Hair/Thread or Diatoms Algae

[Coread]

Hi Everyone

I have lots of algae accumulating over everything (including the glass). Before I start looking into any corrective action, I need a bit of help on identifying what it is. After a bit of searching, I’ve found two potential candidates (or I could be completely wrong 😀).

It’s mostly brown in colour, it seems to ‘cling’ onto debris that float into it, it’s extremely easy to rub off (with the exception of the moss).




1. Size of tank in litres - 200
2. Age of the set - 3 weeks
3. Filtration - Fluval 307
4. Lighting and duration - Aquael Leggy 14w x2 (8 hours a day (2 in morning, 6 at night))
5. Substrate - Tripica Soil and Sand
6. Co2 dosing or Non-dosing - none
7. Fertilizers used & Ratios - TNC complete (2ml daily) & Easy Carbo (2ml daily)
8. Water change regime and type - every 3 days at 30% since starting
9. Plant list + When planted - quite a variety (see pictures), most planted 3 weeks ago
10. Drop Checker - no
11. Inhabitants - no
12. Full tank image & Surface image:

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[G H Nelson]

Algae in the cycling phase - | Aquasabi

A documentation

www.aquasabi.com

Hi, I guess diatoms and fuzz/thread algae as it's a New Set-Up!
The water column is slightly hazy, indicating insufficient good bacteria.
Add fine filter floss to the Filter/Pad. This will help trap microscopic particles and increase beneficial bacteria.
Slightly reduce the lighting to 6 hours.
Use the below tutorial to help implement better water quality.

Thread 'Using stem plants as a filtering aid at Start Up!'

19 Nov 2020

The subject of using fast-growing stem plants as part of a filtering aid has cropped up a few times recently.
This idea has been around for a long time so not new, it has benefits, especially for a new setup.

1. Improves water quality.
2. Reduces excess light.
3. Reduces diatoms.
4. Reduces Nitrite.
5. Reduces Nitrate.
6. Helps reduce algae outbreaks.
7. Indicator of a Nitrate shortage.
8. Oxygenates the water column.
9. Increases beneficial bacteria.
10. Plant cover.

Using fast-growing stem plants as a floating plant filtering aid has always worked well for me!
Although every aquarium...

• G H Nelson
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Articles / Tutorials

• 

hoggie

 

[Coread]

Thank you for the reply! I get a little lost with the huge amount of information available, there is something comforting in someone with bags of experience pointing you in the right direction.

Add fine filter floss to the Filter/Pad. This will help trap microscopic particles and increase beneficial bacteria

I have two layers of filter floss in the filter at the moment, I’ll order some more.

Slightly reduce the lighting to 6 hours

Done, I’ve removed the 2 hour light in the morning.

Use the below tutorial to help implement better water quality.

I have some Limnophila sessiliflora to hand, I’ll pop it into the sand substrate at the back so I can remove it easily later. I also have lots of Salvinia but I’m struggling with the water flow pulling in into the water (I’ll have a look into how to better distribute the flow).

 

[G H Nelson]

I used this filter fleece in the past with good results.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000H6SSSS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

It’s mostly brown in colour, it seems to ‘cling’ onto debris that float into it, it’s extremely easy to rub off (with the exception of the moss).

Is it is "lightly gritty" when you rub it between your fingers? If it is, they are <"filamentous diatoms">.

I guess diatoms and fuzz/thread algae as it's a New Set-Up!

Time is a greater "healer", and the diatoms (if they are diatoms) will decline over time.

cheers Darrel

 

[Coread]

Hi everyone

I used this filter fleece in the past

Perfect, I’ve got some coming tomorrow - I’ll swap out what I currently have (the one in my filter looks really battered, and I didn’t realise it’s best to replace it).

Is it is "lightly gritty" when you rub it between your fingers?

Oddly, it doesn’t have any texture at all. To the point where it was nearly impossible to pull out of the water (it disintegrates) and the ‘clump’ I did manage to take out was brown water (like a drop of squeezed filter water on my fingers). I wafted the plants and it just came off in clouds (excluding the moss, where that came off when massaging it) - the way it acted in the water column reminded me a little of the bio film that I scrubbed off the wood a few weeks ago.