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Thread: How to rid of spot algae?

  1. #1
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    How to rid of spot algae?

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    Dear mods,

    I set up a tank 1 month ago without fauna. The details and regime is as follows:

    Plants: RTL, hairgrass (long and short types), HC, some kind of stem plant...dunno name. Plants are densely planted to cycle the tank.
    Substrate: Dennerle base fert with lapis sand (2-3")
    Lighting: 36w for 2x1x1.5ft tank (abt 1.7 wpg), CO2 is 2-3bps

    1st 2 weeks: Lights on 6hrs per day, no additional fert added.
    3rd week: Photperiod increase to 8hrs per day, then....algae bloom! BBA, Spot, Thread, hair algae...damn...I asked myself...was it the lighting or the lack of nutrients?? I decided on lack of nutrients. I added ferka aquatilizer, balance-K, NO3 and KH2PO4. Weekly water change implemented...60-70% per week.
    4th week: Algae growth seems to have slowed, so i added 2oto, 5yamato, 2 SAE.
    5th week-now: Thread and hair algae all gone. BBA still there but minimised.

    Casualties to date: 2 yamato, 1 SAE, 1 oto

    Spot algae still persists. What should I do? Have I done the right thing so far in the setting up of a tank and control of algae?

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    First, let us know your CO2 content in water during illumination period. That is the single MOST IMPORTANT........

    First, lets look at the CO2 (Test it! And its the most "difficulit")
    Second, the NPK (Nitrate, Potassium, Phosphate)
    Third, the TE (Trace Elements)

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    CO2 shd be abt 30 ppm or thereabouts...abt 30mins after lights come on, the plants start to bubble...dunno how to test...

    NPK, I add about 0.5ml of NO3, KH2PO4 twice weekly...also the 2 ferka products twice weekly....

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    Use KH-PH chart to certain your level of CO2 in water. It is a must! Please goto:

    http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_co2chart.htm

    You do this first, then we talk about NPK. Anyway, the rule of thumb:

    5-10ppm of NO3
    20-40 ppm of K
    0.5-1.0ppm of PO4

    There is an aqua site that offers nutrients calculation. Someone may want to help..OR

    Goto-
    http://www.fishfriend.com/fertfriend.html

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    Thanks Colin,

    Will update parameters in a while.

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    Hi Colin / Mods,

    Updated parameters on CO2..
    It's 15ppm.

    Pleae advise. Thanks.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Panther
    Hi Colin / Mods,

    Updated parameters on CO2..
    It's 15ppm.

    Pleae advise. Thanks.
    Work on the CO2. Make sure it is around 30ppm or excess within critters limit throughout the entire photoperiod and then switch it off at night. Get some slight surface going as well but not too much. Nutrients are easy via regular consistent dosing routines.

    Routine suggested.
    Remove algae/trim plants/scrub glass and etc.
    Clean filter if flow drops or whenever you remove algae.
    50-70% water change
    1/4 teaspoon of KNO3 once a week and maybe 2x a week when things do well
    1/32 teaspoon of KH2PO4 once a week along with KNO3.
    Traces at 3ml 2x a week
    Make sure the CO2 stays high and good for the entire photoperiod and throughout the routine or else nothing will work well.

    Whenever you have algae issues or lull in pearling, check the CO2 carefully and even if the readings seems perfect, add a bit more CO2 and see if things improve.

    Regards
    Peter Gwee

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    Quote Originally Posted by PeterGwee
    Work on the CO2. Make sure it is around 30ppm or excess within critters limit throughout the entire photoperiod and then switch it off at night. Get some slight surface going as well but not too much. Nutrients are easy via regular consistent dosing routines.

    Routine suggested.
    Remove algae/trim plants/scrub glass and etc.
    Clean filter if flow drops or whenever you remove algae.
    50-70% water change
    1/4 teaspoon of KNO3 once a week and maybe 2x a week when things do well
    1/32 teaspoon of KH2PO4 once a week along with KNO3.
    Traces at 3ml 2x a week
    Make sure the CO2 stays high and good for the entire photoperiod and throughout the routine or else nothing will work well.

    Whenever you have algae issues or lull in pearling, check the CO2 carefully and even if the readings seems perfect, add a bit more CO2 and see if things improve.

    Regards
    Peter Gwee
    Peter,
    Thanks for the advise!

    Cheers.

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    Add a tad more KH2PO4.
    Shoot for 2-4ppm or so as a target.

    Regards
    Tom Barr

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    Peter and Tom replied. I need not say much

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    Tagging along, how much plants is enough to justify "enough"?Had experienced the top layer of sand clumping up and turning sort of blacker color.Always had to siphon out the top layer of sand and give it a good cleaning before pouring it back again into the tank.The tub where the sand was washed--water turn ink black!Yet still experiencing spot of black and green spot algae on the plant.Have only been dosing E15,k2so4 and magnesium sulphate with co2 bubble rate of about 1 bubble/2 sec.4ft tank with 8 x 36w pl.Tank age 2 years.Used to be very nice without any problem of algae till rescaping was done.Base fert is from dennerle.No liquid fert was dosed as i'm afraid to cause mroe algae issues.Have about 40+ cardinal tetras which are fed daily,with 2 otcos,2 malayan shrimps and one sae.Anyone can advise how to bring back the original glory with plants that are greenish and almost free of algae.Now i only see green spots and black stuff forming on the plants.Thanks

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    I'd say about 30%-40% of the tank's volume full of plants to be justified "enough".

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