[drparks71]

Hi all, longtime lurker for tips on the forum, decided to finally ask for some help. I was wondering if anyone could help me with identifying some of the algae I've got going on in my aquarium. I'm pretty sure I'm facing 3 distinct types, I included some (very) up close photos of the algae as well, more so cause I had the equipment and thought some might find it interesting. I'm fairly certain I have three different types, hair algae, bga and diatoms? I'm assuming the solution is better nutrient dosing, I'm pretty inconsistent with it, mostly because my trace nutrients bottle with PPS (the CSM+B bottle) keeps growing mold and once I notice it, I quit adding it and switch it flourish Iron until I can mix a new bottle. Any tips or flaws with my assessment from what you guys see in the photos?

Thanks in advance, this forum has helped me out a ton in originally getting set up, aquarium is probably about 10 months old now, the rams are breeding (can see the eggs in top left of the first picture) and seem good although they moved their eggs from where they originally laid them and spread them out throughout the tank which seems weird. My water quality readings are zero with about 3-6 dkh, 6.9-7.1 pH and 342 ppm conductivity.

Link to full size an non-included photos -
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xQxq-2hkUBMabXqgZ6czutLyIfXclPwP?usp=sharing

-Dane

 

[Edward]

What is your interest, algae ID or healthy plants?

 

[drparks71]

I mean ultimately the plant health. I’m just wondering if this algae/plant condition is associated with a certain nutrient imbalance or anything that would cause it to out compete the plants, the id would just be so I can look into it more. It’s growing fairly rapidly but its not bad to clean out. I would just rather be pruning plants than vacuuming algae as I’m sure everyone would. Also the cleaning requires disturbing a large portion of the tank each time. When my fish have eggs, cleaning has pretty much always led to them getting stressed out and consuming them. Just trying to get more of the nutrients into the plants and less to the algae though basically.

 

[Edward]

You will win when you fix the inconsistencies.
Dosing only Fe without the other trace elements will cause problems. You need to dose daily, preferably before lights go on and the dosing quantity for your 29 gallon aquarium should be
Solution #1 macros 1.5 ml or 30 drops
Solution #2 micros 0.75 ml or 15 drops

With the trace element solution mold you can mix smaller quantity, like 5.7 grams to 100 ml total and keep it in fridge. This quantity will last 11 months.

How do you control CO2? I would set it to ~ 2 bps. Any water changes? Right now 50% weekly water changes are needed to clean the system up so the plants can start growing. And what would really benefit is getting few Ramshorn snails as they will clean the surfaces and prevent algae from growing, worth it. Also, clean the filters as often as you see them dirty because that is what algae grow on.