Green Hair Algae

[illusion54]

I have no water test kits, but don't let you get the impression I'm a complete noob. I just don't have a lot of money to spend right now.

However, here's my set up for my 29 US gallon: 3 wpg (5-2-5 schedule), DIY CO2 (nutrifin), Tom Barr's estimative index dosing, fluorite substrate with nearly 100% of it covered with plants (including algae busters), and a weekly 50% water change.

Now, here's the problem hence the title... Green hair algae. It's the only algae present in my tank and it thrives. My question: is there a particular essence of my tank that could be fueling this problem?

Any help would be appreciated by myself and the plants that are suffering from the algae.

Mitch

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Could be the ferts, i've heard that the stuff in the ferts is good for growing both algae and plants. But maybe someone can clarify.

 

[Dave Spencer]

You appear to be running a similar tank to me and I get hair algae. If your algae is targetting a particular plant (Egeria in my case) then bin it. I also got rid of a lump of bogwood that was covered as well. This got rid of 95% of it, and any that grows back now, my Amanos can keep on top of.

 

[AlexAndCarmen]

Hi Illusion54, sounds like your algae problem is caused by unstable co2. Do you unplug your co2 at night, I've found leaving it on all the time only drops the ph by 0.4 over night and defently sorts out algae problems N.B your KH should be above 4 or the ph swing will be larger. How often are you changing your nutrifin mix/diy mix the later i can recommend? Alex

 

[Dave Spencer]

AlexAndCarmen,

I have my CO2 on ten hours a day, which gives me a pH swing of 0.4 overnight, the same as yours. My KH is bordering on zero yet my pH is rock steady with stable pressurised CO2 during the day, so I`m not convinced these are the problem.

Get rid of as much of it as you can by hand and get a little army of Amano Shrimp (brilliant little creatures).

 

[AlexAndCarmen]

Dave what CO2 delivery system are you running? My normal tap water Ph which i fill the tank with is 7.4-7.6 the tank during the day with CO2 is 6.8 PH, I have CO2 running 24/7 and at lights on in the morning PH is 6.4-6.6. Fish seem happy as ever and just last week my Otto's and trili's spawn again. I use to have a lot of hair algae problems even BBA but now touch wood the CO2 on 24/7 seems to have solved it. When ever I've neglected the CO2 diy mix, change one L bottle every week so the L bottle last two weeks, I've got two bottles running my 50gal, I start getting hair algae creeping back.
From what i understand of kh the the kh buffers the ph swing with low kh you get unstable swings
It works for me ,hope it'll help you. The hair algae takes about a week to look significantly less.
Alex

 

[Dave Spencer]

AlexandCarmen,

Sorry if it sounded like I was questioning your advice, we are both only speaking from our own personal experiences. I run my CO2 at 30ppm during the ten hour photoperiod.

My tap water goes in my tank at a pH of 7.4ish, and it drops to 6.2. I would definitely prefer more of a pH buffer, but I wouldn`t change my soft tap water for anybody elses on this forum. Some people have liquid rock.

I just found that by removing a huge amount of hair algae in one go, I gave my Amanos the opportunity to keep on top of it.

 

[AlexAndCarmen]

Dave, I'm not getting defensive I was just clarifying the point i wanted to make, that those of us using diy CO2/fermentation benefit hugely by leaving the CO2 on 24/7. I would mention that this should be done cautiously checking Ph doesn't drop below 6.2 over night.
I'm enjoying following your tank journal at the moment and look forward to seeing results. I myself am a bit of a jungle man over a contemporary Amano look but that's just personal taste. Cool journal though.
Alex

 

[illusion54]

I'll keep an eye on the CO2. Yes, I've been letting it run 24/7, but for the size of my aquarium I think I need more than one CO2 input. Opinions? For now, I've increased the amount of yeast in the mixture which will result in more CO2. With this, I plan on changing the C02 mixture weekly after the water change.