Too Much Algae

[DJ ArKaDaRkA]

You've increased the light level in the tank by adding in the reflectors. Ideally your plants would adjust to this and increase their growth rate, but if there are reasons they can't do this, that'll be why you're getting the algae. Do you dose fertilisers and CO2 or liquid carbon?

12 hours is generally too long a photoperiod, too. 8-10 is more common.

Yeah one of my plants has had a major growth spurt since, guess it couldnt cope.

umm i dont put anything like fertilisers or liquid carbon in, am i supposed to then?

Ive taken the reflectors off now and i am going to turn the lights off earlier so hopefully this will help.

keep the reflector on but reduce the time to 8 hours

 

[EllieW]

You've increased the light level in the tank by adding in the reflectors. Ideally your plants would adjust to this and increase their growth rate, but if there are reasons they can't do this, that'll be why you're getting the algae. Do you dose fertilisers and CO2 or liquid carbon?

12 hours is generally too long a photoperiod, too. 8-10 is more common.

Yeah one of my plants has had a major growth spurt since, guess it couldnt cope.

umm i dont put anything like fertilisers or liquid carbon in, am i supposed to then?

Ive taken the reflectors off now and i am going to turn the lights off earlier so hopefully this will help.

keep the reflector on but reduce the time to 8 hours

nooooo ive ripped it all off now

 

[DJ ArKaDaRkA]

oh well still reduce to 8 hours a see how it goes also do a few small waterchanges thats how i cleared mine

 

[EllieW]

ok thanks so much for your help

 

[Craster]

You've increased the light level in the tank by adding in the reflectors. Ideally your plants would adjust to this and increase their growth rate, but if there are reasons they can't do this, that'll be why you're getting the algae. Do you dose fertilisers and CO2 or liquid carbon?

12 hours is generally too long a photoperiod, too. 8-10 is more common.

Yeah one of my plants has had a major growth spurt since, guess it couldnt cope.

umm i dont put anything like fertilisers or liquid carbon in, am i supposed to then?

Ive taken the reflectors off now and i am going to turn the lights off earlier so hopefully this will help.

If the limiting factor of the plants growth in the tank is nutrients, but there's plenty of light, then you'll get algae. Adding nutrients and carbon is likely to remove that limiting factor, meaning your plants will be able to take advantage of the extra light you are giving them and win out over the algae. Do you have lots of plants, or just one or two?

 

[EllieW]

You've increased the light level in the tank by adding in the reflectors. Ideally your plants would adjust to this and increase their growth rate, but if there are reasons they can't do this, that'll be why you're getting the algae. Do you dose fertilisers and CO2 or liquid carbon?

12 hours is generally too long a photoperiod, too. 8-10 is more common.

Yeah one of my plants has had a major growth spurt since, guess it couldnt cope.

umm i dont put anything like fertilisers or liquid carbon in, am i supposed to then?

Ive taken the reflectors off now and i am going to turn the lights off earlier so hopefully this will help.

If the limiting factor of the plants growth in the tank is nutrients, but there's plenty of light, then you'll get algae. Adding nutrients and carbon is likely to remove that limiting factor, meaning your plants will be able to take advantage of the extra light you are giving them and win out over the algae. Do you have lots of plants, or just one or two?

oh right, i have 3 different plants in there so not loads, one of them is growing too much, need to cut it all back a bit