A 2ft Rockscape

[Shadow]

Improve your CO2 and flow

[marle]

is a canister filter sufficient?

[limz_777]

If it's thread algae better remove affected parts asap

[Shadow]

yes I would recommend canister because you can easily relocate the outflow to meet your hardscape. You will also have flexibility on injecting CO2 into the tank

[Urban Aquaria]

Shadow is right... you need to improve the flow in the tank.

Looking back at your previous photos, i now notice the hang-on filter is on the back glass at the left side, so the output and intake of water are currently just re-circulating in a loop at the left area.

Maybe re-position the filter to the left panel of your tank? So that the flow goes lengthwise from left to right of the tank, instead of just concentrating on the left side.

[marle]

Look at what happened? I didn't manage to secure a canister filter and the flowrate for the existing HOF is really poor. The tank is over run by algae.

I am planning to get that canister filter or power head to get the required flow.

Lesson Learnt:
1) Never add livestocks so fast before tank mature (In this case i bobian because these livestocks were transferred from another decommissioned tank.)
2) Invest in hardware that provides good water circulation in the tank

Experts, any advice on any effective way i can remove the algae ? I bought Easylife Algexit to control the growth. But i guess i need to solve the fundamentals.

[qngwn]

Time to add in some algae clean up crew!

[Urban Aquaria]

Looks like too much light/nutrients but not enough plant mass at the initial start-up stage to absorb them all, so algae feed on the excess.

Water circulation is likely part of the cause too, thread algae growing between the stems of HC and HG usually indicates that the water is not circulating well in those areas, so probably not enough Co2 reaching those plants and nutrients tend to accumulate in those gaps which the algae feed on.

The most common solution is to increase the Co2 to much higher levels to help the plants out-compete algae, but you have fishes and shrimps in the tank so that's abit tricky (unless you shift the fishes to another temporary tank).

I guess you'll have to run the excel spot treatment and manual removal procedures (might have to remove some of the HC bunches as they tend to get really tangled up with thick thread algae though), then work on improving the water circulation and light/nutrient/Co2 balance.

Also consider dosing excel daily (to help keep algae at bay and further boost plant growth) and adding fast growing plants (ie. amazon frogbits or water sprite/wisteria, you can restrict them to one corner with a floating feeding dish or breeder box), they can temporarily help soak up excess nitrates and nutrients too.

[marle]

Looks like too much light/nutrients but not enough plant mass at the initial start-up stage to absorb them all, so algae feed on the excess.

Water circulation is likely part of the cause too, thread algae growing between the stems of HC and HG usually indicates that the water is not circulating well in those areas, so probably not enough Co2 reaching those plants and nutrients tend to accumulate in those gaps which the algae feed on.

The most common solution is to increase the Co2 to much higher levels to help the plants out-compete algae, but you have fishes and shrimps in the tank so that's abit tricky (unless you shift the fishes to another temporary tank).

I guess you'll have to run the excel spot treatment and manual removal procedures (might have to remove some of the HC bunches as they tend to get really tangled up with thick thread algae though), then work on improving the water circulation and light/nutrient/Co2 balance.

Also consider dosing excel daily (to help keep algae at bay and further boost plant growth) and adding fast growing plants (ie. amazon frogbits or water sprite/wisteria, you can restrict them to one corner with a floating feeding dish or breeder box), they can temporarily help soak up excess nitrates and nutrients too.

I think you hit the spot Urban Aquaria.. I realized my biggest mistake is the terrible initial flow within the aquarium. The aquarium is a piece of work now. The leaves of the HC no longer look healthy with some fading greenish colour and transparency. Very upset... but am not giving up.


Not sure if this is good?? part of the c02 enters the inlet and shoots out through the outlet..


Bought an Atman Canister filter(surprisingly good flow with priming button) and lily pipes. There is finally FLOW within the aquarium.

From what i can see, the algae is not growing anymore, but whether its residing still remains to be seen.

[Shadow]

you need algae cleaning crew to help with the cleaning

[marle]

you need algae cleaning crew to help with the cleaning

Do you recommend getting algae crew or removing algae infested plants(which is like all of them)?

[josephogk]

Do you recommend getting algae crew or removing algae infested plants(which is like all of them)?

IMO, add 10 - 20 yamato shrimps, 2 oto, 2 norned nerite snail and reduce lighting period. That should clear the algae in no time.

part of the c02 enters the inlet and shoots out through the outlet..

Shift the co2 diffuser away from filter inlet as that will affect the lifespan of your canister filter's propeller.

[AQMS]

i would say get a cleaning crew,remove algae infested plants and manually cleaning the algae by using toothbrush....pheeew...
that is a lot of work brudder.....

[marle]

i would say get a cleaning crew,remove algae infested plants and manually cleaning the algae by using toothbrush....pheeew...
that is a lot of work brudder.....

Damn... when will i get my pasture so when i look at it, it gives a relaxing feeling? Till date, its been a tiring but learning journey of HC uprooting, multiple trips to the LFS, cleaning, changing water, canister filter auto unplugged today..and my apartment became a pool.. haha.

[AQMS]

Damn... when will i get my pasture so when i look at it, it gives a relaxing feeling? Till date, its been a tiring but learning journey of HC uprooting, multiple trips to the LFS, cleaning, changing water, canister filter auto unplugged today..and my apartment became a pool.. haha.

oh boy i hope your flooring is not wood.

[Shadow]

If I were you, I will just redo. Manual cleaning probably take more time than replant

[josephogk]

probably can consider solving the algae issue, achieve an eco balance in the tank first before replanting. Otherwise even if u replant the HC but the eco balance is not there, same thing will repeat all over again.

[marle]

If I were you, I will just redo. Manual cleaning probably take more time than replant

Won't the algae still be present if i take out all the plants and re-do? Should i take the gravel out too?


RE-DO = SHAG

[marle]

IMO, add 10 - 20 yamato shrimps, 2 oto, 2 norned nerite snail and reduce lighting period. That should clear the algae in no time.


Shift the co2 diffuser away from filter inlet as that will affect the lifespan of your canister filter's propeller.

Thanks for the advice bro.

[josephogk]

just to add on.. adding frogbits will help to combat algae growth by a great deal as it competes with the algae for nutrients.