Think I Lost The War

[phlawed]

As a last ditch effort i have trimmed ever plant of the algae out of the tank, scrubbed the glass for about an hour and did a 50% water yet agian. Nitrates still 0 after 6 weeks, no nitrites luckily though. So dont know what else to do but strip it totally and get rid of the fish

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

Noooo-- don't do that! This is your 37 gallon tank, right? (You need a little algae in there to keep your plecs happy!) Are you adding nutrients/fertilizers? (I'm sorry I can't remember. I've been away for a few days.) If the nitrate is zero, your plants aren't growing as much as they should so the algae is instead.

As I mentioned in another thread, it seems the more things are changed, the more algae will grow. (Also, when I clean my tanks, I always leave a little algae behind...)

If you can keep a steady level of nitrates and CO2, the algae should subside.

Plus, you really don't want to get rid of your fish do you? You have those beautiful irian rainbow fish in there!

 

[phlawed]

Noooo-- don't do that! This is your 37 gallon tank, right? (You need a little algae in there to keep your plecs happy!) Are you adding nutrients/fertilizers? (I'm sorry I can't remember. I've been away for a few days.) If the nitrate is zero, your plants aren't growing as much as they should so the algae is instead.

As I mentioned in another thread, it seems the more things are changed, the more algae will grow. (Also, when I clean my tanks, I always leave a little algae behind...)

If you can keep a steady level of nitrates and CO2, the algae should subside.

Plus, you really don't want to get rid of your fish do you? You have those beautiful irian rainbow fish in there!

i have found my plecs dont know what algae is. SAE's munch as much as they can, but its not enough. Will wait and see, may just have to strip it and put fish in buckets for a few hours and just totally strip the tank. Im out of ideas. Plus im no longer taking suggestions. Im out of money on this tank so its just going to have to do its own thing. If it doesnt work back to the store for the fishies and will start my FOWLR tank.

 

[catastrophi]

Are you injecting co2? If you can balance your tank out (ferts,co2,lighting). your plants would outcompete the algae!

 

[demonmagus]

otos are meant to be good for algae control, same with shrimp

 

[phlawed]

well i upped my co2 to changes every 3 days and am dosing Trace, Iron, Potassium, and Nitrogen. So will see if that helps any. I will thin the plants out some more one Wed during a water change. Pulling the micro sword as its not doing to shiny in there. Although, plecs love playing in it, but it carrying some algae on it, so dont know just yet if i will pull it or not. Other plants are looking a little better after trimming out. Not seeing much new growth just existing stuff. So it might survive.

 

[ArielC]

All algae means is that your water quality, lighting, and nitrates isnt balanced with your plants. Just add some good fertilizer, crank up the lighting, and add some co2 and the plants should grow and the algae subside. If you take down your tank, clean it out, and set it up again, you will probably get algae again. You can't just fix the symptoms of unbalanced water quality, you have to fix the problem(s). :] Good luck!

If there are some parts of your plants that are dying or totally past- saving, take them off, but if there is just a little bit of algae- leave it.