Help ID Algae

[naz]

Hi,
Anyone have any experience with this? It's brown hairlike algae yet looks slimmy. I'm getting an out break. It can grow very long. I had to use a toothbrush to remove it. Thanks.

[newlife]

Is this Tank newly set up???


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Navanod]

Looks like a mix of hair algae and brown algae, with a bacteria biofilm.
Suck out as much as possible but you have to solve the underlying issues that's causing it. The tank is either very new, your plants are not doing well or your choice of plants did not include any fast growers.

[naz]

Hi,

Thanks for your replies. It is a new setup. Water has been cycling for about 2 weeks, after about a month or so of DSM.

Current Setup:
4 x 1.5 x 2.5 (L x B x H (ft))
Retrofit 6 x 54w T5HO (running 4 tubes for 10 hours and all 6 for an hour)
CO2 injection via DIY external Reactor - about 4-5 bps (using CO2 indicator - solutions does not require to be diluted)
Using ADA Amazonia 2 and New Amazonia powder
Ferts Dosing: Have not really come out with a routine.

Flora: Glosso, vallisneria spiralis, Mini Fiss (DSM method)

Algae bloom occurred after first major hard prunning of Glosso. I manually pulled out some of the algae using toothbrush, it was slimy, brown, yet some strains of green can be seen when cleaning the toothbrush. I believe bro Navanod is right. It is a mixture of algae. Green spots algae can now be seen as well.

Water was tested for pH, kH, GH, NH3, NO3.
I cant remember the figures off-hand but roughly here are the results:
pH: 6.0
kH: 1-2 (fluctuates, even after adding kH buffers it will gradually drop)
GH: 1-2 (dropped by 1 from 3)
NH2: dropped to 0.25 from 0.5 ppm
NO3: 10 ppm

These are some of the probabilities I can think of:

1. Unstable GH, kH environment. Probably because of ADA soil absorbing the minerals.
2. Algae spores hitched hiked some of the plants.
3. Tap water containing undesirable minerals / chemicals (new estate in the east, honestly the tap water even taste wierd.)

1. Measures taken yesterday:
2. 4 x Yamato Shrimps
3. 1 x Bumble Bee Horned snail (Horned Nerite Snails)
4. 3 x Otocinclus Catfish
5. 9-10 Red Ramshorn snail
6. Water change using DI water
7. Lights now only run 4 tubes for 10 hours

Yesterday was the first time, DI water was used for water change (about 1/5 was changed).

Hoping to see some good results when i get home tomorrow.

Any inputs from experience bros is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[felix_fx2]

Your light is too strong for the amount of light and period which you blast on the tank.

1:Fert regime can try follow the general guideline or maybe EI.

2: You can change photoperiod/strength. Light is very important factor.

[naz]

Noted felix.

Perhaps, I try 2 lights on, with 4 lights in the peak period.

Or perhaps, any suggestions?

Thanks

[Navanod]

It does sounds like too much light to me too. I agree with Felix.
Also, it is important to balance the amount of light with the amount of CO2 and plant mass.
Once past a certain threshold of light, without enough CO2 and plants to make use of it, the rest of the light energies goes to the algaes.

Only the vallisneria spiralis is a relatively fast grower but I doubt it is enough.
I think Shadow would be the best person to advice but IMHO, reduce the light, increase CO2 slightly and add more fast growing plants. You can use hornworts since these can be easily removed and they are very good at controlling algae through competition for nutrients.

Greenspot algae is normal in a tank unless they are taking over everything in a very short period of time. If that is happening, it means you have a phosphate shortage. For some strange reasons, GSA thrive when phosphate levels are low.

[naz]

Hi,
Thanks for the input. I just reduced to 2 t5HO tubes after coming to to my horrific tank! Brown hair algae have gown long again after manually removing it 2 days ago. GSA is dominating my tank, water is cloudy. Could it be Green water as well.

[BlessChwee]

I saw that you tank is 2.5ft in height and for myself is a 2ft already feel tired to deal with all these algae when I need to keep digging my hand inside the tank. In future if I were to get a new tank I will got for 20" the most.

My tank is also a newly setup and all went well until the 5th week when the BGA start to appear, I just got a extra powerhead to move the water and maybe you can consider getting one too.

[Shadow]

Forget about kH, ADA soil will reduce your kH, your kH will be around 0-1
Did your tank received any direct sunlight?
Do you have full tank shot? I want to see how much do you plant.
How old is your setup?
4 yamato is not enough, you need at least 10 to be effective
What is your flowrate?
What color does your CO2 indicator? does it change color where no CO2 injected or remove from the tank?

[naz]

I saw that you tank is 2.5ft in height and for myself is a 2ft already feel tired to deal with all these algae when I need to keep digging my hand inside the tank. In future if I were to get a new tank I will got for 20" thekmost.

My tank is also a newly setup and all went well until the 5th week when the BGA start to appear, I just got a extra powerhead to move the water and maybe you can consider getting one too.

Hi,
Come to think of it, its almost 2 weeks since fully filled in. Yeah, the height is a chore, made a mistake of getting a normal contractor to build cabinet with build in tank. They didn't discuss with m% the design before making it, therefore, the accessibility is really troublesome. I have to remove top 3 door (removable hinge) remove retrofit light, squeeze my head in between the tank and wooden beam to access it.. Sad...

Forget about kH, ADA soil will reduce your kH, your kH will be around 0-1
Did your tank received any direct sunlight?
Do you have full tank shot? I want to see how much do you plant.
How old is your setup?
4 yamato is not enough, you need at least 10 to be effective
What is your flowrate?
What color does your CO2 indicator? does it change color where no CO2 injected or remoinjected or remove from the tank?

Hi shadow!
- Forget about kH? doesn't somehow affect the CO2?
- At times if I'm at home the morning sun does shine in, but not direct. could it be the over-lighting?
- excluding dsm, it was flooded on the 1st of this month
- i just bought some yamato, so now total 10, 2 SAE, about 10 Ramshorn snail, 1 netrite snail, 10 Cardinal tetras
- flowrate, is a abit sad, I'm using Eheim 2260 canister (eheim 1060 pump - flow 38L/Min) but the thing is that it is connected to an external diy CO2 reactor (those water cooler filter housing), then Chiller, then up to tank. Total piping lenght is about 8 ft hrizontal and about 4ft vertical.
- CO2 indicator, I'm using Fuval (doesn't require mixing with water). It shows green, indicating desirable but initially its was yellow indicating high.

As requested, these are the pictures:

[naz]

Here are the test results:

pH: 6
GH: 3
kH: 2 (after dosing 2 days ago)
NH3: 0 (decrease from 0.5ppm)
NO3: 10 (INCREASE from 10ppm)

Maybe I should get PO4 tester.. I must be getting paranoid.
I'm performing another 1/5 water change using DI water.

[yeeseng]

try reduce your lights timing to 4 hours for two to stop alage growth. if you read low tech planted tank articles, algae growth is because of too much lighting. get mosses on your DW and get some fast grower plants to compete the nurtient with the alage.

[Shadow]

kH affect pH, kH will provide pH buffering. However, since you are using ADA soil which also provide pH buffering you no need to worry about kH.
Your flowrate look ok.
Try take out the CO2 indicator for 2-3 hours, it should turn to blue, if not your solution might be faulty.
Reduce your light to 6hrs a day, at least until you manage to control algae.

[naz]

Thank you all for the contributions.

Shadow,

Could it be due to dead spots? since the height is 2.5 ft, the rainbar is slightly touching the surface. seems that there are deadspots at the base. As for CO2, pearling can easily be observed especially if all 6 lights are on.

I will change the CO2 solution. Observe again. Thanks.

[naz]

I forgot to mention,
Thanks BlessChwee for pointing out the flow issue. Apparently the flow that comes out at the rainbar is very slow.

Thanks again all. I will update if there are any changes.

Currently I added another powerhead for better circulation, and have set the timer for 6 hours of 2 tubes. I just manually remove some of the algae, caused quite abit of mess.