Making A Tall Tank Shallow?

[doresy]

I have (see sig) a Aquaone 380 (34ltr) in which I have a Superdelta and a bunch of Pigmy Corys. Sand substrate with real plants.
My trouble is I get this black algae stuff which is like soot. It is soft and fuzzy and easily cleaned off but it comes back in a couple of days. I have tried to identify what is causing it and my thinking now is that the light is not strong enough for the depth of tank.

Now then, has anyone managed to make a tank shallower? I don't mean lowering the water level I mean raising the floor somehow. If I were to add a load more sand then it would get mucky between it and the glass.

Any idea's or photos?

 

[orange shark]

stepladder?

 

[markandhisfish]

personally if the lighting in the tank being insufficient was the reason for the algae i would upgrade the lights instead of making the tanks shallower. that way you are not sacrificing tank space

 

[doresy]

stepladder?

Very helpful

personally if the lighting in the tank being insufficient was the reason for the algae i would upgrade the lights instead of making the tanks shallower. that way you are not sacrificing tank space

Hi, I take your point but the hood unit is a bit hard to upgrade. Also, as it is a betta tank then being more shallow would be a bonus for him.

 

[SharonCC]

I don't know of any way that it can be done...increasing sand would make it difficult to clean(vac)...

 

[BigC]

Check you Nitrate and Phosphate levels it may well not be you lighting or photoperiod thats causing the problem.
Using Rowaphos will help reduce phosphate levels. Cut down on feeding or anything thats adding neutrients into the water column.
Regards
BigC

 

[Dave Spencer]

My trouble is I get this black algae stuff which is like soot. It is soft and fuzzy and easily cleaned off but it comes back in a couple of days. I have tried to identify what is causing it and my thinking now is that the light is not strong enough for the depth of tank.

What makes you think it is low lighting, Doresy? Without any pics to ID the algae, my guess is that it is BBA. This makes it CO2 related. I can trigger BBA in my tanks any time I want by switching off the CO2. I can do this one thing in isolation, do it many times, and trigger BBA and staghorn every time.

I can trigger other sorts of algae through various means, but I have never been able to do this via high phosphates and/or nitrates. I have proven to myself that reducing nitrates and phosphates to levels that limit plant growth trigger algae such as GSA, GDA, rhizoclonium and spirogyra. Struggling plants release ammonia, which triggers algae. The low nutrient levels are the indirect cause.

Buy some Flourish Excel or Easycarbo and your problems will be over, provided I have identified the algae correctly . These products will supply organic carbon for your plants, which means the algae shouldn`t come back when it has cleared. The Polycyclogluteraldehyde in these products is very effective against a lot of algae types........ which is nice.

Once you know what is causing the algae, the solution becomes easier. Observe and react. Your plants are carbon deficient, wasting a lot of energy producing RuBisCo, and leaching ammonia. Ammonia is causing the algae, via a carbon deficiency.

Dave.

 

[england]

well my little sister has a tank which is approx 3foot tall by 1.5ft in length..........
we put a tetratec 1000 internal in the tank, a powerglo light and a heater at 24c
its got 4 cardinal tetras and 1 bristlenose plec<juvi>2 red tetras,,,,,,,,

its never had a problem with any algae what so ever, the filters on the most powerful setting which works across and down,,you can see flow goes across the bottom,,,,,,maybe thats the problem

 

[doresy]

My trouble is I get this black algae stuff which is like soot. It is soft and fuzzy and easily cleaned off but it comes back in a couple of days. I have tried to identify what is causing it and my thinking now is that the light is not strong enough for the depth of tank.

What makes you think it is low lighting, Doresy? Without any pics to ID the algae, my guess is that it is BBA. This makes it CO2 related. I can trigger BBA in my tanks any time I want by switching off the CO2. I can do this one thing in isolation, do it many times, and trigger BBA and staghorn every time.

I can trigger other sorts of algae through various means, but I have never been able to do this via high phosphates and/or nitrates. I have proven to myself that reducing nitrates and phosphates to levels that limit plant growth trigger algae such as GSA, GDA, rhizoclonium and spirogyra. Struggling plants release ammonia, which triggers algae. The low nutrient levels are the indirect cause.

Buy some Flourish Excel or Easycarbo and your problems will be over, provided I have identified the algae correctly . These products will supply organic carbon for your plants, which means the algae shouldn`t come back when it has cleared. The Polycyclogluteraldehyde in these products is very effective against a lot of algae types........ which is nice.

Once you know what is causing the algae, the solution becomes easier. Observe and react. Your plants are carbon deficient, wasting a lot of energy producing RuBisCo, and leaching ammonia. Ammonia is causing the algae, via a carbon deficiency.

Dave.

You're the man! What a great reply....thanks. Ok....history. Have queried this problem a number of times before on here, with photos but never got a conclusive reply. Although quite experienced in fishkeeping I am not very good at this algae and real plant growing thing. My main tank has perfect stats, clear water and nil algae. In fact with the help from me in the way of weekly 30% water changes it is pretty well self maintaining.
The small tank is another question. Stats are 0-0-but 40ppm nitrates which is how my water comes from the tap. Again I do weekly 30% water changes. This 'algae' I get is jet black (like soot) furry and easily dislodged. It forms on anything plastic (ie, powerhead, plastic rocks) also on some (real) plants and pebbles. Hey, I don't really think it is the light even though it does seem a little dull.

I use Flourish fertilizer which I think is great so I will certainly go look at the Excel or Esaycarbo you suggested..........thanks so much for your imput, much appreciated friend

 

[doresy]

well my little sister has a tank which is approx 3foot tall by 1.5ft in length..........
we put a tetratec 1000 internal in the tank, a powerglo light and a heater at 24c
its got 4 cardinal tetras and 1 bristlenose plec<juvi>2 red tetras,,,,,,,,

its never had a problem with any algae what so ever, the filters on the most powerful setting which works across and down,,you can see flow goes across the bottom,,,,,,maybe thats the problem

Hi and thanks for your input Nelly. Water flow did cross my mind as I have reduced it to bare minimun due to the fact that it is for my Betta boy.

 

[doresy]

Check you Nitrate and Phosphate levels it may well not be you lighting or photoperiod thats causing the problem.
Using Rowaphos will help reduce phosphate levels. Cut down on feeding or anything thats adding neutrients into the water column.
Regards
BigC

Cheers friend, I'm guessing over feeding may be a contributory factor Nitrate is 40 straight from the tap and is pretty constant at weekly water changes. Phosphate level I havn't a clue (well at least I'm honest!) I'm guessing there is a test for that (not in my API) will look into that.

Thanks and regards

 

[doresy]

SPECIAL THANKS TO DAVE SPENCER



Hi, you may remember joining my thread a while back on making my Betta tank more shallow in the hope that it would increse the effectiveness of the lights in the hope that it would cure my horrible black stuff covering everything.

You suggested that it may be a sort of algae that could be prevented with the addition of Flourish Excel.

Oh boy were you on the money! Since using it there is not a hint of it forming and it certainly would have by now.

A really big thanks .....(I was on the verge of closing that tank down but now it's the pride of my fleet!)

Will update that thread in the hope that others may benifit from your knowledge

 

[Cantbesaved]

That is sweet! Glad you got er all fixed up!!