Algae Issues in 2ft tank

[Reth]

Hello AQ'ers,

Recently my tank's been hit with a few types of algae, mainly BBA(need ID) on my foreground lawn, quite bad. Some BBA also starting to grow on my crypts. I need to fix this problem now if not it will only get worse in time


This should be BBA? Growing on my Japanese hairgrass and Marsilea Hirsuta lawn.


Some staghorn growing too.

My plants seem healthy and are pearling, just don't know what's going on with my foreground lawn.. I'm thinking it could be a lighting or Co2 issue. Please advice on any measures that I could take! I can provide more photos if you need, thanks so much!


Tank Information

Age of setup : 2+ months (setup 15 feb 09)

Tank Dimensions : 2ft, 65L / 17G

Lighting Intensity : 72W (3x24W)
Number and type of Lighting : T5HO 6500K (cool daylight)
No. of hours your lights are on : 8 hours, 3-11pm

CO2 Injection Rate (bps) : 1bps
Type of CO2 : Cylinder
Method of Injection : Max Mix Reactor

Liquid fertilisers Used : Wonder-Gro Macro & Micro+
Fertilization regime : (Alternate days) Macro- 2 pumps, Micro 1 pump

Other fertilisers : Tetra Initial Sticks (base fert)

Other additives : Recently changed de-chlorinator to Seachem Prime

Type of Filter : Eheim Ecco 2231
When was the filter last washed : Never
Filter media used : Sponges, Mr. Aqua ceremic rings, fine filter wool

Water change : 30% weekly

Circulation : Not bad? Rainbar aimed upwards, flows down to foreground

Tank Temperature : 25-28 deg cel. Fan used

Chemical Properties: No testers. I use GEX substrate so PH should be low.

Bioload: 10 "Galaxies", some tiger & cherry shrimps, 3 otos

[Shadow]

have you check your CO2 concentration? In my opinion 1bps for 2ft tank with 72 watts is too low. Try increase your CO2 level.

[JadeIceGreen]

have you check your CO2 concentration? In my opinion 1bps for 2ft tank with 72 watts is too low. Try increase your CO2 level.

I agree, I would go to about 3 bps.

[Reth]

Thanks for your replies guys

The thing is, I recently switched from using a ceremic diffusor to this Max Mix Reactor. Right now whenever I set the bps to any higher, the co2 gas space in the reactor will start growing, meaning CO2 is being added faster than it can dissolve.

Is it alright to let the CO2 collect in the reactor??

I just bought a CO2 drop checker set but haven't got KH4 water so can't put it to use yet. Hoping to buy from some fellow AQ'ers

[Shadow]

where do you stay? if near my place, I can pass you few ml.

what is the flow rate of your 2231? it may not strong enough for the reactor. Too low flow rate may cause dead spot where BBA grow

[Reth]

Shadow, I stay in Serangoon area. It would be great if you could! Do let me know yeah?

The sticker on my 2231 says "l/Std: 300". I'm guessing that's 300 l/h? I think that's underrated for the max mix

Circulation shouldn't be a problem; my rainbar is pointed up to the surface, so the current travels up and down to the foreground. Can see this through the O2 bubbles flow with the current. Plants are swaying gently too- even the algae-infected foreground plants!

Here's a full tank shot:


Thanks again for your reply!

[argonmt]

My solution is cut down your light to around 2x24w.

Pump up your CO2 ~2.5 to 3 bps with max mix reactor.

Observe whether the algae go reduce or not. If not can try black out for 2 days. During the period don't on the light and CO2. After black out, reduce light and up CO2. Some of your plants might look like dying after blackout, however don't worry they will re-grow.

Algae should go.

[gcce]

Reth,
I had similar growth on my Jap HG & Glosso a mth ago. My lighting is only 1.7 WPG for my 3 ft tank. I didn't perform a blackout but the following:
1) Increase CO2 BPS from 2-3 to 3-4
2) Filter maint (quick rinse in tank water during water change)
3) Added another powerhead in addition to my 2028 for extra circulation
4) Excel overdose by ~1.5 times (used ~8ml to 40L). Added after water change & left for 1 week. Repeat after 1 week if no effects noted. BBA should turn red/purple then white. Didn't want to start with 2 times overdose (i.e. 10ml to 40L) as i had mosses in the tank.

So far so good. Good luck.

[Reth]

My solution is cut down your light to around 2x24w.

Pump up your CO2 ~2.5 to 3 bps with max mix reactor.

Observe whether the algae go reduce or not. If not can try black out for 2 days. During the period don't on the light and CO2. After black out, reduce light and up CO2. Some of your plants might look like dying after blackout, however don't worry they will re-grow.

Algae should go.

Thanks argonmt! I will try decreasing my lighting to 48W and increasing my CO2 bps. I don't think I'll resort to a black out just yet- only my carpet foregound is infected

[Reth]

Reth,
I had similar growth on my Jap HG & Glosso a mth ago. My lighting is only 1.7 WPG for my 3 ft tank. I didn't perform a blackout but the following:
1) Increase CO2 BPS from 2-3 to 3-4
2) Filter maint (quick rinse in tank water during water change)
3) Added another powerhead in addition to my 2028 for extra circulation
4) Excel overdose by ~1.5 times (used ~8ml to 40L). Added after water change & left for 1 week. Repeat after 1 week if no effects noted. BBA should turn red/purple then white. Didn't want to start with 2 times overdose (i.e. 10ml to 40L) as i had mosses in the tank.

So far so good. Good luck.

Thanks for your advice I shall check out my filter media- it's been almost 3 months since it's been running. Perhaps giving my sponges a rinse would improve water circulation in my tank.

I do have excel but I don't dose it. It seemed to have bad effects on my java ferns and cypts last time.. Might try excel spot treatment if adjusting my lighting and CO2 doesn't work out.

[|squee|]

Take a look at re-positioning your rainbar too, to improve water circulation.

Meanwhile you need to trim the lawn to remove the existing BBA. Once you correct the conditions algae will merely slow down its growth and won't just die off like that. Only when you've removed the algae will it not spread again like that.

[Shadow]

I don't think I'll resort to a black out just yet- only my carpet foregound is infected

I doubt black out will do anything to BBA

I do have excel but I don't dose it. It seemed to have bad effects on my java ferns and cypts last time..

Excel does seem to affect crypt but not java fern

[Reth]

Thanks for your reply shadow.

I've tried lowering my lighting to 48W, but noticed that my marsilia hirsuta started growing taller than normal on just the first day! I've since returned to using 72W.

I decided to make KH4 water so my drop checker is up and running now! Will monitor my CO2 levels. I've increased my bps and now my plants are pearling more often. So far the BBA does not spread to the new shoots

[Shadow]

you still need to trim the effected area, it won't clear up by it self.

[lEddyl]

there's a more accurate method to measure co2.
use the degas method

[Shadow]

Not necessary, how do you know that exhale through a pipe into the water sample will give you 60ppm? how does 2/3 of the difference between X and Y equal to 10-20ppm. The fact that it range from 10 to 20ppm itself already not accurate.

Well we don't really need accurate measurement anyway.

[lEddyl]

Not necessary, how do you know that exhale through a pipe into the water sample will give you 60ppm? how does 2/3 of the difference between X and Y equal to 10-20ppm. The fact that it range from 10 to 20ppm itself already not accurate.

Well we don't really need accurate measurement anyway.

agree. usually safe to pump more co2 anyway