(New Pictures) Jipp Alberts 55gal *Algae remediation*

[jippalbert]

Here is a picture of my 55 gal 3 days after I went to the LFS and purchased around 30 dollars of plants because I was tired of the "PPT" Plastic Planted Tank .



This is 2 weeks after without not knowing what foods plants actually needed.

[jippalbert]

50 % water change ( roughly 25 gallons )
1 tsp Dechlor Chloramine remover
1 tbs baking soda
1/2 tbs gw KN03 ( Nitrate )
1/16 Tsp gw KH2P04 ( Phosphate )


Change Eheim Blue and White Pad.

[jippalbert]

Thanks to Wö£fëñxXx help I was able to figure out how much of the Plantex CSM+B for my 55 Gal I should be dosing.


I use CSM+B 1 Tbsp to 250ml water.
Dosed 5ml/1 capful today right before lights on .
I wonder if I should be dosing Fe or also MG ?


Here is my C02 Setup .






Here is what it looks like today.'



PH 6.8
KH 4
Phosphate 4ppm
Nitrate 10ppm

[jippalbert]

Any suggestions?



I have adjusted my lights to come on at 2pm and go off at 1am. (11hrs)

Readings
N=20ppm
P=4 ppm
PH=6.8
KH=4

Dosed
N= 1/2 tsp
P= 1/16th tsp
K= none- Going to dose 1/2 tsp next go round.

[jippalbert]

Today I added 10ml Plantex CSM+B


No luck trying to rent Diatom Filter/UV Device to clear this up.
At the same time part of me would like to troubleshoot this thing until it clears up.


Any Suggestions ?

JK

[Ahkuma]

Have you considered using the blackout method?

[Yves514]

Hey Jippalbert,

Well, I'm no expert and I'm definately still a novice to planted aquariums. But I think you've got too much going on for such a new setup.

Personally, I would do a few major water changes every day or two. I wouldn't add anything to the tank. I would stop the CO2 or at least reduce it BIG time and I would bring down the amount of hours of light to maybe 9 or 10hrs compared to your 11hrs. I would also reduce the amount of food I feed to the fish. And I would do all this for a couple of weeks and see if she holds. (I would maybe only do the water changes for the first week and then see if the tank holds for the second week)

My guess is your plants haven't really started yet so the algae is thriving on the nutrients in the tank. Also, I think your Phophates need to be down to 1/10th of the value of your Nitrates. So 1ppm and not your current 4ppm. You mentioned you swapped plastic plants for live ones. So this is an established tank? Can you describe the filtration setup? What's your substrate?

Again, I could be giving you the worst advise so hopefully someone else on here will correct me if I'm wrong. Otherwise, I would keep the solution simple by removing as many elements from the equation as possible. The tank will be touchy for the first 3 months easy.

[jippalbert]

Originally Posted by Ahkuma

Have you considered using the blackout method?

That is 1 of my options I am researching. I tried renting a Diatom or UV today but none of the LFS had any rentals to offer.


Anyone in the Philadelphia area have any recomendations ?


Thanks

JA

[Marc]

I was away for a week and when i got back my tank had green water.
I changed 50% of the water at night and turned the lights off for one day.
Third day changed 25% of the water, turned that lights back on. Day four, green water gone.

I also think you are dosing too much for the amount of plants you have in there.

Whats your light set up like?

If it gets bad enough you may need to start over and get new plants.

[jippalbert]

Originally Posted by Marc

I was away for a week and when i got back my tank had green water.

When you were gone did you have it maintained for you ? Did you leave lights on without feeding and dosing?

Originally Posted by Marc

I changed 50% of the water at night and turned the lights off for one day.
Third day changed 25% of the water, turned that lights back on. Day four, green water gone.

I have changed 50% so far on Friday. I might do one tomorow after taking the readings.

Originally Posted by Marc

I also think you are dosing too much for the amount of plants you have in there.

I have about 30 algae buster stem plants and I just ordered more.

Originally Posted by Marc

Whats your light set up like?

110 w CF
1X40 FL

Originally Posted by Marc

If it gets bad enough you may need to start over and get new plants.

Id have more fun fixing this one . I have removed any severely damaged plants.


Thanks

JA

[gsd78]

Buy a 9w UV sterilizer and in a few days at most your water will become as clear as it was the day you set it up. I use the 9w Turbo Twist and have been really happy with it. I think they are in the $70-80 range if you buy it online. Its not really getting to the root of the problem, but you'll be able to enjoy your nice clear tank again .

Greg

[Wö£fëñxXx]

YIKES...
A 90% waterchange w/ UV or Diatom filter would stop all that mess, then plant hard and dose.. bye bye GW.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by jippalbert

When you were gone did you have it maintained for you ? Did you leave lights on without feeding and dosing?




I have changed 50% so far on Friday. I might do one tomorow after taking the readings.



I have about 30 algae buster stem plants and I just ordered more.



110 w CF
1X40 FL



Id have more fun fixing this one . I have removed any severely damaged plants.


Thanks

JA

When i was away, i had an auto feeder set up. It fed my fish way to much- there was nothing i could do, its just the way the feeder was set up. So when i got back my tank had green water. No other algae just gw. The flake food i was using had a good amount of Phosphates.

Yes you are right, if the plants are covered in algae, sometimes it too difficult to clean them with out damaging.

I stuffed my tank with 2 -3 times that amount of plants i normally thought i should and i have not had a major problem with algae. For me the extra plants really do make a difference. I have a bit of algae here and there but it hasnt been a major problem.

Good luck, let us know how it goes...gw will pass.

Edit: Also i reread your water specs and they seem to be on the high side.
Nitrates should be 5-10pmm
Phosphates .5-1

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=13847

[jippalbert]

Marc - I will stick with my regimen for another week or so before switching . I made the switch to this only 10 days ago. I think the green water is working its way out. Water looks lighter green (I think ) . marc thanks for your suggestions.


I need to figure out how to lower Phosphates. I hvae tried RowaPhos with no results. 4ppm today.


Dosing Today
1/2tsp N 1/16tsp P 1/4 tsp K

[Marc]

A heavy water change should help with the phosphates...
I stopped dosing phosphates because of the food im using.