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Algae problem


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#1 Guest_hmt321_*

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Posted 22 November 2006 - 09:19 AM

In my 125 gal tank

For the last 3 weeks I have been having issues with green hair algae growing on the top layer of a bunch of my plants, here is tank set up and data
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125 gal
2 eheim 2028 pro II
1 fluval 404

Lights:
304 watts (2.4 watt PG)
11 hour photo period

CO2 injection

Weekly 50% WC

Following dosed at WC

Calcium sulfate 9 tsp
Epsom salt 6 tsp
Potassium Nitrate 1 1/8 tsp
Fleet 1 ml

I dose trace once per day

Fish list
Orange spot sunfish 6
Assorted shiners 25
Fat sleepers 3
Speckled madtoms 2
Olive nerites (snails) 100

Substrate:
2” of florite covered with 1” of small pea gravel

Water temp = 66 - 70 f

I had gotten lazy about testing my water params

Test results as of 11-17 (1st test in about 2 months)

Ph = 6.6
Kh = 2
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite =0
Nitrate =0
Potassium =.75

Just looking at my test results my nitrates are low, so I adjusted them up to 10 ppm
My co2 inj is on the low side, also my kh used to be about 4 so I will add some crushed coral to my fluval 404 (this is my co2 injector) to bump it back up.
Gona try and make my co2 inj about 25 or 30 ppm.

I will also dose only ½ my trace amounts until algae is gone

Am I missing anything here?

Any other suggestions, this tank is in my office lobby, it must be pristine!!!!!!!!!!!

#2 Guest_teleost_*

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Posted 22 November 2006 - 09:23 AM

I've heard of people getting a UV filter and all of their algae problems went away. You can find them cheap these days.

#3 Guest_hmt321_*

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Posted 22 November 2006 - 10:28 AM

i actually have one that i can put on it, i have used UV light before to combat green water, never thought it would have an affect on green hair though, ill give it a try

#4 Guest_teleost_*

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Posted 22 November 2006 - 11:32 AM

i actually have one that i can put on it, i have used UV light before to combat green water, never thought it would have an affect on green hair though, ill give it a try


You'll have to manually remove the algae but I understand the UV will prevent regrowth. I've not done this but I've heard good things.

#5 Guest_fundulus_*

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Posted 22 November 2006 - 03:44 PM

i actually have one that i can put on it, i have used UV light before to combat green water, never thought it would have an affect on green hair though, ill give it a try


You'll have to manually remove the algae but I understand the UV will prevent regrowth. I've not done this but I've heard good things.


Nick Zarlinga has just written a fair amount over on the NANFA e-list on his experience using hydrogen peroxide to control algae in his public display aquaria. He suggests using 3 ml of H2O2 per 10 gallons of aquarium water to zap algae and not damage fish. Or, you can use much higher concentrations on plants in a separate bucket. Nick is working with strong H2O2, the 30% concentration if I remember correctly?

#6 Guest_nativeplanter_*

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Posted 23 November 2006 - 08:52 AM

I use 3% peroxide (the stuff in the first-aid section) at 1 oz per 10 gallons, or slightly more if I am dealing with very sturdy fish and very sturdy plants. I find that directing it onto the problem spots works best, using a large syringe (or turkey baster).

#7 Guest_fundulus_*

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Posted 23 November 2006 - 12:22 PM

I use 3% peroxide (the stuff in the first-aid section) at 1 oz per 10 gallons, or slightly more if I am dealing with very sturdy fish and very sturdy plants. I find that directing it onto the problem spots works best, using a large syringe (or turkey baster).


I'd momentarily forgotten the concentration of easily available hydrogen peroxide being 3%, so an ounce per 10 gallons sounds right, and obviously works if you use it(!).

#8 Guest_hmt321_*

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Posted 24 November 2006 - 10:25 AM

I think i have the algea in retreat, the mat algea is definatly reduced by my adjustments to fertlizer and co2 inj, the hair algea is being eaten by the snails and seems to not to have grown, also my duckweed has exploded in growth, i thinned out the duck weed to almost nothing about 3 weeks ago and I adjusted my ferts and co2 about 10 days ago, I have a ton of baby duckweeds all about the same size, so i think i have things back to normal.

does the h202 affect snails at all?

thanks

#9 Guest_nativeplanter_*

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Posted 25 November 2006 - 12:09 PM

I think i have the algea in retreat, the mat algea is definatly reduced by my adjustments to fertlizer and co2 inj, the hair algea is being eaten by the snails and seems to not to have grown, also my duckweed has exploded in growth, i thinned out the duck weed to almost nothing about 3 weeks ago and I adjusted my ferts and co2 about 10 days ago, I have a ton of baby duckweeds all about the same size, so i think i have things back to normal.

does the h202 affect snails at all?

thanks


Doesn't seem to, at least if I keep to the 1oz per 10 gallons ratio. If you are particularly attached to the snails in your tank, I might use less and just be sure to direct it onto the problem spots.




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