Only Two Plants, Then Why So Much Algae?

[myfishforlife100]

Hey everyone I have a bit of a problem.
I have a 20 gal fish tank it is 1 year old.
I have two plants in it that don't require much lighting!
But If I leave my light on for too long algae starts coming like crazy.
I have a very powerful and expensive light, could that be the problem?
The thing is that other tanks i see on this website have beautiful plants in every spot of the tank, I want the same look but am afraid of the Algae getting out of control=(
Can you please give me some advise? Sorry I don't have any pics but if it's essential I'll provide them later.

Thank you

-Elissa
Here is a video of the tank
http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX-7JM10dC8

hope this helps

 

[Geoff1991]

Whats the wattage of the light? and what type of lighting is it?

If its "powerful and expensive" you could need co2

 

[cheesy feet]

On the contrary having lots of plants means the plants should out compete the algae for nutrients, resulting in an algae free tank.
Having few plants means there are nutrients available for both, and of course algae wins.There are many other variables in this, however.
If you go into the planted tank section I'm sure there's a pinned topic with easy to keep plant species, such as java fern, anubias, amazon swords, rotala rotundifolia, hygrophila polsysperma, wisteria, java moss etc, which would probably be fine in your tank, but as Geoff asked.

 

[three-fingers]

Also, you should take the plants out of the pot, separate them into individual plants and plant them in the gravel .

 

[myfishforlife100]

Also, you should take the plants out of the pot, separate them into individual plants and plant them in the gravel .

Thank you everyone for replying, now i believe it's a good idea to take the plants out of the pot but what benefit will it bring if any? Thank you=)


I FOUND OUT THAT I HAVE 24 WATTS!

here is the link to the appearance of my lighting.
http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...fm?pcatid=19759

thank you again!=)

-Elissa

 

[three-fingers]

The plants roots get very crowded in the pots, stunting their growth (which makes them less efficient at out competing algae).
Inside the pot, they naturally cannot take nutrients from the mulm in your substrate either, which is just leaving more nutrients that can leach into the water for the algae.

Also looks naff .

 

[Jallen]

Off topic, you have an awesome camera.

 

[myfishforlife100]

Thank you everyone I will take it out of the pot as you said! By the way can you please recommend some plants that are suitable the lighting I have? Thank you=)

-Elissa

 

[cheesy feet]

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=22604&st=0
Any plants which are labelled as 'low-med light'..Have a look through there.

 

[myfishforlife100]

Thanx cheesy feet that helped a lot, and thank you everyone els=)!!!!

-Elissa

 

[three-fingers]

Off topic too, but just watched the video, and be careful about the snail eating the plants, cant make out the species but it could be the plant eating apple snail Pomacea canaliculata.

Also, rehome that pictus! They should be kept in groups, your poor thing is behaving very unnaturally because your keeping on it's own, they should be swimming around the tank very actively! A 20g is far too small for a group of pictus.

 

[baron von bubba]

Hey everyone I have a bit of a problem.
I have a 20 gal fish tank it is 1 year old.
I have two plants in it that don't require much lighting!
But If I leave my light on for too long algae starts coming like crazy.
I have a very powerful and expensive light, could that be the problem?
The thing is that other tanks i see on this website have beautiful plants in every spot of the tank, I want the same look but am afraid of the Algae getting out of control=(
Can you please give me some advise? Sorry I don't have any pics but if it's essential I'll provide them later.

Thank you

-Elissa
Here is a video of the tank
[URL="http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX-7JM10dC8"]http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX-7JM10dC8[/URL]

hope this helps

you dont say your lighting period and what if any ferts you are adding? that would help a tad!