Adding Extra Lighting & Avoiding Algae

[jkc]

Hi Guys,

Recently I mentioned that I was having problems with green dust algae on the glass. I put this down to the fact that I had added reflectors to the standard lighting (4 x30W tubes over 88 gallons after displacement) to try & boost the lighting.

The algae really started to get on my nerves as if I left it for maybe three days I couldnt see into the tank, so yesterday I took three of the reflectors off.

A lot of the plants are looking ok apart from my amazon, which is huge!! but has a black edge around all the leaves and a bit of algae & some of the low grow plants - crypts etc do have a little algae on & I think this has something to do with not enough light getting to them.

On monday I started EI using seachem ferts an Mr G's Calculator

Do you think its worth waiting to see if the plants recover with the aid of the ferts & CO2 or should I cut it all back and re-grow??

Ive worked out how I can get some extra tubes under the hood but thought it made sense to put the reflectors on first but the dust algae is so annoying I dont want to risk adding anything extra! What should I do Its really getting on my nerves!!!

Ive managed to achieve pearling plants in my smaller tank with DIY CO2 but cant get anywhere on the main display tank!!!!!!!!

 

[jkc]

no one???

 

[Themuleous]

As with all tanks they go through the algae phase, it should pass with time or at least become manageable. I would add the reflectors first, then worry about the news lighting, if your plants are doing fine with the light you have then why add more?

Sam

 

[jkc]

Thanks Sam, was my way of thinking also just wanted someone else's opinion. Do you think I should try and pack some fast growers in the tank whilst I add the reflectors. Maybe one reflector a week??

Do you think its worth just cutting those leaves that have algae on as gowth is pretty quick or do ou think they shoul recover with the addition of the ferts??

James

 

[Themuleous]

First off, why do you feel the need to do EI with the low light? (I make it around 1.5WPG?).

Yes adding fast growers would be a very good idea. I tend to use hornwort as it doesn't root and just floats around the tank so is easy to remove once you no longer need it, that way you also don't make a mess of the other, rooted plants.

I would just add all the reflectors and lots of fast growers at the same time

If you have a major algae infection then sometimes the only thing to do is remove the affected plant or part of the plant. In theory even the worst algae should go given enough time and the right balance in the tank and good plant growth, its just most people dont like looking at an algae infested tank!

Sam

 

[jkc]

I hadnt been adding ferts until the beginning of this week and I thought as I am going to be aiming for as much light as I can get under the hood as I may as well get used to EI. As long as I keep an eye on my nitrate (not dosing posphate as high in local tap) then I shouldnt have a problem, should I ??

I will see if I can get my hands on some hornwort and dump it in the tank. As I say the only algae I was really suffering from was the green dust algae that was appearing on the glass so hopfully a load of extra plant may help!?

Thanks again Sam

Regards

James

 

[Themuleous]

Oh right, well sounds like you doing half EI, if thats possible. Yeh keep an eye on the NO3 and dont let it get to high, I would also do half (if not less) dosing of trace so you dont overload the system, you can have to much iron in the tank. Then when you upgrade the lighting start full EI then

From what I've heard the best solution to dust algae is to just leave it, it'll look a right mess after a few weeks, but given time it essentially burns itself out and dies back to almost undetectable levels. Thats how most people deal with it and what Im currently trying on my nano, lets hope it works!

Sam