Looking for Algae help and some recommendations

**skytan** · 24th Jul 2010, 12:22

My planted tank details are as below, about 3 months now. 6-8 hrs lightning daily.

Recently, i notice some algae on my drift wood, those type that appear like small hairs? I have them always on my glass and i scrap once a while as i read in one of the books says it is okay to keep so i was not very diligent in clearing everything.
But now on the wood is slightly more difficult to scrub.
On the otherhand if it is not harmful and not unsightly i can bear with it.

As my tank got no CO2 and other then the PH and thermometer i have no tester for water parameters. And probably thats is the reason Amanos left me one after another which is the same reason i turn to the hardier glass shrimp (but pesky when feeding)

So what can i do or buy to improve the situation and also keep amanos or cherry shrimps (the $1 type) in the near future?
I was going to buy a JBL 5 in 1 test strip @ $25, but on second thought probably the bros here can point me to a good direction.

Thanks in Advance.

**Aquanoob** · 26th Jul 2010, 18:53

I used to have the same hair algae on the driftwood problem with you but ever since 2 SAE came to my tank, they have eaten it completely and now the driftwood as smooth as it should be. You may have the same result as me.

**skytan** · 27th Jul 2010, 17:02

So how many SAE do you used for your 2 feet? And roughly how much they cost?

**Shadow** · 27th Jul 2010, 18:08

I assume the one on your signature is your tank spec. How big is your tank?

**skytan** · 27th Jul 2010, 18:15

So funny me...
Type out so long siggy for my Tank Specs never put Dimensions

60cm x 40cm x 30cm

**Shadow** · 27th Jul 2010, 18:33

For 2ft tank without CO2, you might want to reduce your light intensity.

**P0633318** · 27th Jul 2010, 20:22

i am having the same problem here.
mine is also a 2ft tank with 48watt light but with co2.
the algea grow on the glass of my tank and i hvae to clean it every 2 weeks. if not it will look very terrible.

**barmby** · 28th Jul 2010, 13:52

Originally Posted by skytan

My planted tank details are as below, about 3 months now. 6-8 hrs lightning daily.

As my tank got no CO2
Thanks in Advance.

What is your plant mass? How does it look like?

Lighting of 6-8 hrs per day for a non CO2 fertilized planted tank that is 3 months old might be a little bit long

**benjidog** · 29th Jul 2010, 16:54

I has some hair algae 2 weeks back in my planted discus tank.

I did alternate light on-off.
4 hours one with three hours break followed by 4 hours on.
Added 3 SAE. The hair algae is gone now.

Apparently, algae takes longer to start photosynthesis compared to water plants.
So the water plants will compete with the algae for nutrients.
For a new tank, you can try to increase the planting or add/increase the number of fast growing plants
(get the common carolina or water wisteria) or other oxygenators to compete with the algae.

**xjiahua** · 29th Jul 2010, 17:36

I just started my 2ft planted on the 20th and few days later there were hair algae on my hairgrass, HC and white algae on my driftwood during the cycling period for about 4days before introducing 3 false SAE (although NA put it as SAE, can anyone clarify on this?) 2 CAE & about 14 Amano Shrimps. By the 7th day which was just the day before, all algae cleared. My CO2 go up to 3bps together with a 72watts lighting for 8hours a day. Try Amano Shrimps. Correct me if i'm wrong, one of the contributing factor of your algae problem is the lack of C02 + Light. There must be a balance between the two.