Green Spot Algae

[minxfishy]

Ok, so having removed all the plants from my tank, its no longer a planted tank and therefore no ferts are being added. I have lots of GSA appearing on the glass, which is given a good clean every 5 days when I do a 50% water change, however this doesnt remove GSA so that is being done with a razor as and when it appears.

How do I stop it? Lights are T5's on 8-9hrs daily. No ammonia (undetectable anyways), 0 NitrIte and 20-30 nitrAtes (20ppm from tap) 2 x 50% water changse weekly (well every 5 days).

Do I still need to dose ferts? Surely not as there is no plants to use them.

Help please

 

[markandhisfish]

no sollution but il give you a free bump as i have exactly the same situation and would be interested to know too

 

[aaronnorth]

raise the Phosphates to a minimum of 1ppm, and you should notice a decrease, if not try 2ppm.

Another tip to try is directing the flow towards the glass.

Algae is algae and requires the same conditions to grow wether it be plants or not,

thanks

 

[markandhisfish]

how do you raise phosphates?

 

[TheBigEasy]

get a pleco, algae isnt bad.

 

[markandhisfish]

ive got a golden nugget which isnt really an algae eater plus i would rather solve the cause

 

[aaronnorth]

liquid or dry powders. Liquid are dearer, powders are much cheaper:

KH2PO4 (potassium phosphate)

15g to 500ml of water and adding 5ml per 100L of water would give you a value of 1ppm

3.99 per 100g http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...roducts_id=1557
1.27 per 100g http/www.gardendirect.co.uk/potassium-phosphate-p-213
3.43 per 100g http/www.fluidsensoronline.com/epages/BT...s/PN-100-PP-100

 

[TheBigEasy]

ive got a golden nugget which isnt really an algae eater plus i would rather solve the cause

adding chemicals is not always the best thing to do though, algae is part of a healthy tank, and a pleco is a great solution to it. You can add wat you want to your water, im just saying, there are too many people out there thinking algae is bad just because they dont like the way it looks.

 

[markandhisfish]

great stuff cheers aaron. 1 last question cheapest longest lasting way of acheiving the desired result in a 450 litre tank ?

ive got a golden nugget which isnt really an algae eater plus i would rather solve the cause

adding chemicals is not always the best thing to do though, algae is part of a healthy tank, and a pleco is a great solution to it. You can add wat you want to your water, im just saying, there are too many people out there thinking algae is bad just because they dont like the way it looks.

not a good idea to get another plec as when my golden nugget reaches maturity it can be very territorial and agressive towards other bottom dwellers such as plecs i did toy with getting a bristlenose but id rather just not get algae on the glass.

 

[TheBigEasy]

maybe try one of those magnet glass cleaners. I just hate adding chems to water, thats all.

 

[markandhisfish]

i scrape it off with a scraper every waterchange like minxy. agreed throwing loads of chemicals into your tank isnt ideal but surely levels as low as 1ppm cant be harmful

 

[minxfishy]

Thanks aaron, I just knew one day Id have to get the powders

Btw Bigeasy, I have a BN Pleco and he doesnt touch the stuff either.

 

[aaronnorth]

Potassium Phosphate is a salt, it is harmless to humans & aquatic life, i never reccomend algaecides as they can cause problems. Most who run EI add about 5ppm without any side affects.
the only way to fix it is to keep the PO4 levels raised, and a decent amount of flow over the glass. Even if the PO4 doesnt entirely remove it, it should decrease it.

Also try and run a shorter photperiod of 6-8hrs if not doing so already.

 

[aaronnorth]

any improvements?

 

[minxfishy]

OK, its been moved.

Havent got the powder yet mate, still small spots appearing, have lessened the lighting time though.