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Help with Green Spot Algae?

D.Bezinski

Member
Joined
12 Dec 2021
Messages
39
Location
United Kingdoms
Hello,

1. Size of tank in litres - 200l
2. Age of the set - up - 1 year
3. Filtration - Oase BioMaster 600. Using the original Oase filter media + 1L Seachem Matrix + 250ml Seachem Purigen
4. Lighting and duration - SOLIKU 90cm 48W Full spectrum LED light - running at 80% intensity. 6500K. Sunrise 13:00-13:30, 100% 13:30-20:30, Sunset 20:30-21:00
5. Substrate - Fluval Stratum
6. Co2 dosing or Non-dosing - Dosing pressurized CO2 - 4 bubbles per sec.
7. Fertilizers used + Ratios - Currently dosing TNC Lite 3ml daily + 6ml Easy Life EasyCarbo.
8. Water change regime and type - Water change 40% weekly using tap water. Tried 40% twice per week.
Tank water before water change:
Ph - 7.6 - 7.8
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 40
Phosphate - 0.5-1
Kh - 10
Gh - 16

Tap Water:
Ph - 7.6 - 7.8
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 30-40
Phosphate - 0.25 - 0.5
Kh - 10
Gh - 16
9. Inhabitants - 16 Neon/Cardinal Tetras, 12 Rummy Nose tetras, 6 Otocinclus, 4 Corrys, 10 amano shrimps, 2 dwarf honey gourami, 2 blue gourami

I've tried so many different fertilizers and lights settings. Tried adding overdosing... tried skipping days... tried with lowering the light intensity to 60%. I've read many people decreasing the light intensity and start adding phosphates. Tried adding 10ml Easy Life Fosfo daily for about 2 weeks and I think the problem got worse so i stopped and now i don't know what to do... I know the issue is probably in the way i am dosing fertilizers so any help will be appreciated.
Thanks
 

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From my experience, raising PO4 solves this problem. Once my accumulation total reaches about 6 to 10ppm PO4, I stop seeing it forming in new areas.
Also, based on the picture of the drop checker, CO2 looks low. But basing that off the color I see. I prefer calculating CO2 by pH drop, but I use a drop checker as a backup. Once I reach my 1 to 1.5 pH drop my checker is yellow with a hint of green.
 
Hi all,
Co2 dosing or Non-dosing - Dosing pressurized CO2 - 4 bubbles per sec.
7. Fertilizers used + Ratios - Currently dosing TNC Lite 3ml daily + 6ml Easy Life EasyCarbo.
I think your algae problems are partially just because your plants aren't growing anything like as well as they could be.

Have a look at <"Frogbit taken a turn"> it shows iron (Fe) deficiency in a non-CO2 limited plant. <"Iron"> and <"magnesium (Mg) are common deficiencies"> in harder water in the UK.

You need to try a complete fertiliser, there is no point in adding CO2 (or liquid carbon) if your plants are lacking in one or more of <"the essential nutrients for plant growth">. Nutrient deficiencies are really difficult to diagnose, so adding a <"complete fertiliser"> covers all possible deficiencies.

cheers Darrel
 
Hi,
Wait... I thought TNC Lite is all in one but just missing nitrogen and phosphorous? The idea was.. because i have high nitrates in the tap water i will dose tnc lite and i will use it with EasyLife Fosfo..

Once my accumulation total reaches about 6 to 10ppm PO4, I stop seeing it forming in new areas.
My phosphate is about 1ppm. In order to raise the phosphate with 1ppm i will need 40ml of Easy Life Fosfo. To raise is to 6 i will need 200ml?

So i have Tropica Specialised and Tropica Premium. How much Tropica Specialised would you dose based on the tank size and the pictures?

 
How much Tropica Specialised would you dose based on the tank size and the pictures?
I'd just add about 30ml of specialized per week (3x 10ml) and target another 1ppm of P04 via the Fosfo.
Long term your best option would be to make your own ferts.
4. Lighting and duration - SOLIKU 90cm 48W Full spectrum LED light - running at 80% intensity
I'd also reduce the light a bit whilst you sort out the algae issues at 60% there will be plenty of light to grow the plants and it will reduce the demand for co2 which won't be a bad thing atm.
 
Given the adequate nitrates in your tap, I’d mix my own all in one using dry salts. That way you can get the right ratios of NPK, as well as micros.
Totally agree. If you switch to dry salts and go with for example EI dosing (see Aquarium Plant Food UK - Home Page) that will sort all your nutrient deficiencies out and then if you still have issues at least you've ruled out fertilisation as a problem (and you will save a ton of £££ on ferts). Once you try dry salts I expect you'll never go back. My further advice is to totally ignore what you think you may or may not have coming from the tap water - assume that's all zero and fertilise accordingly. If you wind up having more nitrates than you need that's just fine.
 
Hi,
Wait... I thought TNC Lite is all in one but just missing nitrogen and phosphorous? The idea was.. because i have high nitrates in the tap water i will dose tnc lite and i will use it with EasyLife Fosfo..


My phosphate is about 1ppm. In order to raise the phosphate with 1ppm i will need 40ml of Easy Life Fosfo. To raise is to 6 i will need 200ml?

So i have Tropica Specialised and Tropica Premium. How much Tropica Specialised would you dose based on the tank size and the pictures?

I'm not familiar with those fertilizers. I use dry salts and can just add more KH2PO4. Somewhere, I'd imagine they break down those products to ppm per dose. I would do a quick search and see which one you would increase.
 
Hi
I think you have various Algae issues going on, not just GSA.
Get some fast growing stems and use them as the below tutorial.
hoggie
 
Have a look at <"Frogbit taken a turn"> it shows iron (Fe) deficiency in a non-CO2 limited plant. <"Iron"> and <"magnesium (Mg) are common deficiencies"> in harder water in the UK.

The above post from Darrel is spot on!
Depending where you live your Tap-water could be low in Magnesium...which is essential for healthy plant growth!
 
Hi all,
and i will get some more stems.
A <"floating plant"> is the other option, I like <"Amazon Frogbit"> (Limnobium laevigatum), but any one will do. You can also use <"Ceratopteris thalictroides and/or Ceratophyllum demersum"> as floating stems
So i have Tropica Specialised and Tropica Premium. How much Tropica Specialised would you dose based on the tank size and the pictures?
You can use the <"IFC Fertiliser calculator">, but
I'd just add about 30ml of specialized per week (3x 10ml)
<"should be about right">.

If you don't want to use dry salts to make your own mix you could use a horticultural fertiliser like <"Solufeed 2 : 1 : 4"> (formulation below). You would need to bear in mind that some of the nitrogen content is as urea (CO(NH2)2)

Solufeed_elemental1.jpg


My phosphate is about 1ppm.
You can measure low range phosphate (PO4---) <"content relatively easily">, but I wouldn't worry too much about the level, I'm not sure it is going to matter what that level is as long as your plants <"aren't limited by PO4--- availability">.
Tap Water:
Ph - 7.6 - 7.8
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 30-40
Phosphate - 0.25 - 0.5
Kh - 10
Gh - 16
Are these from your water company? They have an analytical lab. and will be able to give you accurate figures although it <"may not include some elements"> like phosphorus (P) and magnesium (Mg).

cheers Darrel
 
Last edited:
Hi Darrel,
If you don't want to use dry salts to make your own mix
It's not that i don't want but because i am new to the hobby i will need to learn how to do this first. Sooo more questions about that a bit later. :)

The tap water parameters are not from my supplier but from my tests using API kit.
Thanks Dimitar
 
Have a look at this;
EI
for instructions and a video.
I just watched the George Farmer's video about this started kit. Looks like that's all i need? What should i do about my water hardness? Do i still need to add all the salts?

I think you’d be better off looking at your local tap water report which will be published by your water supplier.
I think i can find the water report online, if not i will give them a call.

Thanks all
 
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