Please Help Algae Growing On Plants

[BINKSY]

Hello

I have a 240 litre planted tank, it has been planted now for about 2 months, every thing has been great until about a week ago when a black algae started to appear on the plants, and its making them look dull, its like a black hair algae but sticks to the plants very well, any advice how to rid of it would be very grateful.
I am using co2 which is a pressurized system and lighting is by 2 x 39w t5 lamps and a 38w t8 lamp, at the moment im using kent marine freshwater pro fert and the plants do pearl, and i know pearling is a good thing so im at a loss as to what is wrong?


PH 7.0

Ammonia 0

Nitrite 0

Nitrate 20

KH 11




Cheers Gordon

 

[Daz CPFC]

Are your lights on all day?

 

[BINKSY]

yes they are for 12 hours

 

[Daz CPFC]

yes they are for 12 hours

Im not an "expert" on algae but this could be the problem. Its best to have the lights on for around 10 hours a day. Also its advisable to have the lights on for 5 hours off for 2 then back on for another 5.

Doing a search or reading the pinned topics in this forum would possibly point you in the reight direction about this and buying a light timer etc.

Good luck!

 

[BINKSY]

Ok mate thanx, they run on a light timer now so switching them off for a few hours will not be a problem, anyone have any ideas how to rid of the algae?


Cheers Gordon

 

[Daz CPFC]

Ok mate thanx, they run on a light timer now so switching them off for a few hours will not be a problem, anyone have any ideas how to rid of the algae?


Cheers Gordon

Forgot to say this but a tank blackout may work by covering the tank up for around 3 days with no light getting in??

 

[BINKSY]

i would be a bit worried about doing a total tank blackout because of the plants, dont really want the plants to suffer by doing a blackout


Cheers Gordon

 

[Daz CPFC]

i would be a bit worried about doing a total tank blackout because of the plants, dont really want the plants to suffer by doing a blackout


Cheers Gordon

Its a tried and tested method. Id do a search here on the forums. Plants will be fine without light for a few days where as algae is much more dependant on it.

 

[JamesC]

Blackouts only work against blue green algae (aka slime algae). Take a look at my website for a good identification to what you have. Most likely BBA or possible staghorn.

James

 

[BINKSY]

Hi


Looked at your website James and it is BBA, i know you say increase co2 but i think im over 30ppm now, but not too sure though, at least im a step closer to sorting this issue out, thanx for all advice so far

 

[JamesC]

i know you say increase co2 but i think im over 30ppm now

This thread might interest you

BBA in a high tech tank is always low CO2. I suffered the same BBA as I believed my CO2 was at 30ppm. When I eventually increased the CO2 the BBA went away.

James

 

[BINKSY]

Thanks James, that link makes a very good read am going to try that one out, just keep the standing water at room temp, maybe in the cupboard under my tank? is that ok?



Cheers Gordon

 

[BINKSY]

HI everyone, here are some pics of my algae problems, it seems to be getting worse i know im not the only person to be having or had these problems but am not sure where to go from here? I have increased the co2 so i get a one point ph drop on the standing water method but does not seem to be making any difference also am now dosing Aqua Essentials trace mix dry ferts, only started with this on sunday after my weekly water change, am now thinking about a blackout would this be any help in sorting the problem?

I love the plants but now the algae is ruining the whole look of the tank and is very frustrating.



Many Thanks in advance every one


Cheers Gordon

 

[cleekdaFish]

I had some on my leaves and the bristlenose just ate it up and now its clean or some ottos will also do the job.

yes do the backout for 3 days, wat I have read, it does work...

, u should get more fast growing plants...like hornet, cacomba ,anarcharis. more fast growers,, less algea

 

[BINKSY]

i have 2 bristlenose plecs and 3 ottos in the tank, also my plants are growing well have to prune some every week and thats including the amazons maybe every other week, if its bba algae i have read that a black out wont work, thx for the advice though