• You are viewing the forum as a Guest, please login (you can use your Facebook, Twitter, Google or Microsoft account to login) or register using this link: Log in or Sign Up

Persistent Trouble Maker

Quetzalcoatl

Member
Joined
12 Jul 2011
Messages
324
Location
South Cheshire
Having some major issues with this stuff. Not sure if it`s hair algae or fungus of some description. The source is at substrate level and as you can see from the images if left unattended it spreads quickly (1 week) It`s becoming a real nuisance and I`m out of ideas!

I have tried reducing the photoperiod.
I have reduced feeding to a minimum.
I have kept on top of maintenance.
And Excel wont touch it.
Despite all these actions it still keeps hold.
Pleas help UKAPs. This is a battle I need to win.:thumbup:

BE209AEF-8A19-466E-B44E-710BDF452445_zpsd7nha884.jpg

4D875491-ABD8-4EAA-9B0D-7DE6748C4D1F_zpsbkfueepk.jpg

177C6B0A-53F9-4EAE-8EF1-E09E32D137D5_zpsujynlczz.jpg
 
Looks like diatoms. Have you tried reducing your light intensity? With the relatively low plant mass in there, the light looks very bright.

Manual removal is best with a pipe. Its a
Common occurrence in pre-mature aquascapes until plants settle. Then It just seems to disappear on it's own.
 
Possibly mate. However, tank was flooded back in July so would of thought I had got past the Diatom stage by now. :(
Maybe intensity could be the cause but the HC is doing so well I was reluctant to mess. Currently running a Hagen Glo 2x24 watt over a 60 ltr tank. It`s suspended about 6" and photoperiod last 6 hrs.

It`s my first Iwagumi and it`s proving to be a bit off a challenge.

Thanks for the input.:thumbup:


40C1F7DF-CAF7-4390-87B4-B5379EAF66E0_zps3wmr3lmo.jpg
 
It's just to do with the very low plant mass in comparison to nature style aquarium aquascapes.
I would definitely raise the light and possibly even remove one bulb altogether. You'll get slower but much more manageable growth.
 
Hi all, I know it looks "brown" which would suggest diatoms, but the long filaments mean that I think it is a "green", Rhizoclonium. I've never had an iwagumi, but I might try manual removal and upping the KNO3 addition a bit. cheers Darrel

Just Googled "Rhizoclonium" It would appear we could have a match. (Description:- Strands of fine green or brownish threads which are soft and slimy)
General consensus is lack of ferts, poor CO2, and a general lack of maintenance. My CO2 and flow are good, and maintenance is done weekly. So I will be re-evaluating my EI & dosing.

I am a little confused though as judging by the health of the HC I thought everything was fine. testament to the Aqua Soil I suppose? Which leads to the question....Does dosing the water column benefit plants if they are getting a good supply of nutrients from the substrate?

Thanks everyone.:thumbup:
 
I like say Nice scape. :) even with the trouble maker;) is it siphonable? I run 2 x 24w t5's over a 80x40x40cm for 5 hr I had major algae problems to the point I destroyed my favorite scape so far. Now I have moved my lighting up and Down and got it to the point I'm cleaning the Glass for something to do rather than getting rid of diatoms/ algae. I now totally get this lighting lark as my son Megga low Tec looks great and it hassle free:) less light on ours is cutting the work to the minimum. I'm even considering going lowe Tec when Nat sends me the little beauties.crs:) our tubes are approximately 60cm from the substrate at the moment.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tim
Thank You Kirk.
Syphoning doesn't work as unfortunately It does anchor itself to my hair grass and HC. It's a bit of a tangled mess to be honest. Best way to remove it is with a chopstick. Twirl it around like candy floss. It has a soft, fluffy appearance until it is removed from the water then it changes to a more slimy texture.
I am considering reducing light intensity but I fear for the HC. In my experience it likes light and lots of it. I am not experiencing any other algae either, a little bit of BBA on the hardscape but minimal. Which makes me think increasing KNO3 is the way to go.
 
Thank You Kirk.
Syphoning doesn't work as unfortunately It does anchor itself to my hair grass and HC. It's a bit of a tangled mess to be honest. Best way to remove it is with a chopstick. Twirl it around like candy floss. It has a soft, fluffy appearance until it is removed from the water then it changes to a more slimy texture.
I am considering reducing light intensity but I fear for the HC. In my experience it likes light and lots of it. I am not experiencing any other algae either, a little bit of BBA on the hardscape but minimal. Which makes me think increasing KNO3 is the way to go.

Use a toothbrush, it will do a much better job of removing this. HC does like light, but if it cannot get enough nutrients / co2 to utilise said light, algae will appear.
Reducing light will definitely have an effect, but adding more KNO3 May help too.
 
Most freshwater diatoms are, as you say, the cause of that horrible brown slimy film we know so well. But at least one genus, Melosira, forms brown or greenish threads.
 
Hi all,
But at least one genus, Melosira, forms brown or greenish threads
Yes it could well be a diatom like Melosira, Rhizoclonium is just a guess. You would need a bit under a microscope to be sure.

Melosira definitely does form brown filaments, and there is a common freshwater species in the UK, M. varians which are the brown threads you get in moderately polluted rivers.

<Melosira varians>
.
melosirakapuni2.jpg


Cheers Darrel
 
Time for drastic action!! :(


EF3D66DE-6E80-4B0A-9FE4-4F74C259166F_zpsb8sfjucr.jpg


Didn't want to go down this road but felt this was my only option after failing to see any improvement in the tank after making changes.
I started by reducing light intensity I saw no noticeable change. I persisted for over a week but still the Algae ran riot. When I noticed my HC starting to yellow I bottled it and reverted back.
Hopefully everything will come through and then I can revisit my dosing and prevent another crisis like this one. :banghead: This is day 3. Reckon it`s safe to take a peek?
 
After 4 days of blackout I can report that.......The Algae remains.:( I have had to resort to cutting the hair grass right back to try and remove as much algae as possible. I have also done a deep clean on filter and all pipe work which I must confess were in need of attention. I finished the black out around 5 days ago and have noticed that the algae growth has slowed. This is a positive as at it`s most intense the strands would grow 2" in 48hrs. Keeping fingers crossed.

Thanks for the compliments Richard.:thumbup: Hope you have more success than me!!
 
Hi mate. I will say that HC, for me has been a mare over the years. This is the first time I've been successful with it in 4 attempts. In this set up I originally started the DSM method. Turned out great. Lush growth, and a nice healthy carpet. Beautiful it was. I decided to take the plunge (Excuse the pun) and flood. After 2 weeks the carpet died. Disheartened and ready to quit I just left alone, neglected water changes, went days with no ferts. All of a sudden I noticed new growth and decided to let it run it`s course. And eventually, after 5 months I am back to where I was. Point being......Give it time. I found that unless conditions are spot on HC will take a lot of time to make it`s transition. Persistence!

IMG_1461_zpse6ca0a6e.jpg
 
Back
Top