Cause Of Algae Bloom

[shortymet55]

I went on vacation for a week, and I came home to a green tank! Im trying to find the culprit. Could it be I have a 65W light on a 29 Gallon tank and i didn't add any type of carbon into the water the entire week? (I usually use Excel) If so, will it clear after a bit (continuing on regular Excel dosage). If this couldnt be a cause, what could? I added a good amount of zucchini and an algae wafer before I left and when I returned it was all gone. I also had a timer set for the light to go on at 9am and off at 10pm (about what I do when Im home). Nothing else changed.

Any ideas? Thanks

 

[OldMan47]

Your light period is a bit long for what most people would do. Try 10 hours instead of 13. The excel is often suggested for people with an algae outbreak so stopping it may have helped bring on the algae. Lots of light and imbalanced nutrients is often a recipe for algae so it might have been your problem.

 

[Dave Spencer]

You have a fair amount of light on this tank. Do you dose anything other than Excel?

If you are relying on your tap water and fish waste to provide NPK, then you may have been sailing close to the wind with nutrient deficiency. The algae may well have resulted in stopping dosing Excel, but not because of its anti algae properties against certain types. The lack of carbon for growth will have brought on ammonia leaching from your plants, triggering algae.

You didn`t say what type of algae it is, but hit it hard with clean ups followed by large water changes.

My suggestion is that you read a few pinned topics in the planted section regarding what ferts you need.

Dave.

 

[shortymet55]

I use FloraPride and Seachem Flourish

 

[Dave Spencer]

For your light levels, I would say your dosing regimen isn`t comprehensive enough. You have trace elements and potassium sorted, but your tank will be lacking N and P. Take a look at the EI sticky in the planted section. You could either go down the EI route, or cut back on your lighting.

Dave.

 

[paul_219]

Putting light on for many hours. Or sunlight hitting ur tank, overfeding, overstocking, or bad quality of water.