My Algae is Turning Red.. Stop Dosing??
 

I had a out break of algae and I dosed it two days with Excel... It is all red now.. I going to do a 50% water change this evening..

Should I keep using Excel for a few more days??

Thanks

Keep going. It's on its way out. I'd do a WC then resume the regimen. Stopping now will only give you nascent problems even harder to cure.

Yeah, red = good when it comes to algae removal.

I find that once it has turned red, it is already dead and I don't dose anymore.

Red Algae
 

Hello cap...

Good idea to change out half the tank water. I'm not sold on the use of "algae destroyers". Chemicals will kill the algae very quickly, but the decaying and dead stuff just creates more nutrients for the next algae bloom.
I'd like to put in a vote for dealing with algae the "old fashioned way" next time, by beginning an aggressive water change routine. Every week, change half the tank water and start planting fast growing plants that consume a lot of nutrients, like Water sprite (floated), varieties of Hygrophila, Anacharis, Pennywort and Hornwort.

There are natural ways to deal with algae. Those are by far the best.

Just one old "water keeper's" opinion.

B

Exactly how much Excel are you using? Spot-dosing directly onto algae I can definitely believe would cause red algae within 48 hours. Doing a standard tank overdose, however, shouldn't have that effect so soon, should it?

If you're dosing more than three times the standard (daily, not startup) dose, you're going to destroy your plants. The ones you want to keep, anyway.

Just wanted to make sure you're not overdoing it.

Can you take a picture? I've seen a bunch of people mention algae turning red with Excel use, but I've never actually seen it.

I used a double dose per the the instructions on the side and then a single dose. I did a water change last night and did a double dose. I plan to also do single doses until it is completely gone.

Also, I have been working on this for over a week with decreased light, 4 on, 3 off, and 4 on.

I also increased my c02 just a little... Drop checker is lime green.. KH is 8 and I have my controller set for a ph of 6.9. And it tested fine before the water change this evening.

I also started EI dosing 6 days a week..

I really think I know how I caused this from the start and want to correct it and not use excel any longer. There was a three week delay getting my c02 system and I did not EI dose during that time. Based on some advice I just used Flourish twice.

All the plants look good now and growing like crazy... I'm going to need to trim a few this week some time..

All the fish are doing fine..

I have really learned a lesson in the balance of the aquarium as it relates to light, ferts and C02!

Thanks for all your input... I'll try to get pictures tomorrow..

Agree...2 days seems way too soon to see the red. When I see it, it's usually after 4-5 days. I usually stop after it turns color.

I understand what a couple of are saying, but that's how it happened..I have no need to bs anyone, heck I'm so new to this that I still spend hours a day researching..

My Excel calls for 5ml for 10gal for inital dose.. I have a 72 bowfront but I count it as 60g so I used 5x6=30ml as a dose. I doulbed it the first day and did not the second day. I used a 30ml turkey injector I found at the supermarket and shot it down by the algae with the canister turned off and let it sit for 30 min.

What I'm still after is when can I go back to not dosing excel and normal lights and c02. Do I have to wait until it is completly out of the tank... I'm assuming that it next turn white and then disapear.

Someone asked for pictures so here are some before and after pictures:

Before

http://www.capt-roys.com/aquarium2.jpg

After

http://www.capt-roys.com/red1.jpg

http://www.capt-roys.com/red2.jpg

That is very dramatic looking. It's a pity the only way to get that contrast is to develop algae and then kill it off.
I could be wrong, but I don't see why you had to stop dosing CO2 during this time, although I'm not sure what the rotting algae will do to your O2 levels.

For me, I saw no reason to dose after it turned color like that and it went away. Worked for me anyway.

I didn't stop dosing c02, I just increased it. I have a kh of 8 and had my controller set at 7.1. I changed it to 6.9 to increase the c02 based on a little research. I didn't want to any higher for the sake of my fish..

I would like it change it back to 7.1..

That's what I mean about doubling or tripling the daily dose but *not* the initial dose. Discontinuing that dosage, regardless of the reasoning, was a good idea. The initial dose is 5x the daily dose. Doubling it would be 10x the daily dose, rather than simply tripling it.

Overdosing with Excel, with your tank, at triple strength, would be at a recommended 21mL for 70g, for 10-14 days.

Regardless, I'm glad your algae got hit hard, and I hope your plants don't show any negative reactions in the next few days. Good luck!

the strength of excel is not constant from one batch to another
ive had some weak ,some medium strength ,some very potent