Beat The Bloom

[shortymet55]

How can I beat a algae bloom? Or I assume and algae bloom. My tank has always been cloudy. First I assume was bacteria bloom, then I went on vacation and came back with algae everywhere. Now most of the algae is gone, but there is some on my wood and some on plants that are close to the surface. Also, the tank is cloudier than every.

I have plants, so I do have a 65W light, I added FloraPride Fertilizer as Recommended, and I add Flourish Excel as recommended every other day, instead of CO2.

I think I got a ton of algae over vacation, because I didnt add Excel. But, the glae isnt 100% gone and my tank cloud is horrible. Like actually see a cloud in the water and you can barely see the back of the tank. I need a good solution. Thanks

 

[Colin_T]

Do a really big water change and decrease the lighting. Having lots of plants in the tank will help. Adding some fine filter floss/ wool to the filter will help but will need cleaning frequently. Unless you have heaps of plants in the tank it isn't really necessary to dose the tank with heaps of fertilisers and CO2 supplements. A bit of fertiliser each week is usually sufficient for an average tank.

 

[shortymet55]

I have been doing large water changes, but after only a day the water is as bad as it was beforehand. I guess I can decrease the light, but I spent good money on that, so my plants can grow big. Is it possible that if I let this go, then plants will eventually grow large enough that they use up all the nutrients and all, so algae cant grow? I also only add fertz when doing water changes, but the carbon I do add every other day as directions say. I read it goes away after a few days, so you need to keep up on that stuff. Thanks for the response.

 

[Colin_T]

if you don't have many plants in the tank then algae will grow from the excess light. By decreasing the time that the lights are on you will be reducing the light that is encouraging some of the algae to grow. When the problem clears up and the plants are bigger you can increase the lighting times for them. Eventually the plants should be able to keep the algae under control.

 

[shortymet55]

I think im going to start by cutting lighting to 11AM to 9PM (Maybe one of two hours off during day) and adding more plants. Hopefully this help.

Also, you have a link to a really fine floss that will trap floating algae. I dont mind cleaning it, I just want a cleaner tank. Thanks

 

[Colin_T]

I don't have a link for filter floss/ filter wool but any pet shop should sell it. It comes in bags and is pretty cheap, only costs a couple fo dollars. You can also use something called Dacron, which is used on furniture and is the same stuff. But check out the local fish shop for some first.

 

[aaronnorth]

Ammonia spikes cause green water. There may have been an ammonia spike that isn't detected with test kits - they detect what is safe for fish. other causes are lack of certain nutrients and/or low CO2 levels.

This was taken from JamesC PLanted Tank (in my sig):

Large water changes do not seem to always help. If there is an imbalance in nutrients then fixing it will sometimes make it go away by itself after a while. A three day blackout followed by a large water change will hit it hard and sometimes may clear it. A UV steriliser/clarifier or diatom filter will clear it up very quickly and is often the only way to clear it.
A new method is to use freshly cut 1-2 year old willow branches about 0.5-1cm in width. Place these in your tank vertically so they go from the substrate to a few centimetres above the water's surface. After a few days they will start to grow roots and the green water should start to clear. When cleared remove the branches from the water.
Don't confuse this with a bacterial bloom which gives the water a white haze.

 

[shortymet55]

My tank is worse than ever. I cant see anything more than a few inches into the water. I cant get any new plants (To use up extra nutrients and all so algae cant) right now, so I need another solution to overcoming the algae problem. I think im going to go back to my 20W light. Then Ill keep that on until the algae bloom goes away, then ill add more plants and put my 65W light back on. Few questions

1.) Should I continue to add FloraPride (fertilizer) after water changes?
2.) Should I continue to add Flourish Excel (carbon source) every other day?

Thanks

 

[aaronnorth]

nutrients dont cause algae unless there is an imbalnce of something.

1) Yes
2) daily might be better but i dont think it makes a difference to an algae bloom.

 

[shortymet55]

Current Changes to cope.

1.) 1 new plant, 6 bundle of it
2.) Back to 20W bulb until clear.

 

[aaronnorth]

there is an algae guide in my sig if that helps.

 

[aaronnorth]

http/www.aquariumalgae.blogspot.com/

found this if it helps (scroll down)

 

[shortymet55]

Very very interesting! Thanks for that link. It seems like my many water changes are not going to help! Im going to see if I cant rent/ or purchase a used diatom filter, since thats what he says is the best bet. Then I just need to find my cause, so it doesnt come back. Anyways, thank again for the link. So helpful.

 

[aaronnorth]

Then I just need to find my cause

probobaly an ammonia spike. UV filters are also good. this has different info on http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm

 

[shortymet55]

ooooooooo, an ammonia spike would make sense. My tank was fine before vacation, but awful afterwords. Probably caused by the excess food I put in my tank, because my parents refused to let me not feed them for the week. I knew this would come back and bite me.

Both sites mention Diatom Filter and UV filter, so I guess either would work. However, the one says UV filter just kills the algae. This means, I would have to do almost a 100% water change afterwords, because i I leave to much dead algae, Ill get another ammonia spike. Ill see which Ill get based on price. Thanks