Getting A Bit Frustrated

[alanchown]

My tank has been running about 3 months ( after a layoff of many years), and I have had little problem growing plants. I have 2 x Nutrafin units for Co2, lighting is 2.5-3 watts per gallon. My PH after CO2 is 7.2. I was going to go down the EI path, and mixed up my solutions of Nitrate and Phospate and was all ready to go. I then discovered that my Nitrate test kit was giving a wholly false reading of 0ppm. Testing the tap water with a new kit, it showed that I had Nitrates of >40ppm and Phosphates of at least 4 ppm (Nitrites and ammonia always test 0). So, on the advice of others on the group, there was no point dosing either nitrate or phosphate, so I have just been using Flourish and Flourish Excel

The problem is that I keep getting black algae, and occasionaly some green stringy algae. The black algae is not BBA ( I had so much of it when I had aquariums years ago I'd recognise it a mile off).

I'm not too sure what to do next. I have been performing 40-50% weekly water changes. I have removed a lot of plants as it was getting somewhat overgrown, but I'd say that it was still well planted-at least 50% of the substrate is covered.

I'm sorely tempted to go pressurised CO2 to give me a more steady CO2, but going RO may be a step too far (well at least for the financial controller anyway!). The tank does get some indirect natural sunlight during the day, but not alot.

I'm at a bit of a loss of what to do next. Advice warmly welcomed!

Alan

 

[danski]

well if your plants are doing i would stop adding anything and just let things settle back down..keep as many plants as you can to use up any excess nutrtients so the algae doesnt have much to live off.keep your co2 constant and maybe raise it a little if possible.what do you mean by ro is a bit expensive? are you sure your test kit is accurate now?

 

[lljdma06]

What's your CO2 level? With a pH of 7.2, you need a kH of at least 16 to get the 30ppm that most of us doing EI aim for. You're CO2 is probably not high enough. What are you using for your Nutrafin CO2 units?

 

[alanchown]

What's your CO2 level? With a pH of 7.2, you need a kH of at least 16 to get the 30ppm that most of us doing EI aim for. You're CO2 is probably not high enough. What are you using for your Nutrafin CO2 units?

My co2 is about 20ppm. KH is about 10 deg/180 ppm. I'm using a DIY mix for the Nutrafins-changing the mixture weekly or so, but not each unit at the same time.

Alan

 

[lljdma06]

Hmmm. That might not be enough. I keep mine at 30ppm, at least, sometimes more like 35-40ppm. I change my mix 2x a week. I also use 1/2 tsp of yeast, 1/2 cup of sugar, no bicarbonate. I think that's the root of your problem. Not enough CO2 and with your high nitrates and phosphates, the algae is using the nutrients better than the plants are. What kind of plants do you keep? To combat algae, many stem plants are needed, like hygro, rotala, egeria, etc. Cover the side that gets indirect sunlight with black paper, if it's not the front. Would be rather pointless having a tank if it was the front. Have you tried a siesta period? like 5 on, 2 off, 5 on, or 4 on, 3 off, 4 on? Confuses algae, while allowing the higher plants to grow.


llj

 

[NAL]

Hi

Pressurised CO2 would enable you to keep the desired concentration (~30ppm) stable much more easily I think. lljdma06 is right in my opinion-you've got plenty of other nutrients available, although it doesn't look like you're dosing for potassium, which is another vital macro element along with carbon, phosphorous and nitrogen (and of course light). You could get some Flourish Potassium or add it DIY using dry KNO3. Personally, I think you nitrate and phosphate levels from the tap are higher than I would want to run myself-I would consider cutting the tapwater with 50% RO. However, before going down that route try to maintain a higher and stable CO2 level and balance the other macro elements with potassium. If you didn't want to buy an RO unit, most decent LFS's will fill containers for a relatively modest cost.

Nick

 

[craynerd]

I had 25ppm of CO2 and got told from zig that if i didnt up it to 30ppm i would start to see algea! 20ppm going from their advice is clearly not high enough and since 90% of algea issues relates to CO2 i would definately bet on that! Not only that, but your running 2 nutrafin systems which makes me think you`ve a big tank, therefore i`d definately look at pressurised before RO water. My tap water is 5ppm phosphate and i am to keep my nitrate just above 20ppm. So your 4ppm PO4 and 40ppm nitrate aren`t too bad (granted nitrates a little high) but if your getting good growth this should reduce during the week.

CO2 i`m going for!

Btw, don`t get frustrated, be chilled and enjoy it!

 

[alanchown]

I had 25ppm of CO2 and got told from zig that if i didnt up it to 30ppm i would start to see algea! 20ppm going from their advice is clearly not high enough and since 90% of algea issues relates to CO2 i would definately bet on that! Not only that, but your running 2 nutrafin systems which makes me think you`ve a big tank, therefore i`d definately look at pressurised before RO water. My tap water is 5ppm phosphate and i am to keep my nitrate just above 20ppm. So your 4ppm PO4 and 40ppm nitrate aren`t too bad (granted nitrates a little high) but if your getting good growth this should reduce during the week.

CO2 i`m going for!

Btw, don`t get frustrated, be chilled and enjoy it!

I think I'm going to for pressurised. My tank is not huge-only 100L/20UK gallon. I'm getting a bit fed up with the white gunge via the DIY mix. Going RO is a bit of a pain-I think the units need to be plumbed in and I just havent the space. Buying it will work out at a tener amonth-which is OK, but it's the hassle of having to go and get it (nearest place I've seen it is miles away), store it etc.
Looks like pressurised is the way to go-I can't see how I can keep CO2 stable with nutrafins. Who is going to tell my Mrs!

Alan

 

[craynerd]

hummm, 100L isn`t huge and i would have thought u`d be getting 30ppm with 2 running! anyhow, i`m on a 72L tank and i`m moving to pressurised. I think its just best to have the extra control with the pressurised. I am beggining to realise its importance.

Chris

 

[alanchown]

hummm, 100L isn`t huge and i would have thought u`d be getting 30ppm with 2 running! anyhow, i`m on a 72L tank and i`m moving to pressurised. I think its just best to have the extra control with the pressurised. I am beggining to realise its importance.

Chris

The PH and hardness of my tap water is very high-so that may have an effect.
I've ordered one this morning-havent told the Mrs though!

Alan

 

[craynerd]

what did u go for achown? u should have posted, I`ve just made a DIY pressurised for less than £40 I will be reporting on it in a thread when its fully up and running


Chris

 

[alanchown]

what did u go for achown? u should have posted, I`ve just made a DIY pressurised for less than £40 I will be reporting on it in a thread when its fully up and running


Chris

I went for the easy way out-went for the JBL Pro Flori 2-£154 from aquatics online. with a solenoid -figured the solenoid would cost in as the bottles should last twice as long.

Alan

 

[craynerd]

yea! have to admit i think the solanoid is a good idea and one thing i havent yet got! I think i`ll do without at present