2 Problems...need Some Help

[showjyr]

Problem #1-I am having some trouble with what i believe is staghorn algae. My tank stays pretty clean as i am still able to vac most of the dead spots, my bio-load isn't that high, and i over filter.
It grows mostly on my Anacharis that is close to the lights. I've trimmed a lot of it but the staghorn keeps coming back. I dose twice a week with flourish and have 55w of light over a 30gal. The only reason i can think of points toward CO2 but i think my levels are pretty good based on the color of my drop checker. Quite green with maybe a hint of blue.

Problem #2- This may be the cause of problem one. My ceramic diffuser builds up a lot of the white fluff causing the bubbles to be somewhat larger than they should be. If i scrub it with a brush it works well for about a day but soon gets clogged forcing the bubbles to squeeze between the ceramic and glass of the diffuser. Is there any way to reduce the amount of build up?

 

[SuperColey1]

The fluff isn't a proble if you are cleaning it off. Its more aesthetic than anything.

I guess you are running yeast setup if you are getting the hite fluffy stuff. add a bubble counter and the fluff will remain in the bubble counte instead of getting to the diffusor.

With staghorn it is often down to CO2 levels but also due to disturbing the substrate by moving plants or other means which releases ammonia.

Overfiltering is good but doesn't necessarily mean you have good circulation! circulation is the key to distributing the CO2 through the tank so whilst overfiltering as most of us do you need to ensure that your circulation is good.

If it is a case of moving plants then do a large water change immeditely after. i.e. move the plants with a full tank of water then change 50% upward.

Other than that others can help but this is all I can advise from experiences I have had and instructions I have been given (although the CO2 thingy is a route I went down until pressurised)

Good Luck
Andy

 

[showjyr]

The fluff isn't a proble if you are cleaning it off. Its more aesthetic than anything.

I guess you are running yeast setup if you are getting the hite fluffy stuff. add a bubble counter and the fluff will remain in the bubble counte instead of getting to the diffusor.

With staghorn it is often down to CO2 levels but also due to disturbing the substrate by moving plants or other means which releases ammonia.

Overfiltering is good but doesn't necessarily mean you have good circulation! circulation is the key to distributing the CO2 through the tank so whilst overfiltering as most of us do you need to ensure that your circulation is good.

If it is a case of moving plants then do a large water change immeditely after. i.e. move the plants with a full tank of water then change 50% upward.

Other than that others can help but this is all I can advise from experiences I have had and instructions I have been given (although the CO2 thingy is a route I went down until pressurised)

Good Luck
Andy

Thanks. I'll track down a bubble counter. I fear that the bubbles are to big to diffuse properly in the water before reaching the surface....hopefully getting rid of the white fluff will bring my CO2 levels up and keep them more stable.

 

[SuperColey1]

The white fluff is usually a by product of the yeast. it wont inhibit the CO2 on a ceramic diffusor if cleaned necuse there are so many pores on the ceramic disc.

Your problem will be something else but the bubble counter will remove the fluff for aesthetic reasons.

Andy

 

[showjyr]

Ordered my stuff for pressurized tonight so my co2 problems will be sorted soon.

I want to try overdosing excel for the staghorn as it seems to be getting worse, will it effect anything else in my tank?

I have;

Hornwort
Watersprite
Anubias
Riccia
Anacharis
Amazon Frogbit
Banana Lily
Duckweed
Water Lettuce
&
Cherry shrimp
Cajun Dwarf Crays
Endlers
Peppered Corys

 

[showjyr]

umm.... bump

 

[SuperColey1]

Overdosing Excel will kill the Riccia. not sure on others. Vals are suspect normally but you don't have them on your list there.

Andy