Hi All,
Tank seems to have been going fine since I started it in September, getting the "normal" green algae growing on the glass which I periodically clean off, also got some hair type stuff on the plants, nothing too bad that a bit of manual intervention can't control.
But, I've also had a couple of patches of dark green algae which you can take off in one piece, like a little blanket. Had this on and off for a while nothing too bad so far, but I think that might be changing, the leaves on some of my plants are getting covered and the stuff is growing more on the gravel, albeit very light at the moment, I vacuum a couple of times a week (battery vac, water stays in tank) this must help to keep it at bay. When I take any of this stuff out it smelly very earthy as well not particularly unpleasant.
Anyway tanks stats: 180 litres (40 US gals), original Juwel lights which are 50W, no CO2, plants 2 clumps of Cryptocoryne Wendtii, 2 clumps of Dwarf Sagittaria, hygrophila polysperma, Elodea densa, Hydrilla verticiliata, some amazon swords and a clump of a red plant who's lower leaves are starting to rot and are covered in algae (I'll be taking these out tomorrow, trimming the tops which are good and putting them back).
Since my tank cycled I never detected any ammonia or Nitrites, but most times I check the nitrates they seem to be 10 - 20 ppm (as best I can tell, colours on the test kit are pants but that's another story).
So I'd really like some ideas on what to do for the best, would upping the lighting help, but would this then mean I have to add CO2, what else should I be looking to test for.
As always any advice greatly appreciated.
Keith
Tank seems to have been going fine since I started it in September, getting the "normal" green algae growing on the glass which I periodically clean off, also got some hair type stuff on the plants, nothing too bad that a bit of manual intervention can't control.
But, I've also had a couple of patches of dark green algae which you can take off in one piece, like a little blanket. Had this on and off for a while nothing too bad so far, but I think that might be changing, the leaves on some of my plants are getting covered and the stuff is growing more on the gravel, albeit very light at the moment, I vacuum a couple of times a week (battery vac, water stays in tank) this must help to keep it at bay. When I take any of this stuff out it smelly very earthy as well not particularly unpleasant.
Anyway tanks stats: 180 litres (40 US gals), original Juwel lights which are 50W, no CO2, plants 2 clumps of Cryptocoryne Wendtii, 2 clumps of Dwarf Sagittaria, hygrophila polysperma, Elodea densa, Hydrilla verticiliata, some amazon swords and a clump of a red plant who's lower leaves are starting to rot and are covered in algae (I'll be taking these out tomorrow, trimming the tops which are good and putting them back).
Since my tank cycled I never detected any ammonia or Nitrites, but most times I check the nitrates they seem to be 10 - 20 ppm (as best I can tell, colours on the test kit are pants but that's another story).
So I'd really like some ideas on what to do for the best, would upping the lighting help, but would this then mean I have to add CO2, what else should I be looking to test for.
As always any advice greatly appreciated.
Keith
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=105018&hl=
. All fish are still alive though. But my bacteria died off and I had a cycle occur. No sign of bga coming back yet 
