Eliminate Algae: Which parameter to lower

[griffin_pak]

So bascially, I am ODing on everything
Lights
CO2
Ferts



What would you suggest I do to eliminate algae.

[Chrisinator]

Decrease any of those could mess things up rather than do better. Keeping algae on tack is a matter of balance. Do you have any algae eaters on your aquarium? Giving us your lighting stats, CO2 stats and fert stats would probably help us identify the problem better.

[plakat]

Originally Posted by griffin_pak

So bascially, I am ODing on everything
Lights
CO2
Ferts



What would you suggest I do to eliminate algae.

I assume this is unintentional. If you tell us what type of algae it might help.
Also what you are dosing and how much light/photoperiod. Maybe tank specs too might help.

If you want a knee jerk reaction I am going to say lower the lights then the ferts and leave the co2.

EDIT: Ninjaed

[bradac56]

I'd always start with lights, lower your on-time and see if that helps.
Then make sure your not overfeeding that's usually the second big
reason for algae.

- Brad

[griffin_pak]

thanks all for the replies. Ive lowered the light cycle since a few day, and now will reduce the ferts.

as for the exact parameters: I myself have no idea

10 Gallon tank
4 CFL 6500K 35Watts each (equivalent)
Co2 3 big bubbles per second, into diy reactors, and then into the filter inlet
Ferts: cheap generic one: API Leaf zone (petsmart)

I am getting amazing plant growth, evertthing from the HC to the Pogo (Downi) is growing crazy. Stupid Algae had to come in and ruin the part!

[eyebeatbadgers]

Reduce intensity of lights, just two of those 13-15 watt CFL bulbs 8 hours a day is plenty over a 10 gallon tank, I know because I'm running the same setup. 'leaf zone' only has iron and phosphate, no nitrates, potassium, or micro ferts. So, you are not "od'ing" on ferts, and that could be part of your problem as well. Good amounts of Co2 and fertilizers will never cause algae, so don't reduce them. As a rule of thumb, go easy on the light, steady (and complete) on the ferts, and heavy on the Co2.

[lauraleellbp]

Did you say you're running 4x 35 watts on a 10gal tank?

Try 1x 35...

[fishsandwitch]

35 watt equivelant

[griffin_pak]

So 14W (equal to 35W of incades)
so its 5.6WPG, which is still too much.

perhaps I should just cough up some money for flourish excel

[SpeedEuphoria]

Test your nitrate levels, its prob at 0, which is bad. As another stated API leaf zone is only Iron and phosphate.

So you deff need some nitrate and potassium will help as well as a trace.

Excel will likely kill off some algae, but not fix your prob as its a carbon(CO2) substitute and you already have CO2.

I'm currently running 2x 20w CFL's(10hrs) on my 10G and no CO2(excel) and have to dose minimal ferts. With CO2 I would have to dose more ferts as well as with more light.

In the mean time reduce your lights to 6hrs and/or reduce it to 2 bulbs. Then get some ferts that your lacking and let it clear up. Then slowly add more light back in over a month or so.

[rich815]

Leave ferts alone, lower light intensity, and photoperiod to 8 hours. Make SURE your C
O2 is dispersed ALL OVER. The latter is the one I think most people miss and get algae.

[eyebeatbadgers]

Originally Posted by SpeedEuphoria

With CO2 I would have to dose more ferts as well as with more light.

In the mean time reduce your lights to 6hrs and/or reduce it to 2 bulbs. Then get some ferts that your lacking and let it clear up. Then slowly add more light back in over a month or so.

If you added Co2 to your current setup, you would not need to add more light, at least I think that's what you were trying to say.

Originally Posted by rich815

Leave ferts alone, lower light intensity, and photoperiod to 8 hours. Make SURE your C
O2 is dispersed ALL OVER. The latter is the one I think most people miss and get algae.

Exactly, except the OP isn't dosing all the ferts needed. You're on the right track though, I wouldn't shorten the photoperiod to 6 hours, plants really seem to do better when they get 8 hours of light, and you want the plants to outcompete the algae. If you set the tank up for the plants you want to succeed, instead of setting up the tank to just kill algae, you'll end up with a better tank.