Lighting

[billyvegas]

i have a 6ft x 2ft x 18 inch wide tank. currently lighting using 4 no aquabright + 6 no aquawhite T5 tubes. lights are on from 9am -1pm amd 2pm - 9pm. midday break to help combat algae but not working. i have black brush algae and blue/green slime algae. i have turned of co2 and done 50 0/0 waterchange and going into 3 day blackout. i feed once a week with pro flora and do 20 0/0 waterchanges weekly. ph is 8. kh is 17, gh is 18, nitrate nil. any advice welcome to help break algae cycle as tank is heavily planted and costs too much too keep replacing,

 

[SexyFishKeeper]

Black Brush Algae shows changing co2 levels and/or poor circulation with slime algae showing poor dosing.
The slime takes an age to get rid of, but blackouts certainly help.
What is your method of co2 injection?
I would suggest you look to increase co2 and circulation.

I don't think the hour gap will really help your situation, when algae starts recuded light is good, you're running 11 hours light when you've got algae problem. I'd cut it down to about 6 hours to combat the algae.

When I started my new scape i cut it down to 6 hours and slowly stepped it upto 8 hours over a month or so.

 

[SuperColey1]

All good advice above. Circulation is my bet here on the CO2 issue/BBA. Then the fert which doesn't have N or P in it causing the Slime and the poor circulation letting detritus stay on the substrate.

Better circulation will not just help distribute nutrients and CO2 but also keep detritus and wastes moving rather than settling.

Sounds like a lot of light too!!

Do the black out for 4 days. No peeking.

After that you need to look at the circulation, CO2 and improving the ferts

AC

 

[billyvegas]

i have a 6ft x 2ft x 18 inch wide tank. currently lighting using 4 no aquabright + 6 no aquawhite T5 tubes. lights are on from 9am -1pm amd 2pm - 9pm. midday break to help combat algae but not working. i have black brush algae and blue/green slime algae. i have turned of co2 and done 50 0/0 waterchange and going into 3 day blackout. i feed once a week with pro flora and do 20 0/0 waterchanges weekly. ph is 8. kh is 17, gh is 18, nitrate nil. any advice welcome to help break algae cycle as tank is heavily planted and costs too much too keep replacing,

many thanks both of you !!!!!!!!!2 people in agreement ,thats a first and gives me confidence in following your advice. co2 is by disposable canister but can only be managed by manual turning up/down and off. indicator in tank aleways seems to indicate more co2 is needed but i was worried this would encourage the algae out of control

 

[SexyFishKeeper]

Another thing is that higher co2 limits algae, just try and attain the 30ppm as sometimes higher values can gas the fish.
Might be worth in looking to upgrade your co2 system to include a solenoid with a timer so it automatically switches off and on.

 

[SuperColey1]

And a needle valve if you are using the reg's controller at the mo.

(I use disposable bottles too )

AC