Algae Probs

[stevereade]

Right, I've been adding TPN+ 5ml daily and using yeast CO2 for a short while now, doing 25% water change weekly and all of a sudden I'm getting some green algae on the glass, not a lot but enough to annoy me. I normally give the glass a clean with the water change but wonder if I forgot last weekend. Also my Anubias had aglae on the leaves when I got it, the new leaves are fine but the old ones now have black fury algae on them. Should I cut the old leaves off to rid that problem and dose less TPN+ for now (till the other plants turn up) as the plants obviously aren't using all of it at the moment. Also do you think I should do more than one water change a week, dunno if I should do all these things or just some of them??? lol any help would be great.

 

[ian]

the algae on the anubias sound like BBA, this will most likely be due to the DIY C02 creating unstable C02. As for the green on the glass, this is probably due to low P in your tank, lack of flow and low C02. Try upping your TPN plus by a mil and up your flow.

 

[stevereade]

Up the flow??? The filter is running on full which is powerful enough to move sand around and move every plant in the tank lol. I thought algae fed on P???

 

[SuperColey1]

I thought algae fed on P???

Oops I'll save you from a torrent of upset planters. lol

NPK = macros - Trace = micors

Plants feed off these. Algae is a plant.

Our plants are described as 'higher plants'. higher plants when healthy seem to mean less algae (there is never none)

So anyone who says remove an element will remove algae is wrong because what algae require 'higher plants' require too. Also higher plants require the elements in much higher volumes than algae so far from reducing these elements being helpful it is detrimental. You will starve plants way before you starve algae.

It may be that the flow is powerful but may be that you could use it more efficiently not sure on your setup here.

I wouldn't think DIYCO2 would be too much problem on a small tank but then I haven't used it for years and even then I never used a single one.

AC

 

[stevereade]

Thing is the flow in my tank runs in a circle, intake is on the rear left, it runs through 3 compartments built into the back of the tank and out the outlet on the right side so the flow is quite powerful and runs in a spiral you can see how good the flow is when the odd leaf drops off a plant. Would extra water changes or more TPN+ help, or just getting rid of the infected leaves on my Anubias??? I also get a bit of brown algae on the sand on one tiny patch after a few days right in the middle of the front of the tank.

 

[mbsqw1d]

i wouldnt cut the leaves off the anubias. pull it out, grab an old toothbrush u no longer use and give it a light scrub with some tank water. anubias leaves are quite tough and can handle a little clean like this. in terms of battling algae im learning too! its tough work! supercoley, ill b posting requested pics shortly!

edit: okay, not shortly afterall :\ my dns is failing on my internet connection (om posting this with my phone)

 

[SuperColey1]

Water changes only remove algae spores that haven't 'attached' yet.

It won't affect the algae on the anubias leaves.

With the Anubias as with all plants really you have 2 choices:

1 - As per poster above clean it off
2 - Leave it and use it as a guide on if the changes you make to 'cure' the problem are taking affect.

If you choose the latter then remember you have to give each change time to work.

It isn't like adding CO2 where you notice a difference in plant growth on the first day or 2. You need to change one thing, give it a couple of weeks to take affect. then if unsuccesful change something else and give it a couple of weeks etc.

This is the frustrating part. It is where most people leave the hobby. Took me 2 years to get to that point.

However once there most people never have a problem again and the future is bright, the future is.......erm green
The time after the period of frustration no matter how long it is makes you feel that it was worth continuing

I think your filter dictates what you can do really. Not a lot you can do to alter that and if it is circulating OK then no need to worry there.

I would however go to 2 DIY pop bottles (I'll try and dig out a link to when I used to mix it. and then you can alternate them to 'level out' the peaks and troughs. As the mix gets to max and then peters out, the next will be nearly peak and the average should make is a lot more constant.

AC

 

[SuperColey1]

Steve

Try this one. Also you could try doing the same proportions in your Nutrafin too. (DIY amount / Nutrafin = 2000ml / 400ml = 20%)

Then you can change each fortnightly alternatively:

http/www.aquatic-eden.com/2006/09/diy-co2-recipe-duration-vs-intensity.html

AC