[tylergvolk]

I've added 3 Ottos and POOF, the diatoms are virtually gone, but now I have a new friend in the tank. His name is hair algae! He is all over the HC.

-Reducing the photo period back to 7 hours
-Manually removing with a tooth brush

 

[tylergvolk]

Here is my analysis of what I think went wrong. After the HC trimming, I couldn't removed the excess trimmings.. I removed what I could but the thousand of tiny leaves where still floating about. With the abundance of organics settling in the carpet, BAM. algae + increase in light from 7 hours to 9hours.

In the future, I will find a way to collect more of the HC leaves after a trim. As for right now, the plan is to try and keep the tank as clean as possible of it can recover faster.

I have another issue that I could use some advice. The surface buildings up a white film over time. Does anyone know how to solve this problem with my current setup?

 

[tetra10]

look into the eheim surface skimmer

 

[mistuhmarc]

Look up lily pipe surface skimmer. It really does work and is effective at removing surface film.

 

[tylergvolk]

I painted the background black today.

 

[tylergvolk]

I'm freaking out over here trying to figure out what to do about this hair algae. It's starting to take over...

 

[fackxyouz]

haven't tried this myself, but https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-s9mJVFyU8 seems to work. Or get a bunch of amano shrimps?

 

[lauraleellbp]

I'm freaking out over here trying to figure out what to do about this hair algae. It's starting to take over...

Tried dosing some Excel?

 

[tylergvolk]

haven't tried this myself, but https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-s9mJVFyU8 seems to work. Or get a bunch of amano shrimps?

Thanks for the link. I have a game plan now.

Tried dosing some Excel?

Not yet, but that's going to be part of my game plan. Thanks!

 

[mistuhmarc]

There's a nice post about effectively getting rid of algae in the algae forum . Go look it up!

 

[tylergvolk]

Here's my game plan!

Treating Hair Algae
1. Dose excel regularly to help stabilize co2
2. Reduced light to 7 hour photoperiod daily
3. Manually removed with toothbrush
4. Spot treat with H202 in a spray bottle not to exceed 3ml per gallon
5. EI Dose religiously
6. Increase pressurized co2

 

[lauraleellbp]

Does your Sat come with a dimmer?

The underlying cause is most likely too much light.

 

[Aquascape Depot]

Does your Sat come with a dimmer?

The underlying cause is most likely too much light.

The Satellite + can adjust it's lighting. I know one of our tanks is prone to hair algae just from too much PAR. (8" height from substrate with only 5 hours photoperiod). I believe it's on Rose Pink Setting (check out GuitarFish's PAR readings for more info)

 

[tylergvolk]

Does your Sat come with a dimmer?

The underlying cause is most likely too much light.

The Satalite+ does have a built in dimmer. How convenient! I was afraid someone would problem=to much light lol... I've kept the light on white and red however the fixture has many settings. Which setting would be better and not promote hair algae? The fixture will do just about any color I want.

The Satellite + can adjust it's lighting. I know one of our tanks is prone to hair algae just from too much PAR. (8" height from substrate with only 5 hours photoperiod). I believe it's on Rose Pink Setting (check out GuitarFish's PAR readings for more info)

WOW! What a great link! Thanks you very much for the link. I have been looking for a good Satellite+ PAR resource just like this. I need to change the light spectrum in addition to the other item in my game plan. This was VERY helpful!

 

[tylergvolk]

Today, I did a 50% water change. During the water change, I drained the tank and sprayed down the rocks, algae, HC, and equipment with H202. Let it sit for several minutes and then filled. I accidentally uprooted a huge portion of the HC in front of the main rock. Big bummer. I packed it back down but now my substrate line is now crooked. Off the the LFS I went.

I added 8 Ember Tetra.

There small size is perfect; however, the ember color is washed out due to the stress of moving. I hope there ember color becomes more pronounced once they settle in.

 

[Agent69]

Is it me or is that carpet starting to look yellow? I would be careful dosing h2o2 and excel daily. I tried algaefix on my 38 gallon tank and got rid of hair algae on my dwarf hairgrass

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[tylergvolk]

Is it me or is that carpet starting to look yellow? I would be careful dosing h2o2 and excel daily. I tried algaefix on my 38 gallon tank and got rid of hair algae on my dwarf hairgrass

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

Dually noted sir. Thank you.

The picture makes it look more yellow than it really is; furthermore, the carpet could be a lot better! The algae has now turned pink which means it's dying off. I've actually turned the co2 down to about 1bps due to the Embers struggling for air during acclimation.

Also, I'm decreasing my excel dosage to the daily recommended amount.

 

[tylergvolk]

New EI Dosing Schedule-

Sunday: Water Change; Macro
Monday: Micro
Tuesday: Macro
Wednesday: Micro
Thursday: Macro
Friday: Micro
Saturday: Rest

I've recently learned, from very helpful TPT members, that the above schedule is much better than not dosing, doing a water change, and resting all on the same day. By not dosing, water change, and resting on the same day, I starve the plants on Sunday.

I've also learned I need to fine tune my tank maintenance skills and increase my o2 levels in order to turn up co2 and lights.

Time to make it happen.

 

[tylergvolk]

The algae has stopped. Thank god! Most of it had turned pink and is dying off.

I found some a Ember Tetras at a Betta Shop that we're much more colorful than the ones I previously purchased. See pictures. After some research, I've learned that certain species of ET are pale. Not sure how true that is... Other research said that it depends on your water parameters. Not sure how true that is either...

In any event, I'm going yo be looking for more ET's that are colorful!

They look great don't they?

 

[tylergvolk]

The HC is looking pretty pathetic at the moment. It's melting away. I found my nitrates to be sky high and corrected that. The HC is yellow and the ramhorns have multiplied and are feasting on my carpet.

I've been slowly increasing the light.

Currently, I'm at 9 hour photo period and full spectrum with the sat+