Black Aglae?

[@ombomb]

I seem to be getting what looks like black algae on some of my plants, some in spots and some on the edges of the leaves.

Anyone know what this is and how to stop it?

 

[houndour]

is it furry? brush like?

 

[@ombomb]

No

It looks almost at though the leaf has just been coloured in with a black marker.

 

[@ombomb]

Just found this:

Black spot algae: Black spot algae form small, black spots on plant leaves. The cause of black algae is unclear, but excess nutrients (nitrate) and light help its spread. Control is very difficult, the best means to take is to remove affected leaves.

I have next to no Nitrates and about 3 wpg though so I doubt it.

 

[George Farmer]

Next to no Nitrates and about 3 wpg though so I doubt it.

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Low nitrates can cause algae as well as high nitrates. NO3 10 to 30ppm is ideal.

Does the algae come off easily?

 

[@ombomb]

Yes, it can be wiped off on the plants with stronger leaves anyway.

I have recently starting using Kent Grow and Kent Micro ferts and am currently try to get the Nitrates up using Kent Nitro+ but either A ) My plants devour all Nitrates that I put into my tank straight away and the reading stays low or B ) My Nitrate test kit is faulty

Personally I think it's just time to up the dose. Try and get it up to 10ppm and hold it there. It's not easy with my water that comes out of the Tap 100% nitrate free

 

[houndour]

Personally I think it's just time to up the dose. Try and get it up to 10ppm and hold it there. It's not easy with my water that comes out of the Tap 100% nitrate free

Really? I'm in surrey...are you on the same water company as me? Thames? I shall check my nitrates in my water tonight just to check.

Maybe your nitrate kit is faulty? which brand do you use?

 

[zig]

Haha....another candidate for EI, sounds like it would work for you quite well, you should consider it and save yourself a fortune in the meantime.

 

[@ombomb]

Maybe your nitrate kit is faulty? which brand do you use?

API! All the other tests seem to work fine and it definitley has worked correctly in the past...

Yes it's Thames water, super hard, super alkaline and 0 nitrates. Depending on which part of surrey you're in though, it could come from different reservoirs couldn't it?

I think EI may well be the way forward Zig, but I'm going away for a week at the end of the month and don't want to start off on it before I get back.

 

[houndour]

Maybe your nitrate kit is faulty? which brand do you use?

API! All the other tests seem to work fine and it definitley has worked correctly in the past...

Yes it's Thames water, super hard, super alkaline and 0 nitrates. Depending on which part of surrey you're in though, it could come from different reservoirs couldn't it?

I think EI may well be the way forward Zig, but I'm going away for a week at the end of the month and don't want to start off on it before I get back.

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Yeah I have API too. To be honest I dont know if I've ever tested my tap water. I saw the water report and assumed it had nitrates.

I think EI would be cheaper too. That's what I'm doing at the mo and I can already see it's going to save me loads of money. Those pre-made fert bottles are a lot of money.

I'm near guildford...I have no idea about reservoirs.

 

[@ombomb]

I can see how it would be cheaper, but it's not a good idea to leave it when you first start it up though is it?

 

[houndour]

to be honest its no different to adding nitrates any other way, so I wouldnt have thought it would matter too much if you're away for a week. but if you have enough of your liquid ferts then you may as well use it up.

 

[@ombomb]

I can see how it would be cheaper, but it's not a good idea to leave it when you first start it up though is it?

 

[@ombomb]

Well I bought a new test kit on the way home and it's showing Nitrates at around 10ppm, which I suppose is still a little low.

Will keep using the Nitro+ for now and then swtich to EI when I get back from holiday.