Algal attack on plants

[kenshi64]

Hello! I have an under planted aquarium under excellent lighting ( Sylvania aqua star red and blue colored) and I believe that leaving the lighting on from 9 am to 6 pm led to these algae growing and ravaging my plants leaves.

The algae in question is black spots on the valisneria, however there is also green spits on my other plant, I think its called hygrophila. Lastly my java fern seems to have caught BBA, but I have spotted this early and hope to curb it.

I have two black mollies and their fry that do a decent cleaning job at the moment. But being as rough as they are they often leave bit marks that fracture the leaves and eventually kill them. I have also reduced the photo period to 6am to lunch time. Am I doing things right? I wouldn't mind investing in amanos but they're costly. The main concern is that I think they're sensitive, am I right? Other options I've read are SAEs and ottocinclus. Do let me know what's best to do.

I feel very irresponsible for not factoring such an occurrence, but I've never had such an attack before.

[thebaldingaquarist]

May I request for more information?

So far we know you have 3 types of plants.

Algae could be BBA and GSA (green spot)

Need to know

1. lighting intensity (how many watts)
2. lighting mode (if possible, provide the model and spectrum)
3. tank size
4. pictures of the algae if you can.
5. fertilization regime and how much Co2 for how long
6. soil in use
7. how long the tank has been running
8. fauna in the tank.
9. last but not least, perhaps some full tank shots?

Added algae crew will help. but it will be better to understand why the algae is growing better than the plants.

[kenshi64]

Hii! Sorry for the late reply, I have just recovered from a throat infection! I saw the post but couldn't reply,

I don't own a camera presently but I did upload some shoddy pictures so I've attached one. Its from my tablet only two megs, so that's the best I can get.

Dads a doctor so I got the potassium solution, but I don't know much to dose or anything about the usage honestly just that GSA will go away with this.

Still have BBA.

Specs you asked for:
No CO2, no ferts, 2 18 w Sylvania aquastars. One blue one red, photoperiod slashed to 5 hours, earlier it was 12 ( I am ashamed), 15 gallon, weekly 15% w/c, two black mollies in it, it had an rich infected fish that died now it has a black molly with a confused eye( cloudy eye with a white bump on lens top), laterite substrate, plants like Vals, one fern, can't name the rest but beginner ones.15 gallon tank, 4 weeks old.

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[Urban Aquaria]

Looks like you have way too few plants, so the lights are basically helping algae establish and grow instead (since there aren't enough plants to compete and take up the nutrients).

The best strategy is to add alot more plants to your tank,, make sure its very densely planted... try to cover at least 80% of the substrate with plants, preferably the low-demand but fast growing types (ie. anacharis, water sprite, water wisteria, cabomba etc). Once the plant mass increases, algae will naturally recede as the plants will be utilizing most of the lights and nutrients.

[kenshi64]

Yes I was going to do that but my friend said that it'll just spread and ravage the other plants so I'm thinking ceratophyllum to first soak up any nutrients in excess and then when that's sorted and I see receding algae armies(lol) then I'll add more plants. Also, I threw in my apple snail just now, read they might help with GSA, thanks for your kind reply!

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[thebaldingaquarist]

Hi,

Putting in hornworts will help to absorb excess nutrients. But so will planting more. its essentially the same.

check the model and brand of the laterite substrate you are using. some laterites substrates is not meant to be used bare. it has to be covered, because of leeching issues.

Be careful that with more plants, you may need to boost lighting and perhaps add in CO2, depending on the plants used.

I am sorry, could not find the details for the lights hence i am not able to advice on whether the lights are effective. but if i am not mistaken, you are running a 2 ft tank. 36 W for a 2 ft tank is not considered to be high lighting, just by looking at the wattage.

my advice would probably go along the lines of adding more tall plants and plants on wood. If you can, cover the substrate with a thin layer of inert gravel.