Algae upon plants

Matty 007 · 12-05-2002, 07:58 PM

Algae has started to grow upon my plants. There seem to be two main types, short fluffy tufts, and lond black looking growths which look similar to small ferns or hairs. I would like to add some algae control solution to the tank, (King British), but having not used iot be4fore am a little concerned that it may kill the plants aswell as the algea, is this so??????:fire::fire::fire::fire:

**Buck** · 12-07-2002, 04:12 AM

How To's
I have been battling it for years...
Good Luck...

cousin it · 12-07-2002, 07:31 AM

I use a mixture of controlling the levels of nutrients and Live bearers, flag fish and pencilfish, and mbs to combat red and bb algaes which works very well for me.
so far the best fish I have found to remove it are the flag fish and I'm currently setting up a breeding tank to increase my stock.
I was using swordtail's to control it but recently my stocks have reached 30+ of these and I'm really loosing interest in them (they are good for removing any surface film though) so I after reading that several people had found flags good for the job I purchased a few to try and they are more effective than the 30+ sword tails ever were they eat it like it is the best fish food available my Bolbitis Heudelotii is now virtually free of any algae.
the other one I have found helps is upping the co2 levels to 35mg/l as when my tank was running at about 15-20mg/l red and bba were quite a problem now I hardly notice them.

m.lemay · 12-07-2002, 10:09 PM

I agree. If you can get your lighting to about 3watts/gal and increase the CO2 to 30-35 ppm, the plants will starve the algae by out competing it for nutrients. Siamese algae eaters are great little fish for eating the algae off the plants. Swordtails work good to keep the surface scum unnoticeable when your trying to keep surface agitation down to conserve CO2.

12-07-2002, 04:12 AM	#2
Buck Planted Tank VIP (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Lebanon, CT Posts: 4,939	How To's I have been battling it for years... Good Luck... __________________ Buckmanshome.Com

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Here's a great how to	lorax	Riparium/Terrarium/Vivarium	3	06-09-2009 12:24 AM
My algae problems	depthC	Algae	1	03-07-2004 07:07 PM
algae took hold before plants did...	Tres	General Planted Tank Discussion	4	02-10-2004 04:25 PM
Plants induce algae or reduce algae??	calico	General Planted Tank Discussion	4	04-17-2003 11:43 PM
Hair Algae - Nitrates & Phosphates	lanstar	Algae	17	12-18-2002 01:47 PM

12-05-2002, 07:58 PM	#1
Matty 007 Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 1	Algae has started to grow upon my plants. There seem to be two main types, short fluffy tufts, and lond black looking growths which look similar to small ferns or hairs. I would like to add some algae control solution to the tank, (King British), but having not used iot be4fore am a little concerned that it may kill the plants aswell as the algea, is this so??????:fire::fire::fire::fire:

12-07-2002, 07:31 AM	#3
cousin it Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Devon, UK Posts: 221	I use a mixture of controlling the levels of nutrients and Live bearers, flag fish and pencilfish, and mbs to combat red and bb algaes which works very well for me. so far the best fish I have found to remove it are the flag fish and I'm currently setting up a breeding tank to increase my stock. I was using swordtail's to control it but recently my stocks have reached 30+ of these and I'm really loosing interest in them (they are good for removing any surface film though) so I after reading that several people had found flags good for the job I purchased a few to try and they are more effective than the 30+ sword tails ever were they eat it like it is the best fish food available my Bolbitis Heudelotii is now virtually free of any algae. the other one I have found helps is upping the co2 levels to 35mg/l as when my tank was running at about 15-20mg/l red and bba were quite a problem now I hardly notice them.

12-07-2002, 10:09 PM	#4
m.lemay Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Naugatuck, CT. Posts: 2,647	I agree. If you can get your lighting to about 3watts/gal and increase the CO2 to 30-35 ppm, the plants will starve the algae by out competing it for nutrients. Siamese algae eaters are great little fish for eating the algae off the plants. Swordtails work good to keep the surface scum unnoticeable when your trying to keep surface agitation down to conserve CO2.