Cintain
Member
So, I have algae in my new tank (boo!). I have a few theories about what is going on, but I am hoping to avail myself of the expertise and advice of this forum. Here we go:
1. Size of tank in litres: Aquabox clear peninsula 4820 (the phased-out model without overflow tank/sump) roughly 275 litres
2. Age of the set - up: it's new, only two weeks old.
3. Filtration: Oase 600T, plus Eheim surface skimmer SKIM350
4. Lighting and duration. Chihiro's WRGB2 Pro 120, on for 10 hours at 100%, with one-hour ramp-up and ramp-down times.
5. Substrate: Bottom: 3.5 cm of JBL ProFlora Aquabasis Plus, overlaid with a thin (2-3mm) inert fine black sand, and about 2.5cm medium-grade inert black gravel on top
6. Co2 dosing or Non-dosing: 12 hours, measured at roughly 35 psi, about 120 bubbles per minute using a CO2Art regulator and in-line diffuser. Goes on one hour before the lights come on, goes off one hour before the lights go out.
7. Fertilizers used & Ratios: Arka Tehnologie Grow Microbe-Lift Plants Green... I've only used this once, but my plan was to use it once per week. I think it might be too little... any advice on what fertilizers to use would be greatly appreciated.
8. Water change regime and type: Weekly, about ⅓ of the tank contents each time. I use tap water conditioned with Arka Technologie Microbe-Lift Salt&Fresh Xtreme Water Conditioner. This and the fertilizer are proprietary to the local shop where I buy stuff (Maidenhead Aquatics).
9. Plant list + When planted.: Microsorum pteropus, Ludwigia granulosa, Anubias congensis, Cryptocoryne undulatus Kasselman, Anubias nana mini, all planted at initial setup. These are all doing fine except for the cryptocoryne, which seems to be losing colour and leaves.
Limnophila sessiflora was planted a few days later, but also during the first week. It's doing fine, has almost doubled in size.
Hygrophila difformis, Alternanthera reinickii 'mini', Pogostemon helferi, and Taxiphyllum barbieri were plant
ed after the first water change, and also seem to be doing well.
All the new growth in the Ludwigia is a deep crimson red, which is nice. The top leaves of the Limnophila are also showing some red coloration. The Althernanthera actually lost some of its brightness since planting (it was bright pink, now it's more dull red).
10. Drop Checker. Yes (see pic), it shows some oscillation from deep, almost-blue green to lime over the course of the CO2 injection period.
11. Inhabitants. two juvenile pearl gouramis (Trichopodus leeri), twelve Otocinclus affinis. Planning to add 8 Ambastaia sidthimunki and 9 Kryptopterus vitreolus in the next few weeks.
Brief history: about halfway into the first week, I added the gouramis. the water turned quite murky afterwards. When I did the first water change, I noticed some hair algae on the hardscape and realised what I thought was cloudiness in the water was actually a whitish muck on the glass (no idea what this was, didn't look like algae). I tested the water and got pH 7, zero ammonia, almost zero nitrite, and nitrates at about 40 ppm. I cleaned the glass and the filter (using the old aquarium water to avoid destroying the bacterial population) and the water seemed clear for a few more days. In fact, i didn't clear the hair algae manually, but it seemed to vanish overnight after the water change. The plants (with the exception of the Cryptocoryne) seem to all be doing great. They have lots of pearling and all have new growth. After the water change I added the Otos. Again, halfway down the week, I noticed hair algae, but this time it is more widespread, covering the glass walls very densely.
What I think is going on: I haven't used the fertiliser except the one time after the water change, so with the strong lighting, the plants might be using up the nutrients halfway through the week. Also, I increased the light regime, from 8 to 12 hours, after the first water change, so this might have increased the rate at which the nutrients were used up?
I will clean the glass and filter and do a water change today, but any advice, pointers, or glaring mistakes you guys can point out would be very helpful!!
12. Full tank image & Surface image: see attached. I've included some detail pics of the plants to illustrate what they're doing. I am particularly worried about the Cryptocoryne... I think it's dying...
This was initial setup:
Today, right before I start cleaning:
1. Size of tank in litres: Aquabox clear peninsula 4820 (the phased-out model without overflow tank/sump) roughly 275 litres
2. Age of the set - up: it's new, only two weeks old.
3. Filtration: Oase 600T, plus Eheim surface skimmer SKIM350
4. Lighting and duration. Chihiro's WRGB2 Pro 120, on for 10 hours at 100%, with one-hour ramp-up and ramp-down times.
5. Substrate: Bottom: 3.5 cm of JBL ProFlora Aquabasis Plus, overlaid with a thin (2-3mm) inert fine black sand, and about 2.5cm medium-grade inert black gravel on top
6. Co2 dosing or Non-dosing: 12 hours, measured at roughly 35 psi, about 120 bubbles per minute using a CO2Art regulator and in-line diffuser. Goes on one hour before the lights come on, goes off one hour before the lights go out.
7. Fertilizers used & Ratios: Arka Tehnologie Grow Microbe-Lift Plants Green... I've only used this once, but my plan was to use it once per week. I think it might be too little... any advice on what fertilizers to use would be greatly appreciated.
8. Water change regime and type: Weekly, about ⅓ of the tank contents each time. I use tap water conditioned with Arka Technologie Microbe-Lift Salt&Fresh Xtreme Water Conditioner. This and the fertilizer are proprietary to the local shop where I buy stuff (Maidenhead Aquatics).
9. Plant list + When planted.: Microsorum pteropus, Ludwigia granulosa, Anubias congensis, Cryptocoryne undulatus Kasselman, Anubias nana mini, all planted at initial setup. These are all doing fine except for the cryptocoryne, which seems to be losing colour and leaves.
Limnophila sessiflora was planted a few days later, but also during the first week. It's doing fine, has almost doubled in size.
Hygrophila difformis, Alternanthera reinickii 'mini', Pogostemon helferi, and Taxiphyllum barbieri were plant
ed after the first water change, and also seem to be doing well.All the new growth in the Ludwigia is a deep crimson red, which is nice. The top leaves of the Limnophila are also showing some red coloration. The Althernanthera actually lost some of its brightness since planting (it was bright pink, now it's more dull red).
10. Drop Checker. Yes (see pic), it shows some oscillation from deep, almost-blue green to lime over the course of the CO2 injection period.
11. Inhabitants. two juvenile pearl gouramis (Trichopodus leeri), twelve Otocinclus affinis. Planning to add 8 Ambastaia sidthimunki and 9 Kryptopterus vitreolus in the next few weeks.
Brief history: about halfway into the first week, I added the gouramis. the water turned quite murky afterwards. When I did the first water change, I noticed some hair algae on the hardscape and realised what I thought was cloudiness in the water was actually a whitish muck on the glass (no idea what this was, didn't look like algae). I tested the water and got pH 7, zero ammonia, almost zero nitrite, and nitrates at about 40 ppm. I cleaned the glass and the filter (using the old aquarium water to avoid destroying the bacterial population) and the water seemed clear for a few more days. In fact, i didn't clear the hair algae manually, but it seemed to vanish overnight after the water change. The plants (with the exception of the Cryptocoryne) seem to all be doing great. They have lots of pearling and all have new growth. After the water change I added the Otos. Again, halfway down the week, I noticed hair algae, but this time it is more widespread, covering the glass walls very densely.
What I think is going on: I haven't used the fertiliser except the one time after the water change, so with the strong lighting, the plants might be using up the nutrients halfway through the week. Also, I increased the light regime, from 8 to 12 hours, after the first water change, so this might have increased the rate at which the nutrients were used up?
I will clean the glass and filter and do a water change today, but any advice, pointers, or glaring mistakes you guys can point out would be very helpful!!
12. Full tank image & Surface image: see attached. I've included some detail pics of the plants to illustrate what they're doing. I am particularly worried about the Cryptocoryne... I think it's dying...
This was initial setup:
Today, right before I start cleaning:
