New Planted Tank - Algae Mess

[robby]

I have a new planted tank with an algae problem -

The tank has at least 3 kinds of algae -

1.  A brown algae the grows quickly on plants and aquarium walls
2.  Hair algae that strings from the plants and drift wood
3.  Fine green moss on the drift wood.  It has a nice set of oxygen bubbles most of the day.

And the water has a green tint.

Tank particulars as follows:

Set up about 6 weeks ago
75 gallons
Amazonia substrate
Ehiem 2217 x2
Aqualight 4x65 (260 watts) - 9 hours/day
Co2 regulator with diffuser
Co2 - about 12 bubbles/minute
80 degrees
0 ammonia, nitrite, some minor nitrate
2.5 degrees KH, ph 6.6, co2 about 20 pm
some driftwood
Lots of plants  - annubias, large java fern, giant hair grass, alternanthera reineckii, hemianthus micranthemoides
30 cardinals, 2 cory cats
Dupla 24 - 6 drops/day

I ran the lights too long initially and probably created the problem.  At this point, my plan is to clean up the mess every few days (physically remove what I can) and let the plants get stronger stronger over time and out compete the algae.  Any recommendations?  Thanks in advance.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: New Planted Tank - Algae Mess

All seems to be ok but here is my opinion/advice from what I gather from your post.....

Not enough plant intake to keep up with the start up of Amazonia, The substrate is Wonderful at growing anything and everything but you have to be able to keep up with it initially. Try throwing some fast growers like anacharis or wisteria.

Lower your tank temp if possible.... algae loves warm water.

Increase your co2, probably almost double the bubble count or close.

Get Seachem Excel to help with the algae problem. The brown will go away on it's own, that's diatoms. The others you will have to either remove manually during water changes or by direct injection of Excel with a medicine syringe.... keep the flow off during this dosing and only dose the maximum of 3x the rec. dosage per day on the label for your tank size.

Your lighting, you should probably cut the light down to the bare minimal for about 3days when doing the above to kinda starve the algae. I would do about 6hrs a day.

[robby]

Re: New Planted Tank - Algae Mess

Thank for the help.  I am two days into treatment and it seems to be working.

[robby]

Re: New Planted Tank - Algae Mess

ok.  now 7 days in to treatment and got some siamese algae eatters and snails to help with clean up.  have made 2 water changes in the last week.  still using daily Excel at 2x recommended dose.  tank temp 78.  all readings ok.  lights on about 8 hours / day.  i think everything is making good progress but water is still pretty murky - green tint and visibility poor.  any suggestions.  should i just be patient.  would carbon be ok.  thanks again.

[lachupacabra]

Re: New Planted Tank - Algae Mess

green tint to the water usually means Green Water.

here are two great links on how to solve most algae. the first one is especially helpful because it's got pictures.

http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm
http://www.rexgrigg.com/Algae1.html

[lachupacabra]

Re: New Planted Tank - Algae Mess

forgot to add, when it mentions black outs in the above websites, it means no lights at all and have something, like a trashbag, covering the tank to make sure no light goes through.
this is very effective for many algae but you also have to consider your plants. many plants will not do so well with 3 days of no light. there are other solutions than a black out, but if your willing to risk your plants then go for it.

[Mzungu]

Re: New Planted Tank - Algae Mess

How big were the water changes you made? And when was the last one?