Algae Problems

Nutrients, fertilization, substrates etc
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jcali10
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Location: Catonsville, MD

Algae Problems

Post by jcali10 »

Glad the topic is ALGAE at the next meeting.
Tank:50 G, Substrate: SMS, Pressurized CO2
3.12 WPG T5 Light (just readjusted down from 10 hrs a day to 9 hrs a day)
Fauna:
17 Tetras

3 Peppered Corys
Flora:
LOBELIA CARDINALIS 'SMALL FORM'
BLYXA JAPONICA
CABOMBA CAROLINIANA VAR. CAROLINIANA
ROTALA MACRANDRA 'GREEN NARROW LEAF'
ROTALA MACRANDRA 'GREEN'
CRYPTOCORYNE WENDTII


I am experiencing algae, a kind of a browish looking stuff, on my plants,
glass and equipment. Any ideas which one this is, and what is the cause,
so I can adjust for it?

I have started testing my water for N and P, I dose only if necessary,
and for the last two days my NO3 reading have been 10 plus ppm
and PO4 has been reading ~1.0-2.0 so I haven't dosed either.

Been dosing CSM+B and K daily.

PLEASE feel free to comment.

For dosing, I am trying to maintain a 10:1 ratio of N to P
Trying to acheive that using a 3:1 regime because plants
uptake P at a faster rate than N. Right Aaron. :wink:
Joe
ingg
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Post by ingg »

Brown, almost like slime coating, wipes off easily?
Dave
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jcali10
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Post by jcali10 »

Yes, it does wipe off easily and there is also some film floating on the surface.
Joe
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Jeff120
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Post by Jeff120 »

Common in new setups, its called diatom algea, ottos should take care of that
Jeff U.

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Aaron
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Post by Aaron »

Yes, it's diatom algae. Ottos and some other fish will eat it. It will clear up in 2-3 weeks when the tank balances out. It's quite normal in a new setup.
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jcali10
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Post by jcali10 »

Don't have any Otos yet, my NH3/4 has finally settled down and has read zero for 2 days in a row, so I guess I could add a few more small fish now.
Joe
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Ghazanfar Ghori
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Post by Ghazanfar Ghori »

You may want to keep an eye on Nitrites - wait for that to bottom out before
you add fish.
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jcali10
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Post by jcali10 »

I neglected to check the nitrites, just been checking NH3, NO3, and PO4. I will make sure that parameter is okay before stocking more fish.
Joe
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