algea fix in a planted tank

[bobt2]

i have used it in a reef tank with good results. who has used the freshwater version in a planted tank?

[F22]

a company called aquarium pharmaceuticals makes a product called algae destroyer, I have used it in tanks with stems and anubias worked well for me, i personally would not chance it with mosses...

[Darkblade48]

I would check the ingredients of any chemical algae treatment; many of them contain copper, which is toxic to plants in high amounts and invertebrates in even lower amounts.

[F22]

Very true. I have had great luck though.

[chad320]

what kind of algae? there are many natural fixes but some are better than others at particular kinds. pond snails work great but you need loaches or gouramis to get rid of the snails. whats causing the algae?

[plantbrain]

No algae fixer, killer destroyer will fix the root issue: poor plant health/growth.

Then you do not need such products

Work on that first.
Excel is the exception, since it does kill algae and also provides CO2 for plants.
Using less light also fixes algae in general also.
More light is not "better", particularly with planted tanks.


Regards,
Tom Barr

[hybridtheoryd16]

It works great I have used it a few times.

But barr is right find out what is causing the algae and fix that. Then use the algae killer to hurry up the process.

[bobt2]

i have no clue. it's hair algea. 75 gal tank. 2x54 hot5 bulbs about 10" above the tank. co2 is good. low bio load. lights are 5 hrs on, 3 hrs off, 5 hrs on. i,m dosing what i should and doing changes. my nitrates were 5 ppm

[plantbrain]

This tank was covered in hair algae, Spirogyra:


Thought my CO2 was good also.
NO3 is about 20-30ppm

I increased the flow and the CO2, reduced the light intensity a little, shortened the time to 8 hours.
The tank recovered.

I cranked the light back down, induced the algae again, and repeated this same approach. CO2/light.........that's where to work on.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[bobt2]

thanks. i,ll give that a try. i say the co2 is good based on the green color of the drop checker w/ 4dk fluid. i will up the flow and reduce the light period

[plantbrain]

Originally Posted by bobt2

thanks. i,ll give that a try. i say the co2 is good based on the green color of the drop checker w/ 4dk fluid. i will up the flow and reduce the light period

Use DC's, pH/KH etc as relative, not absolute measures of CO2, same with rates of bubbles etc.

Adjust up/down slow and carefully from there.
It's not easy for some, some folks get lucky.


Regards,
Tom Barr