Phosphate and Nitrates Dosing

[hongrui]

I recently had a mild green spot algae outbreak, so i increased my phosphate dosing from 2.5ppm to 3ppm. It solved the spot algae problem, but today during my weekly WC i noticed BGA growing on the leaves of the crypts, java ferns and the hair grass had a coating of something over them. The tank is also now having a major green dust outbreak. (Did 3 x 80% WC with lots of scrubbing already)

I can't be sure if the coating on the hair grass is due to the GD or BGA, but the BGA on the crypts and ferns are confirmed. And approximately 25% of the tank is covered by crypts going thru the new tank syndrome. This is their 2nd week and so they're still melting, but some of them have put out new leaves already.

Since there is the appearance of BGA, nitrates must therefore be insufficient. I'm thinking of increasing the nitrates dosing from 3x 9.7 to about 3 x 15ppm.

Good idea or bad idea or should i look at something else? CO2?
everything was fine until i increased the phosphate dosing (last sunday) though.

the tank is 2' x 1' x 1', pressurised co2, injected thru a reactor, 36w PL x 10hrs.

1hr after lights on, kH: 3, pH: 6.2
3 x 9.7ppm NO3, 3ppm PO4, 10ppm K a week.
2 x 5ml flourish a week
no base fert

flora and fauna:
12 t. espei, java ferns, hairgrass and c. wendtii and c.walkeri

[PeterGwee]

Do the PO4 3x a week along with the KNO3. Dose the trace a day apart 3x a week as well. The nutrients are not the issue, CO2 is the likely culprit. Up the rate of the CO2 slightly and observe critter behaviour closely for the day when you do this. (be around..don't wonder off..only do it when you have the time to stay around.). Make sure you have some surface movement (not alot..) and shut the CO2 off at night.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[hongrui]

okay, thanks peter.
The NPK are dosed thrice a week already and so i shall just increase the dosing of the trace by one more time. Will increase my co2 somemore and see how it goes.

I suppose simply correcting parameters won't make the BGA present in the tank go off? Other than manual removal, i'd have to do a 3-4 day blackout to fully get rid of the BGA?