5 Gallon Tank + Cfls.

[Channti]

So, I've got a divided 5 gallon tank. Heated, filtered (Elite Stingray 5 and Penguin Bio-Wheel Mini... total filtration rated for 25 gallons). With two CFL bulbs in place of incandescent lighting. The CFL's are "Daylight" at 6,500K, 11 watts each.

This gives me 4.4 watts/gallon.

I had a HUGE outbreak of cyanobacteria about a month ago that I got rid of. I've now got a new green slimy-like algae growing on the divider.

The tank is planted with:
-Hygrophila Polysperma (which is growing at an insane rate)
-Cryptocoryne Wendtii "Brown" (tiny cuttings about 1" in height)
-Hornwort (lots and lots!)
-Java Fern.

Tank is a sand substrate, has two male bettas.

I have no idea what to do. This tank seems to be an algae magnet. I blame the lighting, but to keep it planted, my options really are CFLs with plants and algae...... or incandescents and I go back to incadescent lighting. Is there any other options for light that wouldn't involve changing my light fixture on the tank?

The tank gets a 20% water change, once a week. The algae starts on the divider, then goes over the terra cotta pot caves.

Would Snails help with this algae? (one that won't breed in fresh water?... one on each side of the divider?)

 

[RadaR]

The WPG "rule" doesnt work on tanks that small.
However you do have a lot of light. The plants arent getting the CO2 and nutrients they need. Hence the algae.
You need to dose liquid carbon and tropica plant nutrition+ daily.
Follow this up with 2x25% water change per week and only have the light on for 8hours a day.
The divider is probably reducing your water circulation a lot which isnt helping.

 

[Channti]

There is a filter on either side of the divider to help with circulation. There are a couple Flourish Tab fragments in the tank under the plants.

I've been dosing weekly with Nutrafin PlantGro, should I be dosing something else?. I'm from Canada, so we don't necessarily have the same brand-names, but I'm headed to my "good" fish store next week, so if you tell me what to ask for, I'm sure I'll find it. I'll up that to daily now (Gonna need to go buy another bottle!).

Looking at the Algae Guide, I'd say I've got ANOTHER breakout of Cyanobacteria.

 

[RadaR]

So no carbon addition at all..?
The fert you have just contains trace elements (micro nutrients).
Plants need macro nutrients (NPK) so much more than trace elements.

Canada, hhhmmm, could make things trickey. They are quite strict on what you can import, ie. potassium nitrate.

Try find Tropica Plant Nutrition+. This contains all the macro and micro nutrients that plants need.
If you cant find that, then look for Easylife Nitro, Easylife Fosfo and Easylife Profito.
If failing that then look for Seachem Nitrogen, Seachem Phosphorus and Seachem Potassium.

Also try find Seachem Flourish Excel. This is liquid carbon.

 

[Channti]

I KNOW I've seen the Seachem products at my LFS. I'm headed there this weekend, so I'll pick it up then.

So I'd need to buy:
Seachem Nitrogen
Seachem Phosphorus
Seachem Potassium
Seachem Flourish Excel

?

 

[RadaR]

Yep.