I think it's going to be pretty tough to save your ground cover or moss. Hopefully someone else will chime in with a good plan for you. In the meantime, cleanup everything you can. Dying leaves will contribute to the problem. Manual remove and clean everything that you can.
Got rid of diatoms now struggling with a new algae
hello everyone!
I have no idea what to do with my tank. It just came out of a 4 day blackout.
It’s 10gallon with co2 running below a aquaclear hob 30.
I’m restarting the chirios wrgb2 at about 50%.
I have 3 amanos and 3 otos to try to help clean.
The blackout didn’t do too much. Fluval stratum is underneath the lava rock gravel.
I have ezgreen and have been doing one squirt a week. I’ve also dosed it twice with excell 5ml spot treatment.
What are my options going forward?
![1032423]()
![1032424]()
![1032425]()
![1032426]()
![1032427]()
![1032428]()
![1032429]()
Here’s a picture of the tank overall. I might try to add some more fast growing plants
![1032430]()
I have no idea what to do with my tank. It just came out of a 4 day blackout.
It’s 10gallon with co2 running below a aquaclear hob 30.
I’m restarting the chirios wrgb2 at about 50%.
I have 3 amanos and 3 otos to try to help clean.
The blackout didn’t do too much. Fluval stratum is underneath the lava rock gravel.
I have ezgreen and have been doing one squirt a week. I’ve also dosed it twice with excell 5ml spot treatment.
What are my options going forward?
Here’s a picture of the tank overall. I might try to add some more fast growing plants
1 - 20 of 20 Posts
Do you think I should just pull up all the Monte Carlo ? I took a big clump of the moss out. Here’s what I changed. I just changed the co2 fluid too and that was end of the light cycle. It’s pretty much on everything thought. It’s too bad cause some of the Monte Carlo was growing nicely.
![1032435]()
What is your dosing regime? How much Macros and Micros you are dosing and how often?
I’ve just been using one squirt of ez green a week.What is your dosing regime? How much Macros and Micros you are dosing and how often?
How often do you do water changes and how much do you change?
I’ve been doing about 30% twice a week. Sometimes 50% like yesterday. I didn’t add any of the ez green
What's your temp set to on the heater? Get some faster growing hardier plants, like some fast healthy stems!
Are you using tap water for the WC and do you know the quantity of anything like nitrates in your tap? I live in north Texas and the tap has over 20ppm nitrate in it and super hard water 8dkh 18dgh!
You might need to up the dosing if you aren't sure what's in your water column and the uptake rate... With co2 and good lighting you may be under dosing the tank and with the plants stuck the algae is the only thing using the ferts maybe???
Just guessing without knowing your test numbers! If you can get a test kit and check, we should be able surmise which imbalance you have... I'm thinking more plants, my answer is always more plants though. 😅😅😅
Are you using tap water for the WC and do you know the quantity of anything like nitrates in your tap? I live in north Texas and the tap has over 20ppm nitrate in it and super hard water 8dkh 18dgh!
You might need to up the dosing if you aren't sure what's in your water column and the uptake rate... With co2 and good lighting you may be under dosing the tank and with the plants stuck the algae is the only thing using the ferts maybe???
Just guessing without knowing your test numbers! If you can get a test kit and check, we should be able surmise which imbalance you have... I'm thinking more plants, my answer is always more plants though. 😅😅😅
73 degrees. My nitrates and nitrites all seem low as well as ammonium based off my kit. Like 0. I only do one squirt or maybe 3/4 of ez green cause I was too scared that they were getting too much. What are good plants to add? I wonder if I should just start over. I’m in Colorado Springs. I’ll try to look up the levels.What's your temp set to on the heater? Get some faster growing hardier plants, like some fast healthy stems!
Are you using tap water for the WC and do you know the quantity of anything like nitrates in your tap? I live in north Texas and the tap has over 20ppm nitrate in it and super hard water 8dkh 18dgh!
You might need to up the dosing if you aren't sure what's in your water column and the uptake rate... With co2 and good lighting you may be under dosing the tank and with the plants stuck the algae is the only thing using the ferts maybe???
Just guessing without knowing your test numbers! If you can get a test kit and check, we should be able surmise which imbalance you have... I'm thinking more plants, my answer is always more plants though. 😅😅😅
Should I just remove the Monte carlo??? Do you think? Or can I save it? What methods can I use to rinse or clean itWhat's your temp set to on the heater? Get some faster growing hardier plants, like some fast healthy stems!
Are you using tap water for the WC and do you know the quantity of anything like nitrates in your tap? I live in north Texas and the tap has over 20ppm nitrate in it and super hard water 8dkh 18dgh!
You might need to up the dosing if you aren't sure what's in your water column and the uptake rate... With co2 and good lighting you may be under dosing the tank and with the plants stuck the algae is the only thing using the ferts maybe???
Just guessing without knowing your test numbers! If you can get a test kit and check, we should be able surmise which imbalance you have... I'm thinking more plants, my answer is always more plants though. 😅😅😅
If I were you I would pull out all plants and quarantine them, clean the hardscape as much as possible then dose the tank with Excel or H2O2 for few days until I see that the algae is dead. Then clean up the plants and save as much as you can. Treat the pants with a bleach and water mix of 1 to 20 ratio, keep in mind not all plants can be bleached. Once everything is clean plant everything back and give it another go. It's not easy but it's a part of the hobby, gotta learn to enjoy every moment. 😊Should I just remove the Monte carlo??? Do you think? Or can I save it? What methods can I use to rinse or clean it
By the way, I took a closer look at your pictures and I observed a lot of yellow, brown decaying leaves. You have to trim the decaying leaves and remove them. Dying leaves decompose in the water and that's what algae loves, it's very possible that might be the cause of your problem.
Okay I will try that. What about the fishes? Do I remove the plants, bleach them, rinse and then put back in after I’ve cleaned the tank to the best of my ability?If I were you I would pull out all plants and quarantine them, clean the hardscape as much as possible then dose the tank with Excel or H2O2 for few days until I see that the algae is dead. Then clean up the plants and save as much as you can. Treat the pants with a bleach and water mix of 1 to 20 ratio, keep in mind not all plants can be bleached. Once everything is clean plant everything back and give it another go. It's not easy but it's a part of the hobby, gotta learn to enjoy every moment. 😊
By the way, I took a closer look at your pictures and I observed a lot of yellow, brown decaying leaves. You have to trim the decaying leaves and remove them. Dying leaves decompose in the water and that's what algae loves, it's very possible that might be the cause of your problem.
What do you mean "the co2 bottle ran out"? What kind of co2 are you running?
1 squirt of easy green a week isnt much. Ferts didnt cause this. Struggling plants did. You have to fix that moving forward
I wouldnt do the bleach thing, not in your case and not for this. Dont spray anything directly on plants out of the water, even excel or peroxide. Remember struggling plants is what got you here. The last thing you want to do is cause them more tissue damage trying to kill the algae.
You can spray peroxide or excel directly on the plants underwater, with the current off. Let it sit for 20-30 minutes and turn the filter back on. Careful with peroxide, wont take much to kill the bio cycle in a 10 gal. Ideally, esp with peroxide you would do a 50-60% water change right after the soak period. Excel you can be a little more liberal because its not such a threat to the cycle.
But really I wouldnt get too carried away with chemical treatments right here. This stuff you can manually remove fairly easy. Then a good cleaning, and getting the plants happy will take care of its "food"
Removing all the plants and giving the tank a good cleaning (without disrupting the bio cycle) is a very good idea. Do that. Manually remove whatever you can off the plants themselves. Then replant everything
That monte carlo, pick off 10-15 of the nice little green tips, the brand new fresh growth. Go back with only that and toss everything else.
Also good avdvice from vanostav on keeping any decaying leaves removed, and why you should. On that same note, all those reds in the front left, is that TCs converting? There's another big source of organic waste as the existing growth on those dies away during the conversion process. Nothing you can do about that, just know that its in the equation
You need to be extra viligant with cleaning and pruning, always but especially right now.. Cleaning means the filter and substrate surface. Pruning means removing any dead or dying leaves, old growth that gets in bad shape, all that sort of thing.
1 squirt of easy green a week isnt much. Ferts didnt cause this. Struggling plants did. You have to fix that moving forward
I wouldnt do the bleach thing, not in your case and not for this. Dont spray anything directly on plants out of the water, even excel or peroxide. Remember struggling plants is what got you here. The last thing you want to do is cause them more tissue damage trying to kill the algae.
You can spray peroxide or excel directly on the plants underwater, with the current off. Let it sit for 20-30 minutes and turn the filter back on. Careful with peroxide, wont take much to kill the bio cycle in a 10 gal. Ideally, esp with peroxide you would do a 50-60% water change right after the soak period. Excel you can be a little more liberal because its not such a threat to the cycle.
But really I wouldnt get too carried away with chemical treatments right here. This stuff you can manually remove fairly easy. Then a good cleaning, and getting the plants happy will take care of its "food"
Removing all the plants and giving the tank a good cleaning (without disrupting the bio cycle) is a very good idea. Do that. Manually remove whatever you can off the plants themselves. Then replant everything
That monte carlo, pick off 10-15 of the nice little green tips, the brand new fresh growth. Go back with only that and toss everything else.
Also good avdvice from vanostav on keeping any decaying leaves removed, and why you should. On that same note, all those reds in the front left, is that TCs converting? There's another big source of organic waste as the existing growth on those dies away during the conversion process. Nothing you can do about that, just know that its in the equation
You need to be extra viligant with cleaning and pruning, always but especially right now.. Cleaning means the filter and substrate surface. Pruning means removing any dead or dying leaves, old growth that gets in bad shape, all that sort of thing.
sorry. I meant that I changed the co2 drop checker fluid. I am using a diy with citric acid and sodium bicarbonate. I’m going to follow your advice andtake out all the Monte Carlo and try to find the best ones. Next, I will clean the substrate the best I can and do a 50% water change and then replant the Monte Carlo. I will addmore water and use prime and a squirt of ez green. I’ll increase the lighting period to 6 hours at 50% on my wrgb2.The plants were having originally nice growth. I think I was too cautious and scared about algae. I do want the plants to be healthy.What do you mean "the co2 bottle ran out"? What kind of co2 are you running?
1 squirt of easy green a week isnt much. Ferts didnt cause this. Struggling plants did. You have to fix that moving forward
I wouldnt do the bleach thing, not in your case and not for this. Dont spray anything directly on plants out of the water, even excel or peroxide. Remember struggling plants is what got you here. The last thing you want to do is cause them more tissue damage trying to kill the algae.
You can spray peroxide or excel directly on the plants underwater, with the current off. Let it sit for 20-30 minutes and turn the filter back on. Careful with peroxide, wont take much to kill the bio cycle in a 10 gal. Ideally, esp with peroxide you would do a 50-60% water change right after the soak period. Excel you can be a little more liberal because its not such a threat to the cycle.
But really I wouldnt get too carried away with chemical treatments right here. This stuff you can manually remove fairly easy. Then a good cleaning, and getting the plants happy will take care of its "food"
Removing all the plants and giving the tank a good cleaning (without disrupting the bio cycle) is a very good idea. Do that. Manually remove whatever you can off the plants themselves. Then replant everything
That monte carlo, pick off 10-15 of the nice little green tips, the brand new fresh growth. Go back with only that and toss everything else.
Also good avdvice from vanostav on keeping any decaying leaves removed, and why you should. Another thing, all those reds in the front left, is that TCs converting? There's another big source of organic waste as the existing growth on those dies away during the conversion process.
You need to be extra viligant with cleaning and pruning, always but especially right now.. Cleaning means the filter and substrate surface. Pruning means removing any dead or dying leaves, old growth that gets in bad shape, all that sort of thing.
I forget the names of the plants on the left. They are newly added because I removed some Monte Carlo and wanted the plant mass in the tank to be higher.
Really stay on top of that diy co2, dont wait until its empty, re do it as soon as the rate starts to slow down. Having a consistent rate from one day to the next is very important, and the biggest challenge with diy set ups
Thanks. I recently just changed it. It’s at about 3 drops a minute. Here is some updated pics. One thing I’m confused about is on the chihiros app there is a setting for light temperature. I don’t think it really matters if I adjust the color temps individually. Here is what I’m taking about.Really stay on top of that diy co2, dont wait until its empty, re do it as soon as the rate starts to slow down. Having a consistent rate from one day to the next is very important, and the biggest challenge with diy set ups
Looks a lot better. Now just give it some time, keep everything clean and well pruned. Stay on top of the co2 and you could probably use a little more easy green. I'd probably double it and see what happens. Keep harassing any algae thats left over. Fluff that moss every couple of days to get the debris out of it. Can spot treat that in a few days if it needs it, might die away on its own.
On the light, Im not familiar with it but crank the red way up, and whatever setting has a lot of blue in it. 9000K is a little cool already, but those cardinals arent popping blue like they could be. Strong red and strong blue is best for colors and the plants too. So run those high and put anything else you can adjust to whatever looks good to you
On the light, Im not familiar with it but crank the red way up, and whatever setting has a lot of blue in it. 9000K is a little cool already, but those cardinals arent popping blue like they could be. Strong red and strong blue is best for colors and the plants too. So run those high and put anything else you can adjust to whatever looks good to you
Thanks. I think the temperature is just a slider if you want to run a specific temperature. I adjusted it to this. Added another squirt of the ez green.Looks a lot better. Now just give it some time, keep everything clean and well pruned. Stay on top of the co2 and you could probably use a little more easy green. I'd probably double it and see what happens. Keep harassing any algae thats left over. Fluff that moss every couple of days to get the debris out of it. Can spot treat that in a few days if it needs it, might die away on its own.
On the light, Im not familiar with it but crank the red way up, and whatever setting has a lot of blue in it. 9000K is a little cool already, but those cardinals arent popping blue like they could be. Strong red and strong blue is best for colors and the plants too. So run those high and put anything else you can adjust to whatever looks good to you
I got some nilocg thrive caps. Do you think I should try to get a few down in the substrate? The tank is probably at least 3 months old
Find some true Siamese Algae Eaters, I am sure they should eat this stuff.
Thanks. I’m only 10gallon though with 5 tetras and 3 otos. It’s probably getting pretty close to full. I am setting up a 60p in a couple weeksFind some true Siamese Algae Eaters, I am sure they should eat this stuff.
Yeah, you're right.Thanks. I’m only 10gallon though with 5 tetras and 3 otos. It’s probably getting pretty close to full. I am setting up a 60p in a couple weeks
1 - 20 of 20 Posts
- This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
The Planted Tank Forum
A forum community dedicated to Aquatic tank owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about flora, fauna, health, housing, filters, care, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Top Contributors this Month
View All
Kwyet
132 Replies
Galabar001
59 Replies
Creature From The Tank
57 Replies
Recommended Communities
