Algae Issues With Tall Plants

[Squirrelbuddies]

First of all -- happy holidays to all! I've been away from here for quite sometime and it's nice to be back.

My 72 gallon tank has been running now for about 8 months and is in desparate need of an overhaul. I have algae issues -- one is the furry bright green type growing on the vallis and filter hardware. The other issue was my big beautiful java fern was infested deep inside with BGA which I didn't notice for weeks. (It's been removed from the tank...and all traces of BGA appear to be gone.)

Next month I plan to replace the substrate and replant the entire tank. BUT -- my question is this: What can I do to prevent algae growth at the top of the tank? The tank is deep - approx 22 inches. The low and mid growing plants are fine (algae free) but the tall plants continue to suffer from algae in the top 5-6 inches.

The tank is 72 gallons (bow front) with 170 watts of 6700k lighting. CO2 is pressurized, approx one bubble every 2 seconds.

Temp 77F
pH 6.5
KH 3-4
GH 4

I have 6 otos but they cannot keep up with the algae growth. (I'd like to put my 7 inch plec in there for a week - he'd have it spotless!)

Any ideas?

 

[lljdma06]

Happy Holidays to you too Squirellbuddies! Long time no see. How's your nano doing? WHAT!? No photos!!!?

The BGA in the java fern to me stemmed from a stagnant water issue. If there wasn't adaquate circulation in that area then it would have been prone to BGA. One bubble every two seconds doesn't seem like a lot to me. That is roughly what I have in my two lower light systems, and you have a lot more light than I do. You might want to up the CO2.

It is has been my experience that otos won't touch any algae other than diatoms and the soft gree stuff that grows on plants or the wall, not BGA or BBA, or any of the yucky thread stuff. I know SAEs will tackle thread algae and American Flag Fish will tackle most types too. I have no experience with shrimps other than in a nice garlic butter sauce. Hmmmm, shrimp. Have you thought about some floating plants, especially in the places where plants grow really tall? Sometimes a nice controlled growth of Lemna minor or Salvinia minima really cuts some of the light intensity from the top. I used Lemna minor to shade some exposed anubias in past tanks. This has worked extremely well for me. Just something to think about.

Now go and comment on my tanks.

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

Hi llj! thanks for the response.

I think the BGA is gone now -- although I do have concerns with the very middle of the tank not getting enough circulation. Perhaps I need to reconfigure the filter outlets.

I'll try upping the CO2, too, as you suggested.

I've tried floating plants and they just get algae infested - which still brings me back to the question of why do I have such an algae problem at the top of the tank?

I also wonder if I have too much of a fish load for a planted tank. That's not an easy fix though, as I really do not want to give up any of the fish currently in there. Maybe I need to crank up the filtration? I'm running two Eheims -- 2026 and a 2213. Should I replace the 2213 with a bigger unit?

And you are such a brat!! I actually just commented on one of your tanks!