Blackout and CO2

[Jen]

I've been having a slight problem with algae recently, and thought I would try a small blackout to see if it makes any difference.

Would it be advisable to take out the CO2?

 

[Sime]

i blacked out for three days to rid algae... its important to take out CO2 as with no light the plants are not using the CO2 - so there will be a build up of carbonic acid in the water which may kill the fish.

make sure no light at all gets in, i used black bin bags three layers thick wraped around the tank.

Simon.

 

[Nospherith]

what kindof algae problem are you having canochiq that would make you resort to such drastic measures?

 

[Jen]

I dont think its that drastic really. I'm only doing it for like 2 days to see if it makes any difference.

I've got a mix of 4 kinds. I've got some Choleochaete orbicularis that no matter how often I scrub, it keeps coming back. I've got some mild Euglaena/Green water that isn't going away with water changes. I also have some Rhodophyta/Beard Algae growing on some leaves and attaching to bogwood. And lastly I have a few tiny splotches of brown algea on the glass.

I'm sure its all normal stuff that everyone goes through, but I really want to see what i need to do to get rid of it.

 

[Angry_Platy]

I was using CO2 in my planted tank (3.2wpg) and had algae problems until I started using fertiliser. I haven't done an algae scrape since I started using ferts and there is no visible algae on the plants. That said, I have just removed 90% of my plants and added more, and now have a sand substrate. I am praying I don't get algae between now and next week (when the tank will be filled out with other plants I ordered)....

 

[Jen]

I had been adding ferts weekly, but I was still getting the algae. I'm sure a lot of this has to do with my bulbs, and that the K rating is too high. Unfortunatly I can't replace the bulbs until I sell them - they cost 50 CAD, and im hoping to sell both for the price of 1. (I have next to no money these days. Darn aquarium costing me too much money!)

Maybe I should just bite the bullet and get them anyway.

 

[santos]

Hello Canoechiq
I also upgraded the light on my aquarium. The lights were the 55W 10,000K.
I had the same algae out break. I did bite the bullet and purchased new lights that were 55W 7100K and I put the lights on timers. So it is getting better but slowly.
Good luck. Let me know if you do sell the old lights .I have two light I need to sell as well.

 

[Jen]

Santos... did you have all 4 kinds of algae, or a combo of some of them? I'm really trying to figure out what the exact cause was. I have 2x 6500k, and 2 x 10,000k power compact bulbs.

I'm not used to a tank this big yet, and am still working out all the kinks.

 

[George Farmer]

What is your CO2 level and how much of your tank is planted (% of substrate cover)?

The best way to acheive an algae free tank is to plant heavily and have lots of CO2/nutrient-rich water. You light should be fine if these two factors are taken care of. Many planted aquarists use 10000K and swear by it.

A blackout is only really effective in BGA cases I think.

 

[Jen]

CO2 is low... last time I checked I was at 18mg/l I think. I will test again tonight. I don't think I can up it too much just yet. I've got to figure out how I'm going to do it.

I bet I'm up around 50% covered in plants. Maybe a bit more.

 

[Jen]

Just turned on my lights after a 48 hour blackout. I couldn't be happier with the results. the cloudiness/greenish tinge to the water is 90% gone... I presume that if I has left thing dark for another day or so they might have cleared right up. The algae on the driftwood seems to be untouched, so im guessing there has to be another way to get rid of it. I'll test my water tomorrow too see how things are looking.

I think to be on the safe side I am going to take out the few shells I have in there to see if they had anything to do with the cloudiness.