A Bit Of Plant Help Needed...

[Curiosity101]

Edit: See post below

 

[Curiosity101]

I got my TPN+ and AE Carbon a few weeks ago, looked at the instructions and dosed according to them...
Then had a huge algae bloom , couldn't see the fish for a week through the green water.

So after that I gave up with TPN+ (Opting for some leftover root tabs for the past couple of weeks), and the odd dose of AE Carbon every few days.

Since the algae bloom cleared all was fine for a week or so, but now I have brown algae springing up on the lower leaves of my camboba, in the roots of my frogbit and in the dwarf hairgrass.

Plants are as follows:
15-20 Stems of Camboba (Average 30cm tall)
2 Amazon Swords
1 Unknown type of sword
8 ish Twisted Vallis
8 ish Frogbit plantlets (not obscuring light to any degree and only added a week ago)
Some Dwarf Hairgrass
And a moss ball

Lights are on 8 hours a day at 1.2 WPG (40W - 33 US Gal)

Due to my poor lighting the swords have gone rather dark, more chlorophyll, I know that much
But also since being in the tank the leave have gone slightly brittle. Not actually brittle, but more so than when they were first introduced. At first I'd presumed this was due to the increased chlorophyll but maybe you plant experts can shed some light...

I'm planning to get reflectors to make better use of the 40W of light I do have. And now need to know what sort of dosage of TPN+ and AE Carbo you would use. Baring in mind I want rid of the brown algae.

By the way the algae is very soft and easily brushes off of the plants, have I named it correctly?

 

[lljdma06]

How long has your tank been setup and what is your livestock?

 

[Geoff1991]

I would start with the manufacturers recommended dosage and see how the plants grow and increase/decrease the amount if you feel its necessary/if you get problems with algae.

 

[aaronnorth]

chlorophyll needs iron to photosynthesis effectively, so the increase in chlorophyll requires an increase in iron.

dose 5ml per 100litres daily, or every other day of the TPN+
and follow the directions on the bottle for liquid carbon.

it sounds like diatoms which are common in new setups due to the low bateria populations, and ammonia presence

 

[Curiosity101]

Thing is it isn't a new set-up...but, I've got a feeling I must have missed a small ammonia spike. Going by the fact the brown algae has now disappeared *shrug*

And are you sure I should dose that much fert wise? I've been going by the amount on the side of the bottle...which recommended only weekly dosage? But then obviously I don't know anything more than it says on the side of the bottle.

Also shall I go out and get some specific iron supplement, or is it covered by TPN+

Then just one final question, how do I slow the growth/ stop the growth of spot algae on the glass?

Thanks!

 

[aaronnorth]

yes, you could start off with less frequent doses, then if you still find the defficiencies continiuing then raise the frequency of the dose. The TPN+ should cover it.

adding extra Phosphate slows/ stops GSA, obviously this should be fixed by the increase in ferts too!

Thanjs.

 

[lljdma06]

yes, you could start off with less frequent doses, then if you still find the defficiencies continiuing then raise the frequency of the dose. The TPN+ should cover it.

adding extra Phosphate slows/ stops GSA, obviously this should be fixed by the increase in ferts too!

Thanjs.

The two topics you have are so similar, that I'm merging them so that you don't have to shift between two separate topics to get your answers. All the post are still their. It also sounds like diatoms to me, especially if you've done something to cause a spike. I get diatoms on occasion when I rescape or mess around with the gravel. I don't personally mind it much and my otos love it to munch on it, so it goes away quickly.

llj

 

[Curiosity101]

Thanks for all help (and for merging).

I hadn't thought to increase ferts...I was a bit tentative after the algae bloom I had last time.
I'll give it a go though, I guess it's just a case of balancing it...

Just one last question, would you definitely recommend dosing both ferts and liquid CO2 in my set-up? Baring in mind I have very soft water and only sand as a base...

 

[aaronnorth]

Thanks for all help (and for merging).

I hadn't thought to increase ferts...I was a bit tentative after the algae bloom I had last time.
I'll give it a go though, I guess it's just a case of balancing it...

Just one last question, would you definitely recommend dosing both ferts and liquid CO2 in my set-up? Baring in mind I have very soft water and only sand as a base...

Dosing both wont harm anything

 

[Curiosity101]

The only negative I could see is causing another algae bloom. My poor snail, he went from being a lovely blue to having a small coating of algae lol.

Is it just a balancing act then?

 

[aaronnorth]

i dont think the fertiliser caused the algae, and i'll explain why..

diatoms - common in new setups, caused by ammonia spikes. Even if you have cycled the tank the bacteria is unstable. Some also say it is from silica, however i disagree as there is silica molecules in the substrate which stay for years...

green water - caused by ammonia spikes, and sunlight/ too much light,

there is a good algae guide in my signature, and also one here:
http/www.aquariumalgae.blogspot.com/

 

[Curiosity101]

By algae bloom I did mean green water, and I guess it must have been some sort of ammonia spike that I missed.
That and afterwards I was talking to my parents and my dad said 'Oh yeah I was just watching it the other day, it looked so nice with the sun light filtering through the water'
I was like 'I told you to keep the door closed' (As that's where the sun light was coming from). But I wasn't experienced enough with plants to say for certain it was the sunlight that had caused it.

But I will definitely trust you and give it a go! Thanks again (and I will read the guide at some point)

 

[aaronnorth]

By algae bloom I did mean green water, and I guess it must have been some sort of ammonia spike that I missed.
That and afterwards I was talking to my parents and my dad said 'Oh yeah I was just watching it the other day, it looked so nice with the sun light filtering through the water'
I was like 'I told you to keep the door closed' (As that's where the sun light was coming from). But I wasn't experienced enough with plants to say for certain it was the sunlight that had caused it.

But I will definitely trust you and give it a go! Thanks again (and I will read the guide at some point)

 

[lljdma06]

By algae bloom I did mean green water, and I guess it must have been some sort of ammonia spike that I missed.

Yes, the ammonia needed to trigger an algae bloom isn't enough to be toxic to fish. Actually, a great warning sign that all may not be spiffy with your system before any of the fish notice.