Algae problem.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

I have never used the EI method in any of my tanks. But, I'm shocked to see that EI recommends up to 3 ppm for phosphate. In my non-EI tanks, I would be aiming for up to 30 ppm nitrate and up to 20 ppm potassium. I would limit phosphate to, perhaps, 0.4 ppm. And I would monitor this using the JBL phosphate (PO4) test kit. What is odd to me is that I would be aiming for similar figures for nitrate and potassium but only one tenth of the phosphate level. Rightly or wrongly, I associate high phosphate with increased likelihood of algae growth.

Remember that the EI recommended levels are dosages, not target values for the water column. The plants should be sucking up a good proportion of the dosage that you add, so the water column probably won’t reach 3 ppm. And normal practice is to add the dosage in three chunks throughout the week, so at no point should your water column reach the EI dosage level. Last time I measured, I think I had a PO₄ level of around 1.5 ppm in the water column, despite dosing 3 ppm per week.

And of course the weekly 50% water change keeps a lid on any unused fertiliser dosage (as well as, perhaps more importantly, removing dissolved organics).

As it happens I think I’ve reduced my PO₄ dosage to 2 ppm per week since then, and I haven’t recently done a PO₄ test. I’ll try to remember to do one tomorrow. The reduced PO₄ dosage is part of my ongoing investigation to see if BGA is affected by the NO₃ / PO₄ ratio, so currently I’m dosing 10 ppm per week of NO₃ and 2 ppm per week of PO₄. I was half expecting this to bring back my small amounts of BGA, but so far nothing!

 

[jaypeecee]

Hi @Dr Mike Oxgreen

Fair point. I interpreted the figures as target levels. Will be interested to know what your PO₄ test reveals. I'm pleased to hear that your experiment to see if BGA is affected by the NO₃ / PO₄ ratio is still continuing. My experiments also continue in trying to keep cyano at bay. I've very recently discovered a scientific paper with a proposed method for dealing with this. So, I've set up a tank in which I'm purposely growing Oscillatoria. It's only been going for a few days but the blue-green menace is growing nicely. Another ten days and I should have a result.

JPC

 

[Wilksy]

The light unit is a Twinstar 600SA Light with controller coming on for 6hrs a day at 60%, I don't know what the iron content is but I have reduced the TNC complete to 3ml/day as of this morning (its automatically dosed). I will be away for two weeks shortly so should I drop the light intensity down so I don't come back to a green nightmare.

I really need to get this sorted out as my good lady is getting fed up with my stress levels in trying to get this right, I've had fish tanks for years and have never experienced algae like this before - the really annoying thing is this is the most money I've ever spent on a tank yet its the one thats giving me a nightmare.

 

[john dory]

I'm running my 900s at 50% for 6 hours a day with a 30 min ramp up/down..and an hour"sunset"
Am using co2..but nowhere near 30ppm.
Standard dose of tnc complete.
All easy plants
Algae free and low maintenance.

 

[Wilksy]

John did you mean 30ppm of TNC complete if not how do you measure the amount of co2 being injected

 

[john dory]

No,I meant 30ppm of co2.
You can use the drop checker and/or a ph profile to determine how much co2 you have in the tank.

 

[jaypeecee]

Hi @Wilksy

I really need to get this sorted out as my good lady is getting fed up with my stress levels in trying to get this right, I've had fish tanks for years and have never experienced algae like this before - the really annoying thing is this is the most money I've ever spent on a tank yet its the one thats giving me a nightmare.

I really feel for you. Unfortunately, the situation that you find yourself in is all too common. The combination of water, CO2, lots of light and lots of fertilizers needs very careful management. It's the difference between so-called 'low tech' and 'high tech'. How about starting afresh following your two weeks away? That's what I'd be tempted to do. Others may have alternative suggestions.

Try to remain positive!

JPC 🙂

 

[john dory]

There was a good journal on here,a few years ago,by a member called pinkmummylady.
This may be of use to the op.

Maybe someone(more tech savvy)could provide a link.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

pinkmummylady

@Pinkmummy79 , I remembered they were from Weston-Super-Mare, and found them that way.

This thread? <"Leaving Hobby or moving to .....">.

cheers Darrel

 

[john dory]

Yes,that's the one

 

[Wilksy]

Update, I came back from just over two weeks away to a tank that was not too bad, there was a growth of green hair algae emanating in the direction of flow but nothing overly bad.

So I clean the algae up, do a water change and then I get brown algae on all the plants, this comes off very easily with either a waft of the hand or using long bamboo skewer type sticks to wrap it around.

Unfortunately it keeps coming back day after day, which I a real pain as the tank is nice apart from this - plants are growing well, no algae on the glass or items inside the tank just this brown stuff that just returns day after day.

Any ideas will be gratefully received

 

[Ags11]

Have you measured the Nitrate level in your your tap water?

 

[Wilksy]

I use RO water exclusively and add mineralize

 

[Wilksy]

Thought its about time I updated my algae issues I was having which almost made me give up, but I persevered and no have no algae at all which is such a relief after months of problems. So what did I end up with and I must state that I have no idea which of the changes I made sorted it out all I can say is that something did.

The lighting is now on 55% and on for 7 hrs a day
I have installed a UV light system into the return to tank feed
I cut the TNC Total to 3ml per day dosed in 1ml segment's during the course of a 24hr period
I do a quick clean and 50% water change every Tuesday, and a longer clean a plant trim plus another 50% water change every Friday
I have a breeding colony of Cherry Shrimps - bought 20 now have god now's how many
I dose the tank every clean with 10 drops of Phyton Git

The plant growth is fantastic, the moss that looked like a bad case of algae is now flourishing and covering most of the wood, and I'm letting it cover some of the lower edges of the rocks.

The Elecharis Mini is totally covered the desired area, the Java Fern has great growth as does all the Bucephalandra
So basically I didnt give in and all is now well

 

[DTM61]

Congratulations! Any pics?

 

[jaypeecee]

Hi @Wilksy

I'm delighted for you!

I have installed a UV light system into the return to tank feed

Out of interest, why did you install the UV system in the return feed?

I also use UV-C sterilizers on a couple of my tanks. Dependent on what I am trying to achieve by using them, I switch them ON or OFF, as required. It is likely that your UV-C sterilizers eliminated some of the algae by killing the algae spores.

JPC

 

[Soilwork]

Thought its about time I updated my algae issues I was having which almost made me give up, but I persevered and no have no algae at all which is such a relief after months of problems. So what did I end up with and I must state that I have no idea which of the changes I made sorted it out all I can say is that something did.

The lighting is now on 55% and on for 7 hrs a day
I have installed a UV light system into the return to tank feed
I cut the TNC Total to 3ml per day dosed in 1ml segment's during the course of a 24hr period
I do a quick clean and 50% water change every Tuesday, and a longer clean a plant trim plus another 50% water change every Friday
I have a breeding colony of Cherry Shrimps - bought 20 now have god now's how many
I dose the tank every clean with 10 drops of Phyton Git

The plant growth is fantastic, the moss that looked like a bad case of algae is now flourishing and covering most of the wood, and I'm letting it cover some of the lower edges of the rocks.

The Elecharis Mini is totally covered the desired area, the Java Fern has great growth as does all the Bucephalandra
So basically I didnt give in and all is now well

Is it possible that you waited long enough for the new sterile aquarium to establish a flourishing suite of necessary microorganisms and that is why the balance has now tipped in favour of the higher plant/microbe system and less in favour of algae?

I see and experience the same issues with excruciating regularity when I set up a completely sterile tank regardless of whether it is high energy or low energy. In fact I would truly question whether anyone has set up a completely new sterile tank and not had any issues with algae at all. The more I see these posts and issues regarding algae in new tanks the more I’m convinced the only true ‘cure’ for persistent algae is time.

I’m glad you are finally winning the battle.

 

[Karmicnull]

I have a breeding colony of Cherry Shrimps - bought 20 now have god now's how many

I have a small (12) low tech tank with plenty of algae in it - it was being overrun by brown diatoms. I moved some Cherrys into it and the brown diatoms went pretty much overnight. So I reckon they are definitely part of the solution - although equally definitely not all of it!

 

[Wilksy]

Thanks for your replies, the UV is in the flow back to the tank so the water flows from the filter through the UV and then back into the tank - is this not right when I was installing it I couldn't quite work out which way was best.

Attached is a picture of the tank taken last night (I had just installed a lit background which looks fantastic but took me nearly 4 hours to fix due to the hanging clips not being suitable for my tank), as you can see plant growth is good with no algae present, which brings me on to my next problem namely pruning.

I have no real idea how to prune correctly, the large leafed plant to the left was so small when I was having all my algae issues, but now it is rampant and I would like to trim it up, also the java fern is huge again how does one prune that.

 

[G H Nelson]

Hi
The large crypt on the left can be reduced in size by peeling off the largest outer leaves!
The java fern can be reduced by cutting at the base of leaves near the rhizome....best remove the discoloured/bent/broken leaves first.
hoggie