algae on swords and rocks

the20tonknuckler · 05-14-2013, 02:58 AM

I have beeen transitioning to a planted tank for a few months now. I keep getting the same problems.

Originally I just had some amazon swords. After a few months in my tank I would have to pinch back because of a dark slimey type of algae in the leaves. This is my 1st attempt at a planted tank.

I've added lots of plants. Crypts. Vail. Teardrop rotilla. Some moss. Most are thriving but I continue ti get this brown or black algae on the swords and large rocks.

I am running my lights 9 hours a day. 2 36 inch finnex ray 2 7000k led on a 125 gallon tank. I am dosing 1/2 dose of flourish once a week with water change. And full dose excel every other day. Just added a peacock moss mat that I hope takes. And I have a bunch of marsalia quadrafolia in qt to add into the tank yet.

What can I do to get rid of this algae? It is generally slow growing. But I don't just want to prune al, the big leafs back all the time.

I also get a bit of hair algae on the tip of my vail and some grey stuff on the glass, but both of those are easy to deal with.

the20tonknuckler · 05-14-2013, 04:59 PM

So I guess to clean this type of algae I should spray the leaves with a hydrogen peroxide water mix when I drain the tank during a water change?

I plan on doing a large water change soon. I want to take it down most of the way and add some bettern substrate when I plant the mq next week. I will be moving the discus out temporarily and into buckets while I work on the tank. I can clean the algae good then too if this is a good way to attack it.

the20tonknuckler · 05-14-2013, 06:05 PM

Here are some pictures of the algae. The pictures make it look more brown then black

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stealthypotatoes · 05-16-2013, 04:39 AM

The safest way I would do is to take a toothbrush and scrub the leaves clean. Thats what I do when I do water changes.

the20tonknuckler · 05-16-2013, 05:36 PM

Thanks for the advice. I've tried that a couple of times, but I tend to break the leaves and have to prune back anyway at that point.

Since adding all the extra plants the algae has slowed tremendously. It used to be about weekly, now it's about once a month I prune back due to the algae. Really not horrible, but I'd like the swords to get bigger not smaller over time from pruning. Lol

05-14-2013, 02:58 AM	#1
the20tonknuckler Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Buffalo Posts: 13	algae on swords and rocks I have beeen transitioning to a planted tank for a few months now. I keep getting the same problems. Originally I just had some amazon swords. After a few months in my tank I would have to pinch back because of a dark slimey type of algae in the leaves. This is my 1st attempt at a planted tank. I've added lots of plants. Crypts. Vail. Teardrop rotilla. Some moss. Most are thriving but I continue ti get this brown or black algae on the swords and large rocks. I am running my lights 9 hours a day. 2 36 inch finnex ray 2 7000k led on a 125 gallon tank. I am dosing 1/2 dose of flourish once a week with water change. And full dose excel every other day. Just added a peacock moss mat that I hope takes. And I have a bunch of marsalia quadrafolia in qt to add into the tank yet. What can I do to get rid of this algae? It is generally slow growing. But I don't just want to prune al, the big leafs back all the time. I also get a bit of hair algae on the tip of my vail and some grey stuff on the glass, but both of those are easy to deal with.

05-14-2013, 06:05 PM	#3
the20tonknuckler Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Buffalo Posts: 13	Re: algae on swords and rocks Here are some pictures of the algae. The pictures make it look more brown then black Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2 Attached Thumbnails

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05-14-2013, 04:59 PM	#2
the20tonknuckler Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Buffalo Posts: 13	So I guess to clean this type of algae I should spray the leaves with a hydrogen peroxide water mix when I drain the tank during a water change? I plan on doing a large water change soon. I want to take it down most of the way and add some bettern substrate when I plant the mq next week. I will be moving the discus out temporarily and into buckets while I work on the tank. I can clean the algae good then too if this is a good way to attack it.

05-16-2013, 04:39 AM	#4
stealthypotatoes Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: New York City Posts: 83	The safest way I would do is to take a toothbrush and scrub the leaves clean. Thats what I do when I do water changes.

05-16-2013, 05:36 PM	#5
the20tonknuckler Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Buffalo Posts: 13	Thanks for the advice. I've tried that a couple of times, but I tend to break the leaves and have to prune back anyway at that point. Since adding all the extra plants the algae has slowed tremendously. It used to be about weekly, now it's about once a month I prune back due to the algae. Really not horrible, but I'd like the swords to get bigger not smaller over time from pruning. Lol