Help! Algae attack..

**celebskin** · 9th May 2009, 22:48

Hi everyone,

I have a 2ft planted tank and it is ravaged with differents kinds of algae. Green hair algae, BGA, Green Spot Algae, Black Brush Algae...

This is my tank specifications.

- 110W light (5 hrs per day)
- 2-3bps CO2
- 1 push ADA Brighty K and ADA Step 1 daily
- Water change once a week

I understand that for planted tank, we need to find a right balance of light, CO2 and ferts to contain all these algaes. So, I think something might be wrong with my tank specification and ferts dosing. Would appreciate all the advice I can get! Thanks.

**Philosophos** · 9th May 2009, 23:21

110w? If it's anything besides incandescent, you've got way too much light. Reducing the hours only goes so far, and for the hours on the CO2 demand would be very high. If you don't want to decrease the light, you're going to have to increase the CO2. I'm not sure what levels of nutrients ADA contains, so I can't comment there. If it's according to instructions, then it shouldn't be an issue from what I've seen of other ADA standard dosed aquariums. Again, I'd say drop the light levels down to something in the 2-4WPG range, and push the CO2 as high as you can without killing your fish/shrimp.

-Philosophos

**Shadow** · 9th May 2009, 23:29

I would not suggest 110W if you are new to planted tank hobby. I doesn't mean you can't, my 2ft tank is lso 110W with no algae problem. Try half your light.

As for CO2 try to get something better to measure it. 2-3bps does not mean anything because it is depending very much to the way you inject CO2 to your tank. You can also try Philosophos suggestion "push the CO2 as high as you can without killing your fish/shrimp".

**celebskin** · 10th May 2009, 00:47

I am planting a HC carpet, so I actually have two 55W light. Do you think if I were to just use one 55W light, the HC will start to melt? I used to be using a diffuser, but I've changed to using a external CO2 reactor to introduce Co2 into my tank.

**celebskin** · 10th May 2009, 22:13

I've taken out one of the 55W light, so now my tank is 55W. Hopefully this will help with the algae problem!

**Philosophos** · 11th May 2009, 02:33

ADA aquariums have 50mmoles PAR at times, with HC growing. HC doesn't need high light to survive. 55w will definitely be adequate if everything else is balanced.

-Philosophos

**Mildnomsed** · 11th May 2009, 11:50

Hey Celebskin,

I am also thinking of getting an external CO2 reactor. May I know where did you get it from? I have checked C328, but they don't have any.

Thanks.

**celebskin** · 12th May 2009, 00:16

I got mine from NA.

**Jimmy** · 12th May 2009, 10:04

how does the CO2 reactor works? how come moving the CO2 in circular path is better?

**Shadow** · 12th May 2009, 10:46

Two main idea of injecting CO2
1) Keep the bubble in the water as long as possible.
2) Make the bubble as small as possible.

**mordrake** · 12th May 2009, 14:49

Originally Posted by Shadow

Two main idea of injecting CO2
1) Keep the bubble in the water as long as possible.
2) Make the bubble as small as possible.

how's the performance of the boyu inline reactor you were testing out?

**Shadow** · 12th May 2009, 16:04

pretty good actually,
1) It does not reduce the filter flow rate like reactor
2) No green spot algae like normal ceramic/glass diffuser. Brown algae do stick on it but easily clean during filter maintenance.

I'm not sure about the diffusing rate cause I do not have equipment to measure it accurately.

**mordrake** · 12th May 2009, 16:29

thanks. now to find it in SG

**|squee|** · 12th May 2009, 23:52

Originally Posted by celebskin

I've taken out one of the 55W light, so now my tank is 55W. Hopefully this will help with the algae problem!

Meanwhile you need to manually attack the algae and remove it. Up the rest of the nutrients and CO2 and also take a look at your water circulation. Introduce more plants if they haven't grown in.