My 7g nano is currently 6 weeks old and I'm trying to figure out the correct dosing + lighting + CO2 needed. Currently, I'm battling a new algae that began last week. So far, I've tried manual removal with an air line tube, and water changes 3x/week, but the algae seems to be growing in faster and denser each time. The diatom algae has also bloomed this week into green algae (on the glass).
Here's the setup:
equipment
The fish and shrimp seem to be eating & doing well. (with the exception of one off-colored amano, who acts fine, but is... orangish.)
The dwarf hair grass seems to be doing fine too. It's grown back nicely from it's initial trim and only has a bit of algae on the tips of some grass blades.
The hc was fine for the first 3-4 weeks, but then began yellowing and browning. I think it was acclimating. At 4 weeks, I added fauna... which in hindsight was not good timing on my part. :icon_redf This is when the algae crept in.
Currently, the hc is getting infested more and more each day, as are the dwarf red lily and clover leaves. Today, I did another water change, used the air line tubing to vacuum out as much of the algae as possible, and trimmed as much of the brown and algae ridden hc & plants.
I'm thinking of leaving my CO2 injecting 24/7 to see if this helps not only the hc recover faster but also helps my pH stay more stable for the shrimp & fish. I've reduced the flow to 1-2 bps.
Is this a good idea? bad idea? other thoughts on whether my dosing is correct or if I should be doing something else?
Thanks in advance for any help!
here's what the tank currently looks like:
Here's the setup:
equipment
- 7g w/ eheim 2210 filter (filled with bio balls; replaced carbon w/ purigen this week)
- Ada Aquasky LED light suspended 8" above water level; photoperiod 9 hrs.
- CO2 injected w/ Do!Aqua mini diffuser @ 1-2 bps; previously on for 9hrs, but am thinking of keeping it on full time. See comments below.
- Ada Aquasoil new Amazonia substrate
- dhg, hc, dwarf red lily and clover
- rasbora maculatas x11, danio erythromicron x5, corydoras pygmaeus x5
- amano shrimp x3, bee shrimp x2
- 1 pump/daily each: Ada Brighly K and Step 1
- water changes every 2-3 days, & remove algae manually
- GH 30ppm, KH 40ppm, pH 6.3, NO2 0ppm, NO3 15ppm
The fish and shrimp seem to be eating & doing well. (with the exception of one off-colored amano, who acts fine, but is... orangish.)
The dwarf hair grass seems to be doing fine too. It's grown back nicely from it's initial trim and only has a bit of algae on the tips of some grass blades.
The hc was fine for the first 3-4 weeks, but then began yellowing and browning. I think it was acclimating. At 4 weeks, I added fauna... which in hindsight was not good timing on my part. :icon_redf This is when the algae crept in.
Currently, the hc is getting infested more and more each day, as are the dwarf red lily and clover leaves. Today, I did another water change, used the air line tubing to vacuum out as much of the algae as possible, and trimmed as much of the brown and algae ridden hc & plants.
I'm thinking of leaving my CO2 injecting 24/7 to see if this helps not only the hc recover faster but also helps my pH stay more stable for the shrimp & fish. I've reduced the flow to 1-2 bps.
Is this a good idea? bad idea? other thoughts on whether my dosing is correct or if I should be doing something else?
Thanks in advance for any help!
here's what the tank currently looks like: