Eenie, Meanie, Minie, Moe... Someone fix my algae woe!!!

morinfen · 03-22-2005, 01:57 AM

Ok, here it is...SHOOT!
Problem- Largely the problem is hair algae with a very small amount of spot algae that seem to be residing.

Tank Information- Tank has been up and running for 2 months now.

Tank Stats- 29 Gallon
Lighting: 130 watts Orbit PC fixture, 2x 10k PC bulbs
Filteration: Aquaclear 50, Whisper mini internal power filter for a little increased flow over my co2 diffusing system (works like a charm!)
Heating: Ebo Jager 150 W, set at 75 F
Substrate: 1-1.5 inches of Onyx, 2 inches of Moon Sand
Co2- DIY 3 2 liter bottles, diffused through a bubble diffusing system

PH- 6.4
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- 25-35
KH- 80
GH- 50
Phosphate- 1.5- 2
Co2- 50-60

Dosing- Homemad PMDD mixture with extra iron

Please post any information that may help, the problem has resided a great deal, but im still just getting that hair algae on the glass and on some of the plants. I am planning on taking out the whisper mini and getting an aquaclear power head in the future, and also replacing the aquaclear 50 with a good ol Eheim canister filter. But before the Eheim will come the pressurized co2

150EH · 03-22-2005, 02:12 AM

Well I know it's not because you CO2 is to low. Nitrates are kinda high for me anyway. What plants are in the tank to suck up all of those nitrates and do they? I had some hair algae not too long ago, I was dosing heavy and trying to get away with cleaning my canisters every other month, it wasn't working so I dose lighter and clean canisters monthly.

150EH · 03-22-2005, 02:20 AM

One other thing I've done lately that is really helped me. I have four sets of lights that come on stagered as follows: 7:30 til 12:30 (lights out) 2:30 til 7:30. I got that out of a Peter Hiscock book that suggested a rest period in the middle of the day. The theory is that algae needs a longer photo period than plants. I haven't been doing this very long, but it seem to be doing OK so far.

morinfen · 03-22-2005, 02:41 AM

hmm rest period, that sounds interesting i just might try it! that is going to be hard to do though because i work all day lol. i have the following plants in there.

rotala rotundifolia 40 stems
rotala indica 20 stems
penny wort 6 stems
Ludwigia repens (primrose) 20 stems
singapore moss
red tiger lotus x 12
green tiger lotus x 2
e stelleta 6 stems
money wort 6 stems
java moss
foxtails
bacopa i think its called?
Also there is a lot of other stuff in there and i dont know what the hell it is? hehehe
Oh yea... and duckweed

**BSS** · 03-22-2005, 02:49 AM

It's likely part of your PMDD solution, but how much CSM+B (or trace ferts) are you adding? For my 46g, I've recently gone up to 10 ml (1 tsp per 250 ml) every other day, and it's really kicked up the growth rate. Aside from that, I think your value look good to me.

SueNH · 03-22-2005, 07:47 AM

The orbit has two light switches. Put one of them on a timer. I run one bulb when I get up in the morning and go to work. When I get home and actually have time to watch the fish I run two.
Walmart has cheap heavy duty appliance timers for under $10.

12 tiger lotus? You know those plants get huge don't you?

Wö£fëñxXx · 03-22-2005, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morinfen

Please post any information that may help,

Time for the hard part

be patient, everything looks in order, tank is only 2 months old, once again, be patient, keep doing what you're doing, keep picking at the algae, you are on the right track, you did not say how you are dosing the PMDD? but still, things look good.

P.S. You're plant package is in the mail, I don't know where you are going to put it..

morinfen · 03-22-2005, 05:26 PM

*chuckle* yea... i know the lotuses get big! And i looked in there the other day and found 2 new ones they are reproducing like rabbits!

I think in another couple weeks im gonna have to start selling some stems. Last night i cut my stelleta down pretty good because the stuff is growing like fricking crazy! It started out so slow and now its like BOOM steroid stelleta! The algae is a constant battle for me but its starting to get much easier and im starting to get much less of it, i dont even remember what i put in my pmdd solution but i throw a capful in every couple of days and it works great! Now the problem is going to be when i decide to make some more, i will probably not make it as good and have algae all over the place hehehe.. As always wolfen im excited to be getting plants from you, and im sure i will find a place in there for them! I might have to throw some of my foxtails out :P and im definately looking forward to having something to cover the substrate, most the stuff in there right now is really tall lol.

03-22-2005, 01:57 AM	#1
morinfen Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lugoff, SC Posts: 193	Eenie, Meanie, Minie, Moe... Someone fix my algae woe!!! Ok, here it is...SHOOT! Problem- Largely the problem is hair algae with a very small amount of spot algae that seem to be residing. Tank Information- Tank has been up and running for 2 months now. Tank Stats- 29 Gallon Lighting: 130 watts Orbit PC fixture, 2x 10k PC bulbs Filteration: Aquaclear 50, Whisper mini internal power filter for a little increased flow over my co2 diffusing system (works like a charm!) Heating: Ebo Jager 150 W, set at 75 F Substrate: 1-1.5 inches of Onyx, 2 inches of Moon Sand Co2- DIY 3 2 liter bottles, diffused through a bubble diffusing system PH- 6.4 Nitrite- 0 Nitrate- 25-35 KH- 80 GH- 50 Phosphate- 1.5- 2 Co2- 50-60 Dosing- Homemad PMDD mixture with extra iron Please post any information that may help, the problem has resided a great deal, but im still just getting that hair algae on the glass and on some of the plants. I am planning on taking out the whisper mini and getting an aquaclear power head in the future, and also replacing the aquaclear 50 with a good ol Eheim canister filter. But before the Eheim will come the pressurized co2

03-22-2005, 02:12 AM	#2
150EH Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (27/100%) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Churchton, Maryland Posts: 5,369	Well I know it's not because you CO2 is to low. Nitrates are kinda high for me anyway. What plants are in the tank to suck up all of those nitrates and do they? I had some hair algae not too long ago, I was dosing heavy and trying to get away with cleaning my canisters every other month, it wasn't working so I dose lighter and clean canisters monthly. __________________ Eheim Pimp #92 2.5 Gallon Shrimp Nano 10 gallon Metaframe Planted 150 Gallon Tank Journal

03-22-2005, 02:20 AM	#3
150EH Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (27/100%) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Churchton, Maryland Posts: 5,369	One other thing I've done lately that is really helped me. I have four sets of lights that come on stagered as follows: 7:30 til 12:30 (lights out) 2:30 til 7:30. I got that out of a Peter Hiscock book that suggested a rest period in the middle of the day. The theory is that algae needs a longer photo period than plants. I haven't been doing this very long, but it seem to be doing OK so far. __________________ Eheim Pimp #92 2.5 Gallon Shrimp Nano 10 gallon Metaframe Planted 150 Gallon Tank Journal

03-22-2005, 02:49 AM	#5
BSS Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Oviedo, FL USA Posts: 1,600	It's likely part of your PMDD solution, but how much CSM+B (or trace ferts) are you adding? For my 46g, I've recently gone up to 10 ml (1 tsp per 250 ml) every other day, and it's really kicked up the growth rate. Aside from that, I think your value look good to me. __________________ 46g bf, XP3 w/ vertical spray bar, CO2 w/ SMS122 & diffuser,100% Flourite, 96w+55w cf AHS, AGA Member

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03-22-2005, 02:41 AM	#4
morinfen Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lugoff, SC Posts: 193	hmm rest period, that sounds interesting i just might try it! that is going to be hard to do though because i work all day lol. i have the following plants in there. rotala rotundifolia 40 stems rotala indica 20 stems penny wort 6 stems Ludwigia repens (primrose) 20 stems singapore moss red tiger lotus x 12 green tiger lotus x 2 e stelleta 6 stems money wort 6 stems java moss foxtails bacopa i think its called? Also there is a lot of other stuff in there and i dont know what the hell it is? hehehe Oh yea... and duckweed

03-22-2005, 07:47 AM	#6
SueNH Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The White Moutains of NH Posts: 347	The orbit has two light switches. Put one of them on a timer. I run one bulb when I get up in the morning and go to work. When I get home and actually have time to watch the fish I run two. Walmart has cheap heavy duty appliance timers for under $10. 12 tiger lotus? You know those plants get huge don't you?

03-22-2005, 05:26 PM	#8
morinfen Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lugoff, SC Posts: 193	chuckle yea... i know the lotuses get big! And i looked in there the other day and found 2 new ones they are reproducing like rabbits! I think in another couple weeks im gonna have to start selling some stems. Last night i cut my stelleta down pretty good because the stuff is growing like fricking crazy! It started out so slow and now its like BOOM steroid stelleta! The algae is a constant battle for me but its starting to get much easier and im starting to get much less of it, i dont even remember what i put in my pmdd solution but i throw a capful in every couple of days and it works great! Now the problem is going to be when i decide to make some more, i will probably not make it as good and have algae all over the place hehehe.. As always wolfen im excited to be getting plants from you, and im sure i will find a place in there for them! I might have to throw some of my foxtails out :P and im definately looking forward to having something to cover the substrate, most the stuff in there right now is really tall lol.