Green Dust/spot Algae Issues - Need Help

[Underwurlde]

Yoinks, phosphates are off the chart. Aim for 1-2ppm.
With phosphate particularly in mind, be careful not to OD on it, which is why I aim low, for 1ppm.

Nitrate on the other hand is just on the chart, Recommended 5 - 30ppm

Andy

 

[Aeropars]

Thats a bit of a bummer really as thats the state of the tap water and I dont have the water pressure for an efficient RO unit. The LFS shop charge so its going to be expensive to get that down in that way. Its only really since the EI and regular 50% water changes its gone back up to this level.

A chap on APC keeps trying to get me to calibrate my test kits but i cant see them being off by a huge amount.

How should I proceed on this? Up the nitrates and stop dosing phosphates to see how it goes?

 

[Dave Spencer]

I have found that dising using EI resulted in high phosphates in my tank. Since then, I started a thread on this forum whereby I was told that provided I had a sufficient number of fast growers it shouldn`t be too big a problem. Depriving your plants of their necessary nutrients will inhibit their growth, triggering the algae. 2ppm is still the target I am aiming for, but I am no longer worried by it.

I still think your planting looks on the light side.

 

[Underwurlde]

Interesting if nothing else....

Thats a bit of a bummer really as thats the state of the tap water and I dont have the water pressure for an efficient RO unit.

So what does your tap water on it's own test out at?

Following on from that question then, how much of which chemicals do you dose?

Andy

 

[Aeropars]

Just tested from the tap as follows:

Nitrate - Abouot 7ish. Between 5 and 10 on the colour chart
Phosphate - Just over 2.5.

 

[Underwurlde]

OK you have 'free' P, what & how are you actually dosing into your tank?

 

[Aeropars]

I've been dosing as per the guidelins on the Barr Report.

Phosphate - 1ppm
Nitrate - 5ppm (now up to over 10ppm after changing ferting)
k - 10ppm

 

[Underwurlde]

Sorry, not worded very well, I'll rephrase it...

If adding directly: How much dry fert are you adding to your tank.
OR
If making your own PMDD (Poor Mans Dosing Drops), how much dry fert are you adding to what quantity of water when preparing your PMDD. Then how much PMDD are you then adding to your tank.

If that makes any sense to you!

Andy

 

[Aeropars]

I've been making a solution and dosing as per the aqua essentials guides.

Magnesium sulphate:
70g to 500ml of water (preferably RO) and add 50ml once a week per 100L of water - this would give yo a target of 7ppm

Potassium Phosphate:
15g to 500ml of water (preferably RO) and add 5ml per 100L of water - this would give you a value of 1ppm and you would dose 3 times a week when using the EI method.

Potassium Nitrate:
40g to 500ml of water (preferably RO) and add 10ml per 100L of water - this would give you a value of 5ppm and you would dose 3 times a week when using the EI method.

 

[Underwurlde]

(not condescending) but I agree with those figures - just trying to follow what you're doing in my mind.
(You also get 3.1ppm of K from PN, but I guess you knew that).

The end result of my inane questioning is this:
I don't think you need to dose Potassium Phospahte as it comes for free in your tap water & this is the one thing you don't want to go overboard on. This is why your P is too much.

I did the same thing BTW....

Whaddya reckon? I hope I've got it right, this stuff make me go cross-eyed!

Andy

erm, you might now need to get the K that was in potassium phosphate now from potassium sulphate instead...

 

[Aeropars]

Yes, i think I agree. I'll monitor how its used up throughout the week and top up if neccessary.

I agree on the adding of the K. I might actually give the ADA stuff a try but i'll have to see on cash for that... its expensive.

I'm also going to get some Otto's as theres another type of algae thats always in the tank but only in very low levels.

Crosseyed is right.... mine are aching from all the turning hehe.

 

[Underwurlde]

Cool!

I'm not talking complete rubbish then. (Makes a change).

I would not add more fish to combat algae btw I think you'll end up making the problem worse believe it or not (The increased stocking => increased waste of course => increase algae) ... IF that's your only reason for adding them...

I might actually give the ADA stuff a try but i'll have to see on cash for that... its expensive.

Are you talking AquaSoil? Adding that I think will help to drop & stabilize pH - hence no need to dose Magnesium Sulphate for KH? I'm guessing now....

This plant & fishkeeping lark is all Chemistry!

Andy

 

[Aeropars]

The magnesium sulphate is another nutirent thats reccommended. Dont think it touched the KH. The ADA stuff i'm on about is Brighty K, althuogh i think that buffers too.

 

[George Farmer]

Lee - I think your main issue lies with lack of bio-mass, as suggested. Get some more weeds in there, carry on with EI, CO2 30ppm, 50% weekly water changes and your algae shouldn't be an issue. N ratios aren't really important IME. Heavy planting, CO2 are.

Are you talking AquaSoil? Adding that I think will help to drop & stabilize pH - hence no need to dose Magnesium Sulphate for KH? I'm guessing now....

MgSO4 is not used to for KH. It is a source of Mg, sometimes used with a Ca compound i.e. CaCl2 to boost GH, normally in a ratio 4:1. Seachem Equilibrium has a similar effect but also contains K, Fe and Mn. Ideal for re-mineralising RO.

Watch out when guessing.....

The ADA stuff i'm on about is Brighty K, althuogh i think that buffers too.

It does buffer KH. If budget is an issue then this is basically the same - http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...roducts_id=1239

 

[Underwurlde]

Not guessing, getting confised by myself more like....

Magnesium (Mg 10%) Sulphate (SO4 39%) ..... MgSO4.7H2O
A source of 2 of the 3 secondary macro-nutrients (The 3rd being Calcuim)
With Calcium Carbonate, used to raise GH of the water
...my bad!

No need for MgSO4 if dosing trace elements using Tropica Master Grow (TMG) aka AquaCare Plant Nutrition Liquid aka Tropica AquaCare Nutrition (same bloody things) or SeaChem Flourish which you need to do for trace element dosing anyway...

The ADA stuff i'm on about is Brighty K, althuogh i think that buffers too.

A source of Potassium (K) and if used at water changes can be used as a de-chlorinator?!?!?!

At 14 quid a bottle (gasp, cough, splutter), wouldn't it be ALOT cheaper to use PMDD prepared from Potassium Sulphate.....


Andy

(I'm not pushing, really, just trying to learn...)