To me, your set up and dosing looks perfect. The only think I can see to be concerned about is the direct sunlight. What is your surface agitation like? Could your tank water be low on oxygen? The last thing that I did, that seemed to be the final straw, was to run my co2 24/7. I had to turn it down a little bit, and I also have a small HOB, on a timer, that runs at night to help keep the oxygen levels up at night. Have you tested your Nitrate and Phosphate levels?
Could use some advice on my battle against algae in my 125.
Hi,
I've been batteling with algae for 5-6 months now.
I have every kind of algae from BGA to spot, to BBA.
My tank is 125 gallon 6Ft - 18 - 23H
2 filter cfs 500 and cfs 700 + UV sterilizer.
Co2 Aquatek + 20lb + water filter reactor. Drop checker 4DKh + solution always yellow.
Glo T5HO 4x 39W spread over 2 rows, 8" apart 27/28" above substrate + OK reflectors.
2 hydor circulation pumps 750 +950gph in left and right front corner.
Substarte: MGOPM+ Black diamond blasting sand
Dosing EI:
Sun/Tue/ Thu
KNO3 1tspn
KH2PO4 1/4tspn
K2SO4 1/4tspn
Iron 1/16 or less
Mon/Wed/ Fri
CSM+B 1/4tspn
50% WC on Sunday
Photo period:
co2 on at 6Am till 3pm - on from 7pm till 2.30am.
lights on at 12.30pm till 1.30pm - on at 10 pm till 2.30am
my co2 goes on that early because I have direct/ indirect sunlight in the morning shining on the tank.
I tried H2O2, BBA gets purple and comes back.
I did large WC (70-80%) but nothing happens.
Clean the filters, and try to keep them clean (sponge pre filters)
Is my dosing wrong? do I have to dose something more/ less?
Is my light to high? To low?
Co2? cant get it higher or fish start gasping.
Thank you for any advice!
I've been batteling with algae for 5-6 months now.
I have every kind of algae from BGA to spot, to BBA.
My tank is 125 gallon 6Ft - 18 - 23H
2 filter cfs 500 and cfs 700 + UV sterilizer.
Co2 Aquatek + 20lb + water filter reactor. Drop checker 4DKh + solution always yellow.
Glo T5HO 4x 39W spread over 2 rows, 8" apart 27/28" above substrate + OK reflectors.
2 hydor circulation pumps 750 +950gph in left and right front corner.
Substarte: MGOPM+ Black diamond blasting sand
Dosing EI:
Sun/Tue/ Thu
KNO3 1tspn
KH2PO4 1/4tspn
K2SO4 1/4tspn
Iron 1/16 or less
Mon/Wed/ Fri
CSM+B 1/4tspn
50% WC on Sunday
Photo period:
co2 on at 6Am till 3pm - on from 7pm till 2.30am.
lights on at 12.30pm till 1.30pm - on at 10 pm till 2.30am
my co2 goes on that early because I have direct/ indirect sunlight in the morning shining on the tank.
I tried H2O2, BBA gets purple and comes back.
I did large WC (70-80%) but nothing happens.
Clean the filters, and try to keep them clean (sponge pre filters)
Is my dosing wrong? do I have to dose something more/ less?
Is my light to high? To low?
Co2? cant get it higher or fish start gasping.
Thank you for any advice!
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
Also, before that, I did a double dose of Excel for 2 weeks. Then, I did 2ml per gallon of H2O2 the day before a water change. Then I did 1ml per gallon of H2O2 per day for a couple of weeks, while dosing the regular Excel dose. Right now I am down to doing 1 ml per 6 galllons H2O2 daily, and only doing 1/3 of the water change dose of excel during water changes. I am slowly tapering off of both of them.
Normally, this schedule would have water changes performed on Saturday. Are you doing the water changes very early on Sunday, immediately when the lights come on?Dosing EI:
Sun/Tue/ Thu
KNO3 1tspn
KH2PO4 1/4tspn
K2SO4 1/4tspn
Iron 1/16 or less
Mon/Wed/ Fri
CSM+B 1/4tspn
50% WC on Sunday
So what you're saying is that you have a 6.5 hour photo period (1 hour between 12:30pm-1:30pm plus 5.5 hours between 10:00pm-2:20am).Photo period:
co2 on at 6Am till 3pm - on from 7pm till 2.30am.
lights on at 12.30pm till 1.30pm - on at 10 pm till 2.30am
my co2 goes on that early because I have direct/ indirect sunlight in the morning shining on the tank.
However, in addition to the 6.5 hour photoperiod, you have direct/indirect light on the tank starting early in the morning. Let's say around 7:00am.
If you combine all that, then what's really happening is your total photoperiod is 19.5 hours long, running from 7:00am-2:30am the next day. That could very well be your problem.
To at least find out if this is the problem, I'd switch the photoperiod of the tank to better match the sunlight. Turn the tank lights on about an hour to half hour after the sun starts shining on the tank, then turn the lights off 8-10 hours later. Make sure your CO2 is up and running prior to lights on so the plants have everything they need to grow when the light starts shining.
Do this for at least two weeks. Meanwhile, use H2O2 and/or Excel to knock down the algae. Work very hard to grow the plants. Keep your focus on growing the plants. After two weeks, let's see if the plants are growing better and the algae has gone away.
Normally, this schedule would have water changes performed on Saturday. Are you doing the water changes very early on Sunday, immediately when the lights come on?
I do the water changes in the afternoon, so the co2 can get to its point again before the lights come on.
Thank you for the advice, I will change my light schedule.
I will also blind one of the windows with the white window tint, and buy a curtains to hang in front of my sliding door.
I will try it and see.
I kind of knew that was the problem, but I love the natural light shining in the house, to bad i don't have another spot inside the living room where I can put this monster.
I do the water changes in the afternoon, so the co2 can get to its point again before the lights come on.
Thank you for the advice, I will change my light schedule.
I will also blind one of the windows with the white window tint, and buy a curtains to hang in front of my sliding door.
I will try it and see.
I kind of knew that was the problem, but I love the natural light shining in the house, to bad i don't have another spot inside the living room where I can put this monster.
Yeah, I figured the natural light in the room was something you were enjoying. I have the same problem. I think it's not uncommon since planted tanks and natural light are both related to nature.
If it turns out the lighting is the problem, then you can work out some kind of compromise between the sunlight and the tank light. As long as you can find a set schedule that works, it doesn't really matter how it's done. Keep in mind that the fish need a sleep period while working out your schedule.
I hope that helps end your algae battle so you can actually enjoy your tank when the lights are on. :smile:
If it turns out the lighting is the problem, then you can work out some kind of compromise between the sunlight and the tank light. As long as you can find a set schedule that works, it doesn't really matter how it's done. Keep in mind that the fish need a sleep period while working out your schedule.
I hope that helps end your algae battle so you can actually enjoy your tank when the lights are on. :smile:
New light schedule:
Lights on at 7am till noon and from 12.30 am till 2.00am
Co2 on from 5.30am till 3pm and from 11pm till 1.30 am
I just want those lights on when I come home from work at 12.30 am.
Lets see how this turns out.
Lights on at 7am till noon and from 12.30 am till 2.00am
Co2 on from 5.30am till 3pm and from 11pm till 1.30 am
I just want those lights on when I come home from work at 12.30 am.
Lets see how this turns out.
I've heard of others using a split schedule so I would assume it should work. Just make sure there's no light during the "off" hours or you'll be right back where you started.
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
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