I Condemned One Of My Tanks.

[Mikaila31]

I officially condemned my little 2.5gal "attempted" planted tank. I moved my betta and cherry shrimp out and into a pail w/ heater for the time being. Everything in the tank and the tank walls is coated with hair algae and this weird white stuff that looks like snot . The few plants that are in there are actually growing, but have about a 1" coating of the snotty stuff on them. Every week I completely tear the tank apart, I scrub the wood, plants, and everything else. I get as much of the algae out as I can, but within a week it covers everything. I have tried the DIY CO2, it had a small effect on the hair algae, but none of the white stuff. The bubbles would get stuck in the white stuff. I am hoping to get some excel, but I have to order it online and I need a bunch of other stuff which I don't have all the cash for yet. So is there anything else I can try until I get the excel, or should I just take down the tank until I can get it?

I know it can be a nice planted tank like my other one, I just need the algae to stop growing faster than the plants

 

[lljdma06]

What is your lighting level?

 

[Mikaila31]

13 watts (CP fluorescent 7200K)

 

[lljdma06]

13 watts (CP fluorescent 7200K)

How long had the tank been planted? How long do you have your lights on for, and is the tank near a window? Oh, and what's your substrate?

 

[Mikaila31]

Been planted for about 8 months. Lights are on 12hrs a day and it is right below a window sill. Substrate is a fine sand.

 

[fishyfreak]

What are you using for your substrate? Ooops, that was asked already What kind of sand is it, there are products out there that have a protective coating like a silicon which dissolve in water. Obviously they're not meant for aquariums but I found that out the hard way, it left long white stringy things all over the plants, looked like thick white hair.

 

[Mikaila31]

From my sand box, but it was all sifted through a nylon sock so it is really fine sand. Then was baked in the oven.

 

[DevUK]

White "snot" stuff sounds like discharge from your DIY co2 mix, is it all over or is it noticeably from around your CO2 diffuser/tubing? Excel will get rid of hair algae after a week or so, some times longer. Might need to over dose though.