[arbecas]

Hello everyone, I've had a planted tank with a turtle for little over two years now. I've always had problems getting my plants to grow because algae keeps growing on them and it seems to be killing them.

The turtle is not an adult but it's still a heavy bioload compared to fish. There is also about 5 platies and 5 swordfish. There used to be crystal shrimps but the turtle ate them. There is a few nocturnal malaysian trumpet snails, but the population is low because the turtle eat them too. I only feed the turtle and the fish eat the scraps (they seem to be doing quite well with a big belly and lots of poop).

I've recently started to inject CO2, but I haven't received my CO2 checker yet.



Tanks paramiters:
NO3-: 0-10 (I do a 50% water change every week)
NO2-:0
GH: Unknown
KH: Unknown
pH:7,2
Tank size: 40 gallons
Temp:25C / 77F
CO2: I recently started injecting, I don't have my CO2 tester (it is being shipped) yet so I don't know if I'm putting enough in
Lights: Nicrew aquarium LED light 26'' and a Reptisun T5HO 22'' tube (UVB tube needed for turtles) (They are on 12 hours a day, needed for the turtle)
Ferts: I only use easy green all in one fertilizer from aquarium coop

Picture of the setup :

Picture of moneywort with algae growing on it

 

[arbecas]

I have lowered the nicrew Led light to 40% and I've placed it further from the surface of the water.
I tested the phosphates and it's around 2 ppm.

 

[Blue Ridge Reef]

You done a better job getting plants established in a turtle tank than I ever did! Turtles are tough on plants in my experience. I wouldn't be inclined to use algaecide or Phosban or so forth, perhaps some fast growing floaters or such to take up nutrients and shade things a bit would be a better option.

 

[arbecas]

I used to have duckweed but I got rid of it because it was messy, I'll try to get my hands on a less messy floater.

 

[Blue Ridge Reef]

Salvinia minima is about 5 to 10x the size, Amazon frogbit can have leaves a couple of inches across. Then dwarf water lettuce and such even larger.

 

[arbecas]

Alright I'll look for those in my local shops