My first algae! Mom would be so proud!

frootbat · 10-27-2009, 11:21 PM

Well, maybe not so much.

Even though it's my first, I'm pretty sure it's hair algae. I can see it flowing attached to the front of the tank. It was also on the plastic bottle piece I used to keep the currents down. the plastic piece is now in the garbage

Anyway, I have a standard 5.5g rectangle from walmart, but I did replace the light on the hood with a 14w daylight cfl bulb, which I have kept on for 10 hrs a day because I was told even java ferns couldnt grow with that light

The tank is only 2 weeks old, I have 2 java ferns, a few strands of anacharis floating and a cup of moss in between 2 sheets of plastic knitting mesh. It seems to be ok, just not poking out the front like I hoped.

There are also 8 pygmy cories and an orange shrimp. A few RCS and ember tetras are on the way.

Ammonia is zero, but alas I haven't bought a nitrate test yet ($$$)

If I had to guess, I'd say that I actually have too much light. If so, I will gladly buy a timer if I had an idea how many hours a day would be good.

Or is it something else?

Thanks for the help!

frootbat · 10-27-2009, 11:45 PM

Well, I did a 50% water change, lost the plastic filter baffle, and took a toothbrush to the glass, so the flowing hair/thread is gone for now.

Any opinions on how many hours I should have the 14w bulb on for?

Thanks!

isu712 · 10-28-2009, 01:10 AM

I'd try 8. I've had pretty good luck with that amount so far.

Rob in Puyallup · 10-28-2009, 04:19 PM

Froot...

I have some of this same algae. It grows very fast, sometimes the fish get tangled in it even! I have to reach in a couple times a week to thin it out. It does it's best growing in the Java moss...

I certainly prefer this algae over the bluegreen crap I had several months back! LOL!

frootbat · 10-29-2009, 02:50 AM

I'm hoping that leaving the 14w light on over the tank while I was at work is the cause. I'm going to start turning on the light when I get home at 5 and off when I go to bed at 10. Hope that does the trick.

Not dosing with anything yet, I have a few ember tetras that are getting added soon, and that will add waste and CO2, so I'll wait and see, I guess.

Rob in Puyallup · 10-29-2009, 04:04 AM

My lights are on for 8 hours a day... I use pressurized co2, but don't add other ferts. The plants in the tank are growing rapidly, with obvious pearling. Quite a bit of life in the tank, fish, shrimp and snails, so the tank is fed twice a day.

There is a bit of brown algae at times, which the nerite snails and algae eating gobies keep under check.

10-27-2009, 11:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
frootbat Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 35	My first algae! Mom would be so proud! Well, maybe not so much. Even though it's my first, I'm pretty sure it's hair algae. I can see it flowing attached to the front of the tank. It was also on the plastic bottle piece I used to keep the currents down. the plastic piece is now in the garbage Anyway, I have a standard 5.5g rectangle from walmart, but I did replace the light on the hood with a 14w daylight cfl bulb, which I have kept on for 10 hrs a day because I was told even java ferns couldnt grow with that light The tank is only 2 weeks old, I have 2 java ferns, a few strands of anacharis floating and a cup of moss in between 2 sheets of plastic knitting mesh. It seems to be ok, just not poking out the front like I hoped. There are also 8 pygmy cories and an orange shrimp. A few RCS and ember tetras are on the way. Ammonia is zero, but alas I haven't bought a nitrate test yet ($$$) If I had to guess, I'd say that I actually have too much light. If so, I will gladly buy a timer if I had an idea how many hours a day would be good. Or is it something else? Thanks for the help! Attached Thumbnails

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10-27-2009, 11:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
frootbat Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 35	Well, I did a 50% water change, lost the plastic filter baffle, and took a toothbrush to the glass, so the flowing hair/thread is gone for now. Any opinions on how many hours I should have the 14w bulb on for? Thanks!

10-28-2009, 01:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
isu712 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rapid City, SD Posts: 193	I'd try 8. I've had pretty good luck with that amount so far.

10-28-2009, 04:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Rob in Puyallup Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Puyallup, WA Posts: 141	Froot... I have some of this same algae. It grows very fast, sometimes the fish get tangled in it even! I have to reach in a couple times a week to thin it out. It does it's best growing in the Java moss... I certainly prefer this algae over the bluegreen crap I had several months back! LOL!

10-29-2009, 02:50 AM	#5 (permalink)
frootbat Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 35	I'm hoping that leaving the 14w light on over the tank while I was at work is the cause. I'm going to start turning on the light when I get home at 5 and off when I go to bed at 10. Hope that does the trick. Not dosing with anything yet, I have a few ember tetras that are getting added soon, and that will add waste and CO2, so I'll wait and see, I guess.

10-29-2009, 04:04 AM	#6 (permalink)
Rob in Puyallup Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Puyallup, WA Posts: 141	My lights are on for 8 hours a day... I use pressurized co2, but don't add other ferts. The plants in the tank are growing rapidly, with obvious pearling. Quite a bit of life in the tank, fish, shrimp and snails, so the tank is fed twice a day. There is a bit of brown algae at times, which the nerite snails and algae eating gobies keep under check.

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