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Green Algae on Sand.

Martin cape

Martin cape

Member
Joined
21 Dec 2012
Messages
611
Location
Workington
Hi guys.

Haven't got my co2 up and running yet, still waiting on deliveries.

But, I'm getting a fair bit of green algae on the top of the sand. I keep stirring it up but it's just coming back.

Any ideas?

Or will it clear up once I get CO2 and EI salts going?
 
Tank details? Size? Light? How many hours on? Dosing anything? Water changes? Filter cleaning?
 
Tank is a Juwel Rio 180, be about 135 litres in there with everything taken off.

2x 45w T5's (standard)

Filter is just the standard internal Bioflow. 600 l/ph. I've taken the carbon and phosphate filters out. Still got nitrate one in while waiting for the new coarse ones.

I change 25 litres a week. Dose 10ml Sera Florena (trace) once the new water is in.

pH about 7.2 ish. Ammonia and Nitrie 0ppm Nitrate 3.5ppm. Temp 25oC, KH is 2.5 and GH is 1

🙂
 
Only way I would be able to run one tube would be to take one out really.

Change light to 6 hours?

What about when the gas gets going?
 
Flow is very low for a tank that size also, specially with the internal filter, 25l water change is also on the low size.
when the gas gets going you need to dose macro nutrients too, dosing just micro is not good enough. 10ml of trace at least 3/4 times a week. Stick to 6 hours and then increase later when things are stable, but you need to adjust the CO2 and fertilizers accordingly when you do so.
 
Dont get to concerned about bright light as it has bean proven time & time again that low light with good gas distribution is the way to go.
You can use bright light but it will put you tank in a high risk situation at least until you fully understand how your tank will behave with the plants & hard scape you have chosen.
Low light means that the plant will grow slowly but it will be much easier to offer enough CO2 some the chance of algae is much less.
 
I have ordered a Koralia Nano 900 to go on the opposite corner to increase flow.

I have ordered all my salts too to make up Macro as well as trace 🙂.

Basically I am waiting for everything to get here but the algae is coming back each day.
 
The OP should turn all lights OFF and keep it that way until CO2 is available. Using a nitrate filter on a planted tank is simply absurd. Nitrogen is the second most important nutrient, right after Carbon. This explains why the algae keeps coming back. OP needs to read all threads on the Tutorial Section, otherwise he will likely spend the rest of his days in the Algae section.

Cheers,
 
Ok.

I've never really thought about the light situation as it was standard so I figured it would be good.

Ill turn down the light to 6 hours a day and dose 10ml trace every other day?

Will it be worthwhile taking a tube out then? The ones that are in are the T5 day and nature tubes.
 
Again, it was just the standard filters and according to Juwel is was beneficial as it will keep them low to avoid high levels. I am going to take it out when the coarse ones get here but if I do it now I will hardly have any filter media lol

Surely if I keep the lights off till I get the co2 up, the plants I have now will suffer?
 
In accordance with (IAW) Standard Forum Syntax (SFS), OP = Original Poster.:cyclops:

Having said that, continued use of Megawatts in conjunction with poor flow/distribution, zero CO2 injection and zero macronutrients will result in such chaos that the tank may ultimately require the talents of an operator, i.e, surgeon.

Cheers,
 
Hahaha.

Cheers. I like that reply actually.

No, this algae will be a temp situation. I've actually learned a lot so far. But when I think "I need to inject co2 really" ...... then from tutorials, I will be better trying to increase the KH and GH as its so low I will get fairly big pH swings when CO2 starts and stops, plus Magnesium is good for the plants....... then seeing about EI lol and I've ordered those to dose.

Then a new water pump to increase flow lol.

I'm actually enjoying it. Just need to get it all delivered and setup and hope the mrs doesn't twine!!

And I thought aquariums were for fish 😉
 
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