Need help on Algae eaters

[eager]

Need help on the ID of the green algae, and which algae-eaters will be able to get the job done? HAve a 4x1.5x2 tank; and presently 6 otos, 4 sae, 2 synodonitis, 4 cory, 2 pandagara (?). Haven't got any shrimps because of dwarf puffers.
Thanks!

[nicken]

maybe can try yamato shrimp.

[eager]

Thanks Nicken for your response. Does dwaft puffer eats yamato shrimps?

[barmby]

Yes, Dwarf Puffer will snap on yamato shrimps. For sure.

This could be both hair algae and BGA. The CO2 dosage needs to look into.

[eager]

Thanks Barmby for your advise.
Currently, I turn on 8 hrs/day for my lighting (T5, 6 tubes),and Co2 at about 3 bps.
What will be the right dosage?

[barmby]

Try to feed us with your tank parameters - for example..water in gallon, light in watts, did you plant heavily, what's your CO2 in ppm, 1 hr before lights off and 1 hr after lights on respectively.

Actually, there are two variables which we will try to make it NOT variable - CO2 and lights. The rest can be adjusted quite easily.

[[C]irRuS]

hair algae could also be a result of overfeeding.

[eager]

Thanks so much Barmby and CirRus for your advise.
My tank dimension: 4 x 1.5 x 2 (ht), heavily planted.
system: Eheim 2075, HL 300A
Lighting : T5 x 6 tubes,
Turn on C02 and lights together 3pm - 11pm.
(umm hearing your suggestion to tuen on c02 1 hour earlier before lights come on, and 1 hour before lights off (?) )
How does overfeeding affect algae growth? The fish finished all within 3 min.

Will appreciate help to control the algae growth.

[barmby]

OK. We know this is 2 feet height tank. What is the gallon of water in it ?

What is the watt? (T5 - I don't quite get it.)

The point is turning on the CO2 earlier is to get the tank ready for photosynthesis immediately after lights are on. CO2 turn off earlier is to help the critters to breath better because plants will be using 02 after photosynthesis.

Btw, you will need to measure your CO2. I think the point is not knowing the amount of CO2 in the water column during lights on.

Sorry. This is the only way I know. Others may offer better help

[eager]

Tank holds about 89 gallons of water
Lighting is T5 high output, 54W x 6 tubes.
Thanks for your inputs.

[barmby]

4 feet tank.

-how many CO2 outlets are there ?

-what is the CO2 content in the water column during lights on ?

[AsNiDmY]

I`ve got these all around my tank before. I used yamato shrimps and i monitored the lighting and nutrients levels .. After about 3 days everything was cleared ... So maybe ya can try that bro =)

[vinz]

3.6 WPG! Way too high in my personal opinion. Cut it down to 4x54W will get you about 2.4 WPG... which is enough for such a large tank.

What is the substrate? What fertilisers? How much and how often each?

What and how many plants are you growing in there and how's their growth?

[eager]

Thx bros for all your inputs; encouraged that my yamatos will be able to clear the BGA & hairgrass algae.
a) I only have 1 C02 outlet. How do I measure the Co2 content in the water column?
b) Substrate is ADA Amazonia, with a thin layer of sand to add color (regretted now).
c) Fertilisers I use is LushGro product range ; the Aqua, Micros, and KH2PO4, applied during water change once a week, applied according to specs. Suspect that these could be too rich.
d) Plants I grow: Intent is a rich garden with different mix of plants & many varieties,. eg. HC, glosso, red tiger lotus, christmas and java moss, nana, java fern, etc.
e) Lighting: a pro came to my home and commented that my lighting 54W x4 (on parabolic reflectors) is insufficient. Hence on my own I added 2 more 54W x2 (without p.reflectors).

Learning much from you bros.

[barmby]

To me, make the variables become fix. Once CO2 and Lights got it right, I'll focus on dosage of fertilizer. Therefore, I suspect CO2 is insufficient. 3 bps with good lights. I think CO2 is limiting growth and photosynthesis.

With soil, therefore measurement of CO2 will not work out. Because CO2 reading from pH chart will be distorted by the reaction of Amazonia

You may want to crank up the CO2 slowly, watch out for your critters, if they swim awkwardly, cut back..

CO2 increment may just work for you.. Under normal situation, CO2 level in the water will drop if plants are using them. And you said that you have alot of plants. and you said that you have 54W x 6 T5 lights. And you dose religiously.. I think ...............CO2 problem.

Btw, whatever algae that is inside, you have to remove it manually. Also, dose excel once a week after water change. There are carbon in it.

[eager]

Thanks Barmby for your good advice.
Has cranked up the C02 (now at 5bps or more), and implemented the 1 hour before lights on and off . Will watch and see.
Will you or any bros be able to comment on the LushGro fertilisers. Understand it is meant for more heavy duty aqua-culture use.

Cheers!

[Aquaticz]

Hi ,
Not sure what Lush gro fertilizers are but......
simply put these are elements you can easily get in a dry or powder form. Then you either dose the powder directly into the water colulmn or as I do, make a solution so you know how many ppm's you are adding of each. You will need to dose macros and micros on alternating days. You might look into the "Estimative Index". The dry ferts can be purchased on line at aquariumfertilizer.com - very cheap great service & no I have no intrest in this biz :-)

[barmby]

Both LushGRO Macro and Micro fertilizer is very well publicised in this forum. Do a search.