stable CO2 levels seem to have a hand in this.. fluctuation can help cause it..
stable high CO2 levels as well.. (25-30ppm constanly?)
then.. reduse Iron suplementation..
too much iron has been reported to help this move along as well..
HTH