Attack Of The Hairy Monster!

[fishboytoo]

Greetings,
I am having a serious problem with hair algae over-running my tank. It has not always been a problem. My tank up until recently was relatively under control with regards to algae. Then something happened. I'm not sure what parameter changed but suddenly my faster growing species stopped growing and even started dying off. Shortly thereafter the long thread hair algae started winning. I had not been using EI but I started to in an attempt to reverse the algae progression. It has not helped and I'm getting sick watching this hairy monster consume my tank. I am considering a total blackout but I don't know if this will work or even if I should try it. I would appreciate any advice you experts can provide for me. If the blackout is reasonable, how should I proceed with it? How can I kickstart my plant growth again as this is ultimately the longterm solution?

Tank specs: 33 gallons, 3WPG, DIY CO2, aquaclear 70 HOB filter. When on EI phosphates are 1ppm and nitrates 10-15ppm, I had been supplementing K before EI but discontinued as ferts contain K. Plantex used 30g/500mL for stock soln, dose 3-4ml per week. My CO2 has never been able to maintain high levels despite two bottles and good diffusion, not sure why.
If you have any other questions regarding the tank, please ask.

Thanks for reading and any advice you may have.

FB2

 

[danski]

could be stability in co2..you say when on EI..does that mean you dont do it consistently? with 3wpg you might need to have a stable co2 and a steady supply of nutrients.i would reccomend an external cannister filter to get good water movement and nutrient coverage.at 3wpg maybe the co2 bottles cant keep it constant.wavering co2 is an invitation for algea at your light level.most algae probs are co2 related as Tom has said several times. increase co2 and nutrients.get a good filter that has good water movement.Hob filters tend to just push the water down and dont move it that much.

 

[Dave Spencer]

How long was your tank stable for before the algae got the upper hand?

If you have had 3WPG and no algae problems for a period of time you must have been getting things right until something suddenly upset the balance. Looking for what has happened to suddenly give algae the advantage is the key for you. Have you pruned or removed a significant number of plants recently? Things such as is this.

I suspect your HOB filter will be driving off a fair amount of CO2 and levels will be fluctuating from your DIY set up. You could try changing to an external filter and planting more fast growers. Consider using pressurised CO2, although it does not come all that cheap.

A good method that I use for removing hair algae is to use a bottle brush and twist it around in the middle of the algae, not unlike making candy floss (or cotton candy if you are from the U.S.).

 

[fishboytoo]

Thanks for the replies.

Danski- I have only been doing Ei for a short period of time but have used DIY CO2 for nearly 2 years , about the same amount of time that the tank has been running. I initially had problems with diffusing the co2 but i solved that problem. The levels still do not get very high though only about 20ppm max, sadly i cannot afford a pressurized system at this time so there isn't much i can do about that right now. I will consider using a canister filter that i can switch from another tank. I hadn't really thought that mattered, so thanks for giving me something new to think about. As for the phosphate and nitrate levels, I gave the values "when on EI" as this is a new procedure for me and i have now been testing. I can't say for sure what the levels were before or if there was any degree of consistancy, but i suspect nitrates were low.

Dave- As mentioned above the tank has been running for two years with only some relatively minor algae, it was the black brush stuff before. I agree that something changed in the tank but I have no clue as to what that is. As i said in my original post I had some faster growers that i had to prune regularly, one rotala in particular, but they suddenly stopped growing and the rotala now consists of a few rotting stems with a couple of leaves on each. I did prune a fair bit before the growth stop, but that wasn't really a new event. I had suspected some co2 was driven off with surface agitation but i have always tried to minimize this with a high water level. I also supplement with flourish excel to help compensate for lower co2.


I really wish i had been doing EI before and maybe this would have been avoided. I wonder now if the EI isn't just accelerating the algae growth as it has the upper hand at the moment. I need to knock it down and then get the plants to outcompete again. How do I accomplish this? Is a blackout going to help this?

Just wondering-is there something in particular this type of algae exploits or thrives on? Some particular nutrient or water parameter that encourages it?

 

[George Farmer]

Blackouts won't really help.

Your main issue is CO2. I'd advise against EI in a tank with low CO2.

Try to keep CO2 at a stable 30ppm. Your HOB and DIY CO2 combo may make this difficult though. Consider switching filter, or to a pressurized system - or ideally both.

In the mean time lose any infected leaves or plants. Give the tank a big clean up. Then clean the filter, then change 50-75% water - this will ensure the floating algae spores, organics etc. are removed.

Replace any infested plants with other fast growing stems. Plant heavily.

Once you've got your CO2 at 30ppm then start EI and keep up 50% weekly water changes.

 

[fishboytoo]

I just wanted to say thanks for the advice and give a bit of an update.

I changed filters from the HOB to a fluval 204 canister and have noticed a HUGE change in co2 levels. I just measured late in the photo-period and it's over 25ppm. I don't think I was getting the levels this high even first thing in the morning. I never thought it would make this much difference to change filter type. I wish I would have found that advice when I was tinkering with my co2 setup initially-before I gave up on the 30ppm goal. I am also looking at assembling a pressurized co2 system with a welding regulator and valves/fittings that I may get for free or little cost.

I plan on carrying out the "big clean" in the next day or so, and then I will add some new plants and begin EI again. I wanted to wait until the co2 situation was improved before taking any further action. After the cleaning I will also set up my diatom filter to help remove spores, this should be effective I think.

When dosing via EI does one continue to use chemical filtration, ie. carbon? I currently am not running with carbon in the fluval.

Once again, thankyou for replying. I was getting pretty discouraged with this algae but I feel like there's some light at the end of the tunnel now.

 

[netcode]

No you should not use carbon in your filter.

what is your water change schedule?
when did you measure your nitrates reading of 15-20ppm?
what is your photo-period like?

There are a few basic questions. I really think you should start with the basics when addressing problems as they are easy to cover and can be the route of the problem. But there is no doubt that you have a CO2 issue that should be cleared up in the process.

 

[fishboytoo]

No you should not use carbon in your filter.

what is your water change schedule?
when did you measure your nitrates reading of 15-20ppm?
what is your photo-period like?

There are a few basic questions. I really think you should start with the basics when addressing problems as they are easy to cover and can be the route of the problem. But there is no doubt that you have a CO2 issue that should be cleared up in the process.

I kind of figured that I shouldn't use carbon and I havn't been for quite a while.

I have been changing 50% or more every two weeks, but I will do my best at weekly changes now.

I didn't have nitrates at 20ppm, the last time I measured they were 10ppm and that was due to adding ferts. Before the ferts the readings were negligible.

My photo-period was 12 hours, but I read a post saying that a small gap helps with algae so I've extended it to 12.5 hours with a 1.5 hour break from 1-2:30.

My co2 has been consistant at the 25ppm (or above depending on the color interpretation of my pH test) and I have cleaned and added some new plants. I also ran the diatom filter for half a day and the tank looks pretty good right now. I also dosed nitrates and phosphates and am starting on EI again. I hope the plants take off like a shot. I was happy to see one of the new plants pearling already!