So... My friend algae, you may know him

[sfarkhan]

Has anyone ever aquacaped with just algae?

I ‘m a noob so I'm going to pose the question because you guys are the experts Well at least that's what the website says

The tank is entering the first month and the surface film problem is slowly going away, but as expected with new tanks - I'm having a string/hair algae bloom.

It's not a crazy mess yet, but there are long strings of the stuff attached to most of the crypts and driftwood.

Before it becomes an issue . I want to review the proper process of getting the tank into equilibrium.

History: The bloom started about a couple of weeks ago when I moved the intake and output of the filter to the same side. Up till then there was very little algae growing.

Water:
pH 6.4 - 6.6 depending on CO2 injection level. API test
KH 3 - 4 depending on the CO2 injection level. API test
NH3/4 - 0 free NH3, 0.25 bound NH4 per the Seachem test
NO2 0 API test
NO3 10 API test
Temp 78 degrees

Lighting was:
4x 39watt T5-HO – Aquatic life default settings (most likely for salt water tank)
6500 K - Start 9:00 - End 17:00 (8 hours)
5000 K - Start 8:00 - End 20:00 (12 hours)

Today I made it:
6500 K - Start 13:00 - End 21:00 (8 hours)
5000 K - Start 13:00 - End 21:00 (8 hours)
(I wanna see my fish so It stays on till 9PM)

CO2:
Drop checker is green, Yeah I know it means nothing, I just need to invest $100 into an electronic pH meter soon.
pH-KH calculation puts it near 30ppm CO2. The CO2 comes on 20 minutes before the lights and off 10 minutes before they turn off.

Dosing:
Seachem Excel 25ml Sunday and Monday. – Usually 1 capful 5ml every three days.
Seachem Flourish every three days.
I haven’t started dosing macros.

Current options

• I wanted to wait till the tank matures a bit before dosing macros – Should I just start now?
  Currently the intake and output are near each other (per Amano tanks) I may move the intake back to the old position across the tank – it won’t churn the water but I didn’t have the surface scum nor algae problem till I put it on the same side – I’m wondering if the flow isn’t enough.
  I have gotten a quote for 20 amanos from Rachel and I'm about to pay but I think the dosing of excel may be a bit much and should wait?

Any advice?

[Judi]

What substrate are you using? I've always started dosing macros and micros right away, except for tanks with Aquasoil.

It might be worth it to move the intake back. I have definitely seen improvement in algae growth (uh, I mean improvement as in less algae growth!) with improved circulation.

I've dosed Excel daily in tanks with Amanos, and they don't seem to be affected.

[sfarkhan]

I'm using Up Aquasoil from Green Leaf Aquariums. I chose it because it doesn't give the Ammonia spike that Aquasoil does for the first 2 weeks.

My water registered 0 free ammonia and nitrites by day 4.

I will move the intake back, I wonder if the lily intake is reducing the flow of the filter. I've toyed with using the intake that came with the Fluval to see if it increases flow.
The other option is to get a powerhead and have it drive water from the opposite side of the tank - I'd rather not add more equipment inside the tank.

[krisw]

It's likely that your Up Aquasoil has run out of most of the macro-nutrients. Often, K, is the limiting factor. See if by just dosing Potassium, you get any better results. Otherwise, your tests didn't include a phosphate check. You show 10ppm of nitrate, are you sure you haven't bottomed out on phosphate? 10ppm is pretty high is you're not dosing anything.

[sfarkhan]

I appreciate the assistance, I'm new to Aquasoil so this is a learning experience.

I don't have a phosphate check kit. I asked the LFS and they said the phosphate test kits are not accurate and worthless - Which one do you recommend?

Th 10ppm nitrate is because the tank is due for a water change today and is filthy - Our water was turned off till just now because they are installing a new water heater. I'll be doing a water change shortly.

I hate to admit it but I never dosed macros in the previous tank and stuff grew with minimal algae so I thought it would be the same with this one... Oh boy this is gonna a fun learning experience

I plan on doing the Perpetual Preservation System.

I decided against the Estimative Index because I don't wanna do a 50% water change every week - I can't use a python in our apartment which means 8 3.5 gallon buckets to make 50%. I do a 25% water change weekly which is 4 buckets.

I purchased dry macro and micro ferts from GLA and a 500ml dosing bottle. I have to mix them and add them.

How much KH2PO4 should I add initially?

[krisw]

Quick questions. Do you get any green spot algae on your glass?

[sfarkhan]

Quick questions. Do you get any green spot algae on your glass?

Initially, I did, now it's a dust of hair algae. I can see it flowing with the water.

[sfarkhan]

i may make life easier and go with the EI - when you calculate tank size, this consideres the substrate and wood so it's closer to 48 gallons, right?

[Aaron]

Your lighting is very high too. Maybe try only a 3-4 hour period where all 4 bulbs are on at once. You can even get away with a two hour period. It helps a lot while you tweak your fert levels.

[krisw]

Agree with Aaron. Make that your first step. Leave the 6500k bulbs on 8 hours, with the 5000k ones only coming on for 2-3 hours in the middle of your day. That might be around dinner time on your timer!