Stubborn Green Algae

[cbong]

I have been getting green algae on the glass surfaces for the past two months. Almost the entire 4 x 2' surface. Looks bad at the end of each week. Each time tried 80% water change and wiping off these algae with a cloth to prevent the spores from getting into the water, after drawing out the water. Tried PO4, clean filter, clean chiller, reduce light to 6 hours. Nothing really works. Check NO3 level and it read 5mg/l ... looks ok. Frust....... anyone can help?

[|squee|]

Does it look like a green mat of "dust"? AKA green dust algae.

Some links:
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ght=green+dust
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ght=green+dust

[PeterGwee]

You dose based on test kits? If that is the case, that might be the issue. Tell me more about your tank parameters.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[cbong]

Does it look like a green mat of "dust"? AKA green dust algae.

Some links:
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ght=green+dust
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ght=green+dust

yes, it green dust... sigh

[cbong]

You dose based on test kits? If that is the case, that might be the issue. Tell me more about your tank parameters.

Regards
Peter Gwee

Peter, what do you mean by dose based on test its? pls elaborate. thanks

[PeterGwee]

You dose nutrients based off the readings of test kits? Too low then dose?

Regards
Peter Gwee

[cbong]

You dose nutrients based off the readings of test kits? Too low then dose?

Regards
Peter Gwee

No, it is done every water change. 20ml of EasyLife, PO4 and NO3 on a weekly basis.

[PeterGwee]

Do the dosing 2-3x a week for your tank. Not just once a week. Clean the tank walls and do a large water change immediately. Then scrub the tank walls a couple of hours later and do another large water change. This should beat the algae back. Once you see it growing, work on killing it. Do not wait for it to get worst. With time and effort, it should not come back if your CO2 and PO4 are really good.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[cbong]

Do the dosing 2-3x a week for your tank. Not just once a week. Clean the tank walls and do a large water change immediately. Then scrub the tank walls a couple of hours later and do another large water change. This should beat the algae back. Once you see it growing, work on killing it. Do not wait for it to get worst. With time and effort, it should not come back if your CO2 and PO4 are really good.

Regards
Peter Gwee

thanks Peter! greatly appreciated

[barmby]

In addition, before you start scrubbing your tank. Off and shut off your filter (& valve). Try to scrub all walls at your best ability as possible. Siphon 50-60% of tank water. Add back the water, nutrients, turn on filter and turn on UV (may help abit- floating pores get killed), check CO2.

Now, the dust algae become weakened. Go back there, 3 days later, do the above-mentioned again. Attack them! Disturb them! Repeat for one week or 2 or even 3..It will go away..

Dust algae hate it when you did this to them.

This is my personal experience

[gummynut]

Are there any other solution besides manual cleaning or dosing? maybe some kribs that feed on this kind of algae so that this problem could be taken care of naturally.

[PeterGwee]

Are there any other solution besides manual cleaning or dosing? maybe some kribs that feed on this kind of algae so that this problem could be taken care of naturally.

No. You cannot get away from the work part once the algae is induced.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[Sleepy_lancs]

Well, I combine the scrubbing with increase in the amount of PO4. Now I hardly see them I think I am getting the hang on the EI part... not that I fully understand why... but hey it works....

[cbong]

Well, I combine the scrubbing with increase in the amount of PO4. Now I hardly see them I think I am getting the hang on the EI part... not that I fully understand why... but hey it works....

When you say you increase the PO4, how much of it are you acually dosing? I am having a 4 x 2 x 2 tank.

[greenie]

Sleepy_lancs wrote:
Well, I combine the scrubbing with increase in the amount of PO4. Now I hardly see them I think I am getting the hang on the EI part... not that I fully understand why... but hey it works....

I'll second that! EI works though I too don't fully understand it. Last few weeks I had hair algae come and gone within 24hrs, spot algae come and gone within 24-48hrs, BBA stop dead on it tracks. All due to exercising the EI method.

Only yesterday I had those hairy algae on the glass wall. Add my PO4 dose for the day and gone by the next morning. The gone part I attribute to my cleaning crew of Ottos,pleco, Chinese algae eater and Malayan trumpet snails (MTS). before this those algae grow faster than my crew can clean.

EI works but I still need to fine tune so no bouts of algal growth but it's fun to see I'm in control of the tank, not those darn algae.

[Sleepy_lancs]

Hi Chong,

I have the same size tank with about slightly over 2 wpg dosing about 2.65 ppm per dose

[cbong]

Hi Chong,

I have the same size tank with about slightly over 2 wpg dosing about 2.65 ppm per dose

It this amount for normal dosage in maintenance or when there is an algae outbreak??? Thanks

[Sleepy_lancs]

normal. You should try to slowly increase the amount that you are until the green spot algae stop spreading. That is the amount you should be dosing regularly.

[PeterGwee]

1.5-2ppm per dose (frequency varies according to lighting) should be more than enough. EI is based off the max rate hence you shouldn't run out of things. The other critical thing and the most important nutrient of all is CO2. Do the dry wiping method and again a couple of hours later (possible re-attachment of those that gets into the water) should beat this algae back real good. You can repeat this again say 2-3 days later to make sure you kill it good. The nutrients and good CO2 will prevent algae issues as long as you keep them up.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[ranmasatome]

Agree with peter.. i beat this algae back with the exact same methods mentioned here and increased po4 and co2. Now they dont every appear in my tank. Currently dosing 1.5ppm 4times a week on a 4.4wpg tank