Algae

[Hanson77]

Re: Algae

Shouldn't you cycle your lighting to emulate a normal day....8 or so hours of bright daylight.  I would assume that your algae problem is from leaving your lights on so long.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Algae

The Black algae is brush algae I believe......the stuff is like super glued on! A friend's tank had that on his rocks and he resorted to throwing the stuff away.

PP, Try cutting back your lighting especially the 10,000k. Nothing scientific but I have noticed lighting with more blue spectrum to flourish algae.

CH, The brown algae will be consumed by the tropheus. I had all my rocks covered in brown algae and they picked at it all the time and it raised a brood of fry. I increased the photo period on the tank and now the brown algae has turned to a rich green color.....again nothing scientific but I noticed that the fry growing on the green algae is much plumper then those that were raised on the brown/diatoms algae.

[AK-71]

Re: Algae

My tank grows black bearded algae very quick if I don't add "Flourish Excel" at least every other day. "Flourish Excel" actually seems to kill it (algae turns white) when regulary added.
Mine is a no CO2 injected tank.
Don't know if it helps

[Zulaab]

Re: Algae

Something tells me PP knows already that running a tank 24 hours in sun light will bring out all the algae he could ever use... I am wondering if he putting a new project together... one that algae is the feeding material...

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Algae

You gotta be careful not to overdose with excel too much cause it will starve the fish of oxygen if overdosed in extremes.

[AK-71]

Re: Algae

You gotta be careful not to overdose with excel too much cause it will starve the fish of oxygen if overdosed in extremes.

Every/every other day is, actually, as per instructions on the bottle.
Am I right about thinking that adding CO2 system would eliminate black beard algae, but promote other types?

[PhishPhreek]

Re: Algae

Well, old habits are hard to break - in the past, all I have ever had has been single flourescent bulbs in the hood.  So I could leave them on without worring about too much light.  Most of my plants are low light also
java fern, Amazon sword, Val, bacopia & crypts   I have a timer on order and Just received CO2 diffuser for my DIY CO2 & Meade reactor.  I've just been feed Kent Pro-Plant and lotsa light to get the root systems going strong.   Got 4" growth out of the Val and java fern this week.   Now I need to slow down and clean up.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Algae

Co2 coupled with balanced lighting/fert dosing will keep algae out of the tank.

Plants need time to rest like we do so let the lights go out at night.

[Mzungu]

Re: Algae

Sorry, CF, that this is getting way off topic...but yes, like ek said, CO2 actually puts a damper on algae, at least in my tanks. It makes for a more controlled and stable environment, what with dosing regularly and injecting CO2.

Algae seem to be very opportunistic, and will really take over if the lights are left on 24/7.

By the way, AK-71 has a very beautiful planted tank, and I didn't see any algae.  

[CichlidFan]

Re: Algae

Not a problem Mz, I actually don't mind hearing off topic comments, i find most of the comments interesting and sometimes usuful.

CF