Black Algae On Plants - Like A Layer Of Felt

[gforce17]

Hi all. I have two tanks. the first is 64 litre planted with a simple CO2 system. It's in a darkish room and I don't have any problems with this black algae growing on the leaves of the plant. They are perfectly clean and green. My second tank of 240l is in a vey bright room (I had no choice) with a pressurized CO2 system operated by a solenoid switch. The plants grow well but they are now covered in this black/brown felt like covering. The glass becomes lightly coated with green algae and I have to wipe it about once a fortnight to keep it clear. I feed the plants with fertiliser in both tanks. Any suggestions as to what I can do to prevent this growth. Is it because of too much lighting/CO2/ferts??? HELP!

 

[DrRob]

What's the flow like in the bigger tank. 10x flow in a high tech system is regarded as on the lower end and low flow causes a lot of problems like this.

 

[gforce17]

What's the flow like in the bigger tank. 10x flow in a high tech system is regarded as on the lower end and low flow causes a lot of problems like this.

Thanks for that. That's a new consideration. I'm not sure of the exact flow rate. I've got a TetraTech 1200 filter.

 

[DrRob]

That's a 1200lph filter, so 5x flow, when clean and empty, which I suspect it isn't.

Try adding a powerhead.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

+1 to Rob's suggestion, koralia's are good and sometimes discreet. P.S. Do you have any pic's as black algae is normally caused by fluctuating CO2?

 

[gforce17]

I have had problems with my original CO2 diffuser and just replaced it with a much more reliable one, so there could have been fluctuations in the way that you describe. Will the algae go away if this becomes more consistent or are there other ways to get rid of it. Thanks.

 

[DrRob]

The algae will reduce as the CO2 stabilises, but you do probably need more flow to manage that.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

If you don't want to wait for the algae to vanish, which can take a while, spot dose liquid carbon to the area and it will kill it.

 

[gforce17]

Things are improving a bit since I improved the flow in the tank, added daily carbon liquid and got a moe consistent co2 delivery with the new diffuser. About a Koralia power head - won't some fish not like the fast flow or does the power head perform differently from the filter?

 

[Ps3Steveo]

What fish do you have? I used one with Discus and they soon got used to it.

 

[gforce17]

3 Angels
3 Severum
6 Bleeding Heart Tetras
2 opaline/golden gourami male & female
6 corys
7 Zebra Danios
6 Black tetras
1 betta

Hope that's helpful.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Betta won't be happy.

 

[gforce17]

+1 to Rob's suggestion, koralia's are good and sometimes discreet. P.S. Do you have any pic's as black algae is normally caused by fluctuating CO2?

What size Koralia would you recommend for a 140L tank alongside the Tetratech 1200?

Betta won't be happy.

To the extent that he would be seriously stressed? I could transfer him to my other tank.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Could put a spray bar on the filter as 1200lph should be plenty in your tank,is your filter clean? I imagine moving the Betta might be a good idea.

 

[gforce17]

Sorry I made a mistake there. Its 240L not 140L.