Algae Bloom after dosing

[fluvaledge]

I always have green spot algae bloom after dosing, even with just a few drops of fertilizer.

Any idea why? Should I continue dosing?

[Dodofish]

Maybe you can include more information. There's a lot of experts here who can help.

tank dimension
light wattage
lighting period
dosing regime

gsa can arrived from excess lighting but I maybe wrong without knowing your tank.

[fluvaledge]

lighting: 8 hours
tank: 1.5ft
Dosing regime: NPK + Fe, once a week, quantity: 3 drops (less than 1ml)

[Berny]

light wattage? and perhaps, type of light? t5/8/led?

[Urban Aquaria]

Green spot algae is usually due to excess light.

I noticed you didn't mention any Co2 injection or carbon supplementation, so it could be the additional fertilizers you are currently dosing are not being used up by the plants due to Co2 limitation, or the plant type/density are not high demand/dense enough to out-compete the algae.

[milk_vanilla]

Very likely of light intensity or direct sunlight facing

[David]

Agreed...too much light intensity and/or insufficient CO2

[Shadow]

It is unlikely for fertilizer to cause algae bloom, unless you are dosing ammonia

[thebaldingaquarist]

GSA... my good friend.. follows me faithfully throughout the years.

Nerites will consume GSA. Root cause is most likely excessive light (intensity and/or duration).

In your case, try to lower your lighting intensity, take out one bulb or increase the height between your light and the water. I will go for the height thing.

If that does not work or cause other problems, revert back the lighting intensity, then reduce lighting period to 6 hours.

If that does not work, do both, reduce intensity and lighting period.

[fluvaledge]

I have co2 injection - drop checker shows green.

I used led lights - 16w for 1.5ft. photoperiod is around 8 hours. Is that too much?

[erwinx]

like others have mentioned does the tank receive any sunlight during the day. Even indirect sunlight may promote GSA. Does the GSA appear mainly on one particular side of the tank?

I had a few spots on GSA on my tank, preparing to clean it off, but came back and found the Nerite on the glass having its meal

[Urban Aquaria]

I have co2 injection - drop checker shows green.

I used led lights - 16w for 1.5ft. photoperiod is around 8 hours. Is that too much?

Your lights and photoperiod seem relatively moderate for that tank size... though i was reading at your other threads and it seems your tank has mainly mosses and some small plants? Maybe that factor could be part of the cause for algae appearing, perhaps the current plant density/requirements are abit too low for the amount of light and fertilizer being used.

Might be a good idea to plant more fast growing plants, see if it helps.

[fluvaledge]

I have reduced my photoperiod and stop fertilizing for a week. seems to help.

just added more fertilizer today. shall continue to monitor if there is any algae bloom with the reduced photoperiod.

[itsnotsobad]

I suggest having some floating plants around in the tank. I have some salvania in mine.. working so far, 2 weeks algae free