TNC complete plant fertiliser

[Country joe]

I have hair algae in my aquarium, it's not too bad, my tank is in my bedroom and for 3 weeks I've been keeping the window blind closed so the room is in darkness, my lights are on a timer for 10 hours, I have live plants, I did buy TNC complete, but have not used it, in case it would make the hair algae worse, do you think it's okay to use it.

 

[wayfareranima]

The most likely cause of algae blooms is natural light and phosphate levels.
Have a look at the phosphate content of the whatever you’re adding to your aquarium and keep your feeds to a minimum. Can also get phosphate pads to add to the filter, they’re pretty cheap.
The best thing you can do with any algae is thorough manual removal on a daily basis and plant more plants to compete with the algae for nutrients. Let us know how you go.

 

[Country joe]

I did buy phosphate pads but never used them, since I bought a phosphate test, it has always been at nil that's why I'm wary that the TMC Complete that I bought does contain phosphate, but say will not effect algae, iam now into my 3rd day of total darkness in my room, I will finish on Sunday, I have cut my light timer from 10 hrs to 6hrs, which I will start when my darkness period is finished
I also have easy care co2 fertiliser which I will use in conjunction with the TNT when the tank is back to normal, so it's now a waiting game to see if all helps.
Iam also waiting on Otoginglus coming into my fish shop beginning of next week, I will be introducing 5 to my aquarium.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

TNC complete is mostly used in aquariums running c02...so I'd suggest your algae issues will get worse by using it. I use TNC lite which is designed for low tech aquariums.

Things you can consider to try and reduce algae are how often are you doing water changes and what volume are you removing? Are you overfeeding? How intense are the lights?

Unless algae is taking over the tank or using up nutrients and starving your plants, or covering plants to a degree where they can't photosynthesise I wouldn't necessarily call it a huge problem, we have to accept that there's always going to be a small background level of algae in our tanks, it's part and parcel of the natural environments we're trying to recreate.

 

[Country joe]

I do 50% weekly water changes, and I don't mind algae, I just don't like thread algae, my plants are suffering with it, I do also have a fertiliser that contains no phosphate unlike the tnt complete, it's just the instructions on the every day co 2 fertiliser states to use it along with another plant fertiliser, when I bought it, I thought you could just use it on its own.

 

[Country joe]

With all things I have been doing to try and beat this hair algae, at the end, of my home treatment, when I turn my lights back on, I've been having a look at Easy Life Algexit, I know your better finding out what's causing the problem, but I am doing that, I just think using this at the end might just help, it gets good reviews, has anyone tried it?

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I have used Tropica fetrtilizers now for over 20 years. I have both the Premium and Specialized. I used to buy tropical in the 5 liter size but cannot get that size.

Read their advice on how to use these two products.

Specialised Nutrition is added each week when the water is changed. The pump bottle dispenses 2 mL per push.
We recommend 6 mL (3 pumps) per 50 L water weekly. However, we recommended that this is set in accordance with plant requirements. Specialised Nutrition contains, in addition to micro-nutrients, all essential macro-nutrients. The fertiliser is particularly suitable where plants display a lack of nutrition. However note that if algae growth starts, Specialised Nutrition will promote this growth.

Specialised Nutrition contains nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Dosage must therefore be adapted to plant absorption rates, to avoid undesirable algae growth. Where signs of algae growth develop, reduce the dosage by 50% and increase water changing frequency by 50%. Changing the water not only reduces the concentration of nutrients in the water, but also removes algae spores, remnants and other accumulated elements from the aquarium water.

Premium Nutrition is added every week when changing the water. The pump bottle dispenses 2 mL per push. We recommend 6 mL (3 pumps per 50 L water per week), but recommend that this is set in accordance with plant requirements. For example, pale leaves often indicate lack of nutrition, but can also be due to poor growth. Echinodorus bleheri will often show lack of micro-nutrients. Regular dosing with Premium Nutrition can restore green and luxuriant leaves. Note, however, that Premium Fertiliser is a fertiliser and not a medicine for dying plants.

It is recommended that minimum 25% of the aquarium water is changed every second week. If undesirable algae growth does occur, then we recommend increasing water change frequency (up to 50%) and planting additional rapid growth waterplants such as Hygrophila, Vallisneria and Egeria

I do not use the pump, I dose using pipettes or a ml graduated labelled small container that can hold up to 25 ml. I buy the biggest bottle I can find for the cheapest price at the time and I transfer it into the standard fertilizer type bottle.

 

[Country joe]

I also have sera Florence which I will use as it has no phosphate.

 

[wayfareranima]

It sounds like you know what you’re doing, and are taking all the right steps.
Hope for the best outcome for you, which may only be a more manageable and less unsightly algae. I let the glass get green, because it’s actually beneficial for your tank and I’d prefer to have an algae I can remove easily.
Hair algae is an ugly pain in the butt algae, so I understand why you’re wanting to be rid of it.
But it sounds like you’re doing all the right things