Hi,
I've been gone for a few weeks on a trip and when I returned, I encountered an unfortunate algae bloom... well explosion... I would rather call it.
I have signs of green water, spot algae, fuzz algae/brush algae/a form of brown beard algae.
Green water is in the form of a green film. I'm attributing it to the unfortunate problem of sunlight hitting my tank. In the "covered" areas of my tank, where sunlight is blocked from hitting the tank, there is significantly less green film.
Spot algae I'm attributing to the amount of light hitting my tank. It's actually 96W over 20g, so it's a bit much. I'm considering changing the light structure, perhaps when some more money comes in.
The last algae I'm not so sure of. I know I have brush algae on my leaves, and the extent of the "damage" is quite bad and am considering discarding most of my java fern as it is quite damaged. However, I seem to have something that resembles the "structure" of beard algae, but is brown not green. It has strands approx 1cm long, looks like beard algae, but is brown.
I also have what resembles pearling, unfortunately on the algae It is also a goldfish tank so I'm thinking some nitrate balance problems. Also, since I was away, was unable to do a fert dosing schedule.
Steps I'm thinking to help fix this prob:
1. Dosing schedule (out of Seachem ferts, looking at getting dry ferts)
2. Reduced feeding
3. Dipping equipment in bleach solution (1 part bleach, 19 part water isn't it?)
4. Cleaning algae from sides of tank (I do this anyways with my weekly 50% water change)
5. Perhaps a new light
6. Switching to 2x2L bottles for my DIY setup, to try and maintain a steady flow of CO2.
I was hoping if some1 could give an opinion on my description and my thoughts about how the algae came to be. And suggestions for helping this problem.
Also, with such an intense light atm for my tank, how often would you think I should have the light on daily? 8hrs? 10hrs? 12 hrs? Atm, I have it on for 10 hrs, split into 3 hrs, break, then 7 hrs.
I know this is a long post and thank you for having the patience to read thru it.
I've been gone for a few weeks on a trip and when I returned, I encountered an unfortunate algae bloom... well explosion... I would rather call it.
I have signs of green water, spot algae, fuzz algae/brush algae/a form of brown beard algae.
Green water is in the form of a green film. I'm attributing it to the unfortunate problem of sunlight hitting my tank. In the "covered" areas of my tank, where sunlight is blocked from hitting the tank, there is significantly less green film.
Spot algae I'm attributing to the amount of light hitting my tank. It's actually 96W over 20g, so it's a bit much. I'm considering changing the light structure, perhaps when some more money comes in.
The last algae I'm not so sure of. I know I have brush algae on my leaves, and the extent of the "damage" is quite bad and am considering discarding most of my java fern as it is quite damaged. However, I seem to have something that resembles the "structure" of beard algae, but is brown not green. It has strands approx 1cm long, looks like beard algae, but is brown.
I also have what resembles pearling, unfortunately on the algae It is also a goldfish tank so I'm thinking some nitrate balance problems. Also, since I was away, was unable to do a fert dosing schedule.
Steps I'm thinking to help fix this prob:
1. Dosing schedule (out of Seachem ferts, looking at getting dry ferts)
2. Reduced feeding
3. Dipping equipment in bleach solution (1 part bleach, 19 part water isn't it?)
4. Cleaning algae from sides of tank (I do this anyways with my weekly 50% water change)
5. Perhaps a new light
6. Switching to 2x2L bottles for my DIY setup, to try and maintain a steady flow of CO2.
I was hoping if some1 could give an opinion on my description and my thoughts about how the algae came to be. And suggestions for helping this problem.
Also, with such an intense light atm for my tank, how often would you think I should have the light on daily? 8hrs? 10hrs? 12 hrs? Atm, I have it on for 10 hrs, split into 3 hrs, break, then 7 hrs.
I know this is a long post and thank you for having the patience to read thru it.