Algae invasion....please help identify

orcas · 11-18-2003, 11:52 PM

New tank - one week old, now have brown-colored algae growing vociferously especially large sword plants. Please see picture and advise as to best action(s) to eradicate.

30-gallon long, eco-complete/tahitian moon sand,eheim 2213,heavily planted

aeternum23 · 11-18-2003, 11:56 PM

Not sure if it's just me, but I don't see any picture.

DLeDeaux · 11-19-2003, 12:41 AM

No pic here either

anonapersona · 11-19-2003, 01:32 AM

I just read in Amano's Aquarium Plant Paradise that changing the light spectrum will cause leaves great distress, the plant will have to shed the old leaves and grow new ones to effectively use the different spectrum.....?

This agrees with my observations of a change in lighting creating algae on all existing leaves but new leaves are just fine. I saw this when I went from dual flourescets to 55 watt PC in the 20 gallon. Now those same plants are moved to another tank, with 55 watt PCs of different spectrums and I am seeing algae on old leaves, not new.

In a new tank, they say you just have to wait out some of this. Best thing to do, if this comment by Amano is correct, is to get the plants growing ASAP, then cut off the old leaves.

orcas · 11-19-2003, 01:34 AM

Sorry about that (newbieitis!) - The file was too large to send. The algae is brown and invading all the sword plants. It is pretty much taking over the tank. I have lost a couple of smaller plants already. What can I do to get this under control............??

DLeDeaux · 11-19-2003, 02:25 AM

Well ... algae can really be caused by so many things that it's difficult to really say what you can do to fix it without know more about the tank.

In a new tank there are even more variables at play like ammonia and nitrite levels.

How about some tank stats? Lighting, CO2, any nutrients being added? Have you tested for phosphates or excessive nitrates coming from your tap?

A lot of new tanks go through an algae cycle until everything balances out.

anonapersona · 11-19-2003, 12:37 PM

Brown algae -- otos! About 1 per 5 gallons.

Also MTS, if you are OK about them eating eggs. They can get to be a problem, found one clogging the quick release valves of the canister filter (dang, I didn't need to replace that just clean the tubing!) and they reproduce a lot while clearing your tank of isible mulm and plant debris... so remove the MTS or remove the debris. IMO, they do a better job of getting all brown algae, but are impossible to get rid of. Immune to all chemicals, you can suffocate them but you have to pick them out anyhow to do it.

Knetter · 11-19-2003, 03:57 PM

I've also read that brown algea can simply be concurred away by other algeas. Raising light amounts will help them to grow...

orcas · 11-19-2003, 10:47 PM

Stats for my wonderful "algae tank":
3.2 watts per gallon, just added the "Natural Plant System" CO2,added iron-complex fertilizer and trace elements, and about half the tank is RO water. We have plenty of water movement with sprayer attachments on opposite ends of the tank.
I have not tested for phosphates or nitrAtes but will do that next.
Thanks for all the responses.............tank looks better already !

Cindy

anonapersona · 11-20-2003, 02:08 AM

That nutrafin CO2 system is possibly underszed for a 30 gallon, you might need to use 2 of them. Test KH and pH and calculate what the CO2 actually is, depending on your water it could possibly be OK.

11-19-2003, 12:41 AM	#3
DLeDeaux Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 377	No pic here either __________________ --- Dave ---

11-19-2003, 02:25 AM	#6
DLeDeaux Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 377	Well ... algae can really be caused by so many things that it's difficult to really say what you can do to fix it without know more about the tank. In a new tank there are even more variables at play like ammonia and nitrite levels. How about some tank stats? Lighting, CO2, any nutrients being added? Have you tested for phosphates or excessive nitrates coming from your tap? A lot of new tanks go through an algae cycle until everything balances out. __________________ --- Dave ---

11-19-2003, 03:57 PM	#8
Knetter Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Posts: 155	I've also read that brown algea can simply be concurred away by other algeas. Raising light amounts will help them to grow... __________________ - grtz Pepijn 200 Litres Tank (= 52.8 gal); 2×150W HCI/Metal Halide (OSRAM powerstar NDL); Dupla press. CO2; eheim 2211 300 L/H; heavily planted; daily, 4 drops of plant24, KNO3

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11-18-2003, 11:52 PM	#1
orcas Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 4	New tank - one week old, now have brown-colored algae growing vociferously especially large sword plants. Please see picture and advise as to best action(s) to eradicate. 30-gallon long, eco-complete/tahitian moon sand,eheim 2213,heavily planted

11-18-2003, 11:56 PM	#2
aeternum23 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 435	Not sure if it's just me, but I don't see any picture.

11-19-2003, 01:32 AM	#4
anonapersona Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,614	I just read in Amano's Aquarium Plant Paradise that changing the light spectrum will cause leaves great distress, the plant will have to shed the old leaves and grow new ones to effectively use the different spectrum.....? This agrees with my observations of a change in lighting creating algae on all existing leaves but new leaves are just fine. I saw this when I went from dual flourescets to 55 watt PC in the 20 gallon. Now those same plants are moved to another tank, with 55 watt PCs of different spectrums and I am seeing algae on old leaves, not new. In a new tank, they say you just have to wait out some of this. Best thing to do, if this comment by Amano is correct, is to get the plants growing ASAP, then cut off the old leaves.

11-19-2003, 01:34 AM	#5
orcas Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 4	Sorry about that (newbieitis!) - The file was too large to send. The algae is brown and invading all the sword plants. It is pretty much taking over the tank. I have lost a couple of smaller plants already. What can I do to get this under control............??

11-19-2003, 12:37 PM	#7
anonapersona Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,614	Brown algae -- otos! About 1 per 5 gallons. Also MTS, if you are OK about them eating eggs. They can get to be a problem, found one clogging the quick release valves of the canister filter (dang, I didn't need to replace that just clean the tubing!) and they reproduce a lot while clearing your tank of isible mulm and plant debris... so remove the MTS or remove the debris. IMO, they do a better job of getting all brown algae, but are impossible to get rid of. Immune to all chemicals, you can suffocate them but you have to pick them out anyhow to do it.

11-19-2003, 10:47 PM	#9
orcas Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 4	Stats for my wonderful "algae tank": 3.2 watts per gallon, just added the "Natural Plant System" CO2,added iron-complex fertilizer and trace elements, and about half the tank is RO water. We have plenty of water movement with sprayer attachments on opposite ends of the tank. I have not tested for phosphates or nitrAtes but will do that next. Thanks for all the responses.............tank looks better already ! Cindy

11-20-2003, 02:08 AM	#10
anonapersona Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,614	That nutrafin CO2 system is possibly underszed for a 30 gallon, you might need to use 2 of them. Test KH and pH and calculate what the CO2 actually is, depending on your water it could possibly be OK.