Co2 Causing Algae Problem

[glolite]

My plants were looking a bit tired so I started a shop bought co2 set-up, designed for 10 to 20g tanks. After the first month I noticed soft green algae on the glass which came off pretty easily with the magnetic cleaner.
I water change 25% weekly with prime conditioner. Now 2 weeks into the second co2 cycle I'm having to clean the glass twice a week. The lighting is the standard for the juwel rekord 60 system and is kept on for 9 hours per day.

Does this mean I don't need co2 or is algae always an issue with co2 set-ups?

 

[AdAndrews]

My plants were looking a bit tired so I started a shop bought co2 set-up, designed for 10 to 20g tanks. After the first month I noticed soft green algae on the glass which came off pretty easily with the magnetic cleaner.
I water change 25% weekly with prime conditioner. Now 2 weeks into the second co2 cycle I'm having to clean the glass twice a week. The lighting is the standard for the juwel rekord 60 system and is kept on for 9 hours per day.

Does this mean I don't need co2 or is algae always an issue with co2 set-ups?

co2 doesnt cause algae, light does, up your co2 and up your fertilisers use tpn+ and easycarbo or aqua essentials carbon.

 

[glolite]

Thanks for that. Do I need to reduce the light?

 

[RadaR]

Thanks for that. Do I need to reduce the light?

Only if you don't want to dose nutrients to the tank.
This is why you are getting algae. The light and CO2 have sped up the plant growth, but without nutrients they can't grow and begin to die back. We can't function well on empty stomachs, it's the same for plants. As suggested, use Tropica Plant Nutrition + which delivers all the nutrients your plants need. For better results with carbon, buy some aqua essentials carbon.
Is this CO2 powered via fermentation, or is it an aresol like bottle which you squeeze to let CO2 into a diffuser stuck on the side of the tank? The latter aren't very good at all.
The TPN+ combined with the AquaEssetials liquid carbon will see your plants to thrive.

 

[glolite]

It's a co2 powered system, the Nutrafin Plant System, with a diffuser in the tank (looks like a ladder) and the co2 bubbles go up this and into the water. I've just added day 1 dose of Flourish Excel 7.5ml and 1ml to be added every day after. I didn't get any glass algae before the co2 system went on though and the tank's been running for 5 years.

I just used to rely on fish waste to feed the plants before, there's a Java fern and another I don't know the name of. All the Java leaves had brown spots on which have already gone. The plant looks much healthier except the tips are going transparent which I guess is due to lack of feed.

Now my fishkeeping is more or less under control I'm going to devote some more time to the plants. This small tank was a beginners experiment with co2 etc, so next will come some DIY co2 on the larger planted tanks.

 

[AdAndrews]

It's a co2 powered system, the Nutrafin Plant System, with a diffuser in the tank (looks like a ladder) and the co2 bubbles go up this and into the water. I've just added day 1 dose of Flourish Excel 7.5ml and 1ml to be added every day after. I didn't get any glass algae before the co2 system went on though and the tank's been running for 5 years.

I just used to rely on fish waste to feed the plants before, there's a Java fern and another I don't know the name of. All the Java leaves had brown spots on which have already gone. The plant looks much healthier except the tips are going transparent which I guess is due to lack of feed.

Now my fishkeeping is more or less under control I'm going to devote some more time to the plants. This small tank was a beginners experiment with co2 etc, so next will come some DIY co2 on the larger planted tanks.

you will need ferts aswell, the tropica pn+ is availible at fluidsensor online, the green machine or aqua essentials, aswell as on here ocasionally- check the equipment classified section, geoff may still have his 490ml for sale!