Thread Algae

Themuleous

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Hi All,

Need some advice please. Since redoing my nano a week ago my HC and riccia has become plagued by thread algae. The glass remains relatively clear, probably due to the nerite snail. The thread algae is worrying me. I have added 6 amano shrimp from my other tanks a few days ago and I have upped my CO2 as I think it might have been low, but have done the 1 pH point test and things seem to be OK now.

Current regime is 50% water change every other day, followed by adding 1.5ppm PO4 and 10ppm NO3. Then 1ml AE trace every day in the morning. Lighting is 2x 24w T5 daylight tubes, on for 6hrs.

The plants seem to be doing OK, both the riccia and HC are pearling and I can see new growth on both, although the riccia is getting quite leggy, which I wasn't expecting given the light level (could the short photoperiod be making it grow upwards?)

Is there anything I am doing that I shouldn't be or vice versa, not doing that I should?

Would a few more shrimp help?

Is this because I don't have enough fast growers in there?

I guess what I'm really asking is, should I be worried? or should I realise its only been a week and the EI will sort this out given time as the plants are growing fine? (BTW the HC was from AE so grown emergent, lots of die back probably around 60-70% but the new growth is encouraging)

Sorry Im kinda just pushing my thoughts out there and hoping someone can see way through! :lol: I'm just desperate to get it right this time :/

Thanks

Sam

PS - on a side note, I want to try a bit of a dutch style with the ludwigia in my work tank, where abouts do I cut the stems in the below photos? Thanks :)

p1010002ys0.jpg
 
Are you removing the die-off from your HC? If not, the decomposition could be a contributing factor to the thread algae.

As per the ludwigia, if you want to creat a more bushy, Dutch look, cut the stems, I'd say about 1/2 to 2/3 down. Vary it, don't cut all the same length. Plant the tops in the back of the ludwigia cluster, then arrange the bottom cuts by height in front of the taller stems. The back stems will grow tall, while the other stems will branch. The branches should then have redder tops, creating a nice effect with depth. Avoid a "line" look. Actually try and aim for more of a left-right slope, taller stems toward the back and left and gradually growing smaller as your move to the right. You want to encourage the branchiest growth toward the center and middle height. Then couple that with a smaller leafed plant green plant in front (extra HM or HC comes to mind) and you'll have the beginnings of a nice configuration. The Dutch look is all about creating pleasing arrangements and leaf contrasts. Your smaller stems keep short, and plant towards the right of the arrangement. Then move that crypt-like plant behind the shorter section of ludwigia, if you can. Behind the crypt should go a taller plant, preferably with feathery leaves (I'm actually seeing lymnophyla or cabomba, if you've got it). Put a black background, that will help the leaves stand out, giving you the effect you're looking for. I can't see the other side of the tank, but that's what I'd do with the side pictured. The tank has to be densly planted with little if any hardscape.

llj :)
 
I have got thread algae on my Egeria Densa, even though the plant is growing like mad. I have been advised to be patient and let my EI regime sort things out. In the mean time, I remove what algae I can by winding it around a bottle brush. My Amanos eat the threads on my bogwood, but don`t touch what is on my plants.

I`m sure you know more about nanos than me and I would assume you are doing things right (I really should have a go at setting one up, some time). Maybe you could just chuck in some fast growing stems for the time being and put up with an untidy jungle for a while.

I have some Ludwigia Arcuata in my tank that I want to bush out. I was assuming that cutting the stem just above a pair of leaves was the trick, but it was going to be trial and error for me.
 
Righty-ho, thanks Llj, that's kind what I was thinking. I'm not going to go all out 'Dutch' on the work tank, but given that its pretty much the only tank in which the plants are growing well, I thought I'd use the opportunity to get my hand in on how to plant stems to get that bushy effect with a view to re-doing my 20G at some point.

Will see what I can do with the HC as well :)

Thanks again :)

Sam

EDIT - thanks Dave :) I kind guess I'd just being impatient! And you probably know just as much about nanos as me, given that over the life of this tank (around 9 months) I dont think Ive got a single scape to work! :lol:
 
That is some good advice on the Ludwigia from lldjma06. Think I will print it off for future reference. My Arcuata has a really nice orangey tinge to it which is not too overpowering like some red plants can be.
 
If it makes any difference the algae is brown thread, very fragile when pulled off the plants?

On a side note, not sure if its a coincidence, but since adding the shrimp, there has been a dramatic reduction in the amount of dead HC, could the shrimp be eating the leaves? Seems unlikely that all the leaves have disintegrated at exactly the same time. At least that's a plus point, they aren't touching the thread algae, little buggers :X

Sam
 
On a side note, not sure if its a coincidence, but since adding the shrimp, there has been a dramatic reduction in the amount of dead HC, could the shrimp be eating the leaves? Seems unlikely that all the leaves have disintegrated at exactly the same time. At least that's a plus point, they aren't touching the thread algae, little buggers :X

Sam

I know what you mean, mine are too busy stealing food off my Corys to worry about algae.
 

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