Hello all,
Carbon is the problem here. It's is usually always the problem when it comes to algae in planted systems because people focus too much on bright lights and nutrients but forget all about carbon.
For those that believe high nitrates and phosphates cause algae. I just quadruple dosed phosphate this morning with dry salts and triple dosed nitrates which has significant also increased potassium. I don't have much if any algae.
At a ph of:
With triple the dose of liquid carbon and a co2 injection rate of 3-4 bubbles per second.
I have Amano shrimp breeding in these conditions and the ever sensitive ottos are completely unaffected.
The correct notion is lots of nutrients + balance = no algae like you stated above.
When you force plants to quicken their rate of photosynthesis with high light intensity and do not provide non limiting nutrients you are asking for trouble. The system crumbles because dying plants have so many negative effects on the system.
1) remove all affected plants/leaves affected by algae.
2) remove algae on hardscape and glass.
3) provide non limiting macro and micro nutrients.
4) add carbon or significantly reduce light intensity.
5) clean the tank and filters, do not destroy the bacteria in the filters.
6) provide good flow around the tank with as much coverage as possible. Tanks care not to cancel flows out by placing nozzles/outputs on the same direction.
7) perform large weekly water changes.
I can almost guarantee your situation will improve massively.
As for allelochemicals, there effects are said to be negligible and simply adding activated carbon to the filter will remove all doubt.
Hope this helps.
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