algae(?) ID help. With pics.

[turbowagon]

I snapped a few photos of some problem areas in my tank as of late. This Ludwigia(?) turned into this after 2 weeks or so:

Before:




After:



Is that algae or a deficiency? Also, my Blyxa Japonica which used to thrive in my tank, deteriorated quite a bit over the past few weeks.

I'm getting this sludge on the substrate that looks similar to what my GDA turned into after letting it cycle for 3 weeks. Is it BGA? My nitrates are generally high, so I didn't think that would be it. Here are some pics:






Here are my tank parameters:

29 gallon
50% water change each week
pressurized CO2 cranking as high as the fish can take it
UV sterilizer running 24/7 right now
2X65 W 10 hours a day (0.5 hour 65W -> 9 hour 130W -> 0.5 hour 65W)
1/4 tsp KNO3 3X a week
1/16 tsp K2SO4 3X a week
1/16 tsp KH2PO4 3X a week
1 cap flourish 3X a week
1/2 cap fourish iron 3X a week
1/2 tsp Seachem Equilibrium after each water change (for Mg)
kH 3-4
gH 6
temp 74-78

Thanks for any help/advice.

- Joe

[Wö£fëñxXx]

Joe,
You are burning way to much light on that tank buddy, see the tank in my sig, that is a 29g with 65w, I can not imagine running two x's that, the first pic is a definate sign that C02 is not good enough for the light burned.
You need a glass diffuser, but they do take a little getting use too.

Remedy
Vacuum out what you can, burn only 65w on that tank, no more than 8hrs a day for a few weeks, dose Excel for next couple of weeks, and keep dosing what you are, you have a C02 problem not a fert problem.

After the tank is running good again and back in shape, you can burn 65x2 for a couple hours a day, that is about it, pay attention to the plants, they will tell you if you learn to read them.

Once or twice a week, I will throw a 192w fixture on this tank only for an hour or two, talk about blasting the plants, they love it, but the tank has to be in shape, and C02 has to be good.

[turbowagon]

Thanks, Craig... I'll try your suggestions about the lighting and excel.

For CO2, I currently have a small limewood airstone fitted to the intake of an Eheim aquaball powerhead, sending a fine mist throughout the tank. Will this work as good as a glass diffuser?

Any idea what that sludge is from those pics? It's hard to vacuum up because it sticks to the gravel a little bit, but if I try to grab it with tweezers it slips right out... it's a really slipperly, thin film that looks a little like seaweed.

[yznj99]

It's BGA, try some Maracyn, it worked very well for me