Thick Green Algae Growing On The Sand

[Fella]

The tank in question is a 15 gallon tank containing 4 multifasciatus (and their fry!)

The plants within it are -

2 clumps of java moss
2 Amazon Sword plants
Roughly 9+ Vallis
2 x twisted Vallis
1 X small blob of Riccia fluitans (a little ambitious...)

I also recently got of some Malaysian Trumpet Snails. They help, but not enough sadly. Tonight when I was performing maintenance i tried to pick the algae up but it just falls apart in my hands, so I just turned it over a bit into the sand. I go out for a couple of hours, and I can see it coming back with a vengeance, and spreading...

The lights I have are -

1 x Standard Juwel 15w tube
1 x Arcadia plant tube

I understand these aren't fantastic lights, but I'm currently running on a budget.

I know the first step to take really would be to run the lights for a shorter amount of time. Only problem is, the plugs are all on a 4 socket adapter, and I can't find a timed plug that will fit without having to remove all the others. So running a siesta period sadly isn't an option. Would it be better to run the light for less hours a day? Or perhaps, run one bulb for fewer hours and only turn it on at a certain time?

What plants could I add that would look great (I'll try and whack a picture on here in a sec...), Would be good for my Multis and would suck up enough nutrients to outcompete the algae? I'm running a Juwel rekord 60, so, I don't have acres of space, and I need to keep floor space at a premium for the shells (multifasciatus have territories over shells that cover the tank floor). This is the main reason for the vallis. The reasoning behind the java moss is to give the fry a little cover.

I got a plec to do it (lovely little fella) but sadly the multis decimated him overnight A harsh lesson learned, and one I dont want to try and repeat.

I'm desperate to not use CO2, unless it was made very simple, and very cheap with me. That means not having to buy a test kit I guess.

This is going to be a long and winding road I can tell. I get the feeling there is going to be no quick, or simple, or cheap resolution to this, but I'd be grateful for any help offered.

The algae by the way is quite mossy, very dark in colour (especially where its most dense) and only covering the substrate currently.

Many thanks in advance!

 

[zig]

You will have to take a picture of the algae for it to be identified correctly, it could be staghorn algae, but thats only a guess.

You dont need co2 with the lighting you have.

Do you fertilise this tank?

How often and how much water do you change in this tank?

How heavily stocked is the tank with fish?

How long is this tank setup?

Would you consider this tank to be heavily planted?

Do you have any testkits? and if you do what are the results?

If you dont have some testkits for this tank it will be difficult to give an exact diagnosis as to where the problem may lie, but having said that a proper picture of the algae will give me a very good idea as to origon of the problem.

Also there is no point in adding anymore plants to this tank until you resolve the current issues with algae you are having, adding more may just compound the problems.

You talk about running the lights for long periods, but you dont say for how long you auctually run the lights each day?

 

[Fella]

You will have to take a picture of the algae for it to be identified correctly, it could be staghorn algae, but thats only a guess.

Okey doke. I don't have a camera right now, but I'll try and find a picture on the net. I'm struggling though! It's quite dense in places, is very dark green, grows mostly on the sand and is "mossy". It's either my malaysian trumpet snails stirring the sand up, or it's pearling, because it's producing bubbles of o2 (I hope o2) that get caught in it. From the rate it's reproducing I wouldnt be surprised, but this is all guesswork.

You dont need co2 with the lighting you have.

Great stuff

Do you fertilise this tank?

None whatsoever

How often and how much water do you change in this tank?

20% weekly

How heavily stocked is the tank with fish?

I would say it is averagely stocked. 4 Small (2 inches tops) fish.

How long is this tank setup?

Since mid september.

Would you consider this tank to be heavily planted?

Not really. Its got a fair few plants in it, but, I don't think anyone would really call it a planted tank.

Do you have any testkits? and if you do what are the results?

Yup.

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20ppm
PH 7.8

You talk about running the lights for long periods, but you dont say for how long you auctually run the lights each day?

I've been running them from Midday till Midnight. I'm guessing this isn't so great (well, I know it's not great).

Many thanks!

 

[jimbooo]

You dont need co2 with the lighting you have.

sorry zig but this is the exact same tank as my small one (rekord 60) with the same lighting as me (in wattage terms). he does need co2 in my opinion. the algae sounds like BGA apart from the mossy bit.

Fella: is it like a thin film of slime or a furry hairy type growth?

sorry to chuck a spanner in the works!

 

[Fella]

Furry and hairy definitely.

 

[jimbooo]

it's not BGA then, next? anyone?

 

[Fella]

it's not BGA then, next? anyone?

Could it just be java moss spreading? It's not as furry as java moss, but, I do have 2 clumps in the tank. The sand is seperate to where they are planted however.

 

[jimbooo]

i doubt it but there's an easy way to tell. pull a lump out with your fingers and smell it. if it's algae you'll know soon enough. it stinks.

 

[Fella]

i doubt it but there's an easy way to tell. pull a lump out with your fingers and smell it. if it's algae you'll know soon enough. it stinks.

My hobby has now come to this, I'm an algae sniffer


It doesnt really smell that bad, but, I'm dubious to whether or not its java moss because its creating a lot of o2, where as my JM is creating none that I can visibly see.

Its growing so fast though literally everytime I go to the tank I see it increase.

 

[jimbooo]

thats not java fern, it is a very slow grower and will only pearl under very strong light, co2 and fertalised water.

algae can also pearl, trust me mine does..

 

[Fella]

ok, theres one possible culprit off the list. What are my options/What are the possibilities?

 

[zig]

A picture can tell a thousand words or something like that..............a picture is still a good idea.

sorry zig but this is the exact same tank as my small one (rekord 60) with the same lighting as me (in wattage terms). he does need co2 in my opinion

jimbooo you are probably correct, i just presumed because he still has the origional Juwel light that came with the tank and hasnt upgraded it to a light for growing plants that it wouldnt be enough, i have one of these tanks as well and could never grow anything with the light suplied, the plants would survive for a long time and eventually just start getting all sorts of problems.

Have you ever tried 2 WPG in these tanks without adding co2? ive just upgraded my own juwel tank to 2 WPG and was going to try and avoid co2, i am going to use 2x 15watts as well, just wondering what your experience is or was etc?

 

[Fella]

A picture can tell a thousand words or something like that..............a picture is still a good idea

My digital camera has run out of batteries so it's unlikely for some time

Any chance of posting some examples so I could match it to which ones it could possibly be.

It's

Dark green where most dense
Producing o2 under 2 WPG
growing over sand (very fast)
Hairy/Furry

 

[jimbooo]

yep the first mod from the basic plastic diver tank was to add the extra tube, then filled it with plants and poured in liquid ferts at water change (before the days i knew better). hair algae everywhere in about 10 days!!

totally gutted the tank, added laterite and co2 and we've been full steam ahead ever since. a simple coke bottle with an airstone will be better than nothing but a nutrafin ladder will obviously be better

hey, wait a minute, check out the example planted tank pin my spec's in there if you fancy ripping it off. feel free old chap.

Sorry fella, missed your reply. i've just had a search and have not got any algae pics on file i'm afraid.

 

[Fella]

Ok, I had a look at google image searched pictures of Staghorn Algae, it's unlikely to be that from the looks of things.

If I let it grow though, looks like it could be hair algae...