No Algae Here!

[fry_lover]

Hallo Peeps!

Right, this is not a problem, far from it!!! But i am curious as to why i have NO algae in my tank

Tank
36x12x18 inch 120 litres, approx 26 gallons

Plants
Loads, fully planted, Java Fern, Vallis, Onion Plant, Hygrophilia (spelling), Amazon Sword, Java Moss, Moss Balls

Lights
3x Normal Fluorescent LFS bulbs, 2 of them are new within the last 3 months. Total wattage of all three tubes combined is 63 Watts (PLUS i use a reflector on one of them, the tube at the front, to ensure my Java Moss grows well, i find it doesnt without lots of light)


Ok, so i have approx 2.4 watts / per gallon (not a huge amount for plant enthusiasts) but more than the average Joe Bloggs has in his planted aquarium

I have my lights on atleast 14 hours per day, sometimes longer (not by choice, simply from habit, ON when go to work, OFF when go to bed)

Its been this way for about 4-5 months, the only change i made was buying 2x new bulbs about 3-months ago.

I have NO algae build up peeps and never had and i mean NONE (to the visible eye)

- the heater is right under the lights and it still looks brand new
- The internal Fluval filters, the same
- No algae on glass
- I cant even see algae build up on the plants

And i dont have any specific algae-eating fish in there, its livebearers and Cory, i know they nibble on plants, but most fish do!!!

Just wondering, what am i doing "right" then in order to be in this fotunate position?

PS - my plants are gorwing really well, but they are all the easy ones i guess,

PPS - I use Seachem Flourish once a week and Seachem Excel (organic carbon) once a week

 

[three-fingers]

All your plants are healthy and growing, outcompeting the algae.
Your hygrophila in particular will be helping alot .
Good job . I have no algae growing in either of my tanks anymore, since I added hygrophila polysperma to both of them. I used to get loads of algae when i only had java fern, but only in the summer when my tank got direct sunlight . Hygrophila polysperma is by far my favourite plant, runners up being Eleocharis acicularis at second and Rotala rotundifolia (another algae-buster) a third .

 

[fry_lover]

thanks a lot for your reply and feedback

 

[fry_lover]

my Hygrophilia is just one massive plant in the middle of my tank and its growing so high it above the water level!!!

Is that normal for Hygrophilia?

Can i take some cuttings of it and spread it around my tank, if so, any tips on how best to do this? Thanks

 

[DarkEntity]

Hygro is a bloody nuisance when it gets going, itll grow and grow. Just chop the bits off you dont want and replant, they will root in no time.

 

[Themuleous]

As said the decent plant growth, is what will be keeping the algae at bay keep it up!

Sam