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  • Users: Tom
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  1. Tom

    What's this?

    Any other ideas?
  2. Tom

    help identify these algae

    Ok, that makes sense. The brown algae will be diatoms - very common in new setups. Leave it be or wipe it off the glass, but it should go after a few weeks once the filter has matured. The green algae could by Blue-Green-Algae or Cyanobacteria. Check how much flow you have over the affected areas.
  3. Tom

    help identify these algae

    How long has the tank been set up?
  4. Tom

    What's this?

    It's the ADA Grey Parts Set, but it also appears on the Aqua Essentials clear tubing.
  5. Tom

    What's this?

    I don't think it's algae as it doesn't seem light dependent (it goes all the way down my filter tubes inside the cabinet). It's very ugly - any ideas? I've also got some sort of white fungus-type stuff growing on the back glass that looks like a spider's web. Tom
  6. Tom

    Diatom

    Diatoms and white cloud are both consistent with a new tank starting to develop bacteria. The diatoms and bacteria both feed off the ammonia in new systems, and the white cloud is likely to be the bacteria beginning to multiply. Best bet is to wait for it to clear - it won't take too long.
  7. Tom

    Algae Control in non-planted tank

    Thanks Luis - unfortunately Apple snails are about the size of the food I give him. I've not yet found anything he wouldn't kill, even if he doesn't eat it. Not that I've tried too many, that would be a bit harsh.
  8. Tom

    Algae Control in non-planted tank

    I have always had trouble with short black hair algae covering the rocks and wood (but never gravel) in my Puffer tank, and haven't yet found a way to eliminate it. I now have the Fluval Roma 125 with 2xT8 bulbs as opposed to the 2xT5 I had before in the Juwel Rio 180, yet I still get the algae...
  9. Tom

    Salicylic acid

    To be honest I've not noticed any difference since getting some... Tom
  10. Tom

    Here I am again!

    Leave it a few weeks and it will be gone ;) Just keep up your maintenance and clean your filters.
  11. Tom

    Will low co2 cause BGA?

    I would increase your EI even more then. Remove all the BGA you can, then up your EI dosing and see if it comes back. It shouldn't.
  12. Tom

    Will low co2 cause BGA?

    I think it's more likely to be low Nitrates or poor flow to that area. Tom
  13. Tom

    hair algea

    Where is your drop checker in relation to the filter outlet? Is it in a higher or lower flow area?
  14. Tom

    ?orrible algae problem, advice needed

    I'm running 5 hours at the moment :)
  15. Tom

    "Disinfecting" a Tank

    Just letting it dry out should do the trick I would have thought. Don't go bleaching wood, you'll never get it out again. Tom
  16. Tom

    hc covered in algae

    This looks like the exact algae I was having trouble with - My amano's didn't touch it (or any algae that I saw!) They just hid under the log all day.
  17. Tom

    How to disassemble a Diatomic bomb

    What's your substrate?
  18. Tom

    errrr encourging algae

    Just increase your lighting, but remember algae might also cover your plants! I have a pufferfish tank with rocks only, and a 90% covering of BBA which I think looks good. It's a Juwel Rio180 with twin T5 bulbs. He is fed on messy food like mussels and prawns too which will contribute! You would...
  19. Tom

    what am I doing wrong!

    Sorry, missed that somehow!!!
  20. Tom

    what am I doing wrong!

    That's probably to do with your lights - 2x T8 over a 240 liter isn't much. If the lower leaves are shaded by higher ones then they probably will rot. Is the tank heavily planted? Also, is the algae only in certain areas, or throughout the tank? How much filtraton/flow/turnover do you have?
  21. Tom

    what am I doing wrong!

    Here's your problem I would say. GSA supposedly points to low PO4, and you're not dosing any. I would advise either switching to TPN+ or getting hold of some KNO3 (for extra N and K) and KPO4 (for extra P and K) and see how you get on. Get rid of as much GSA as you can, sort out the P dosing in...
  22. Tom

    Diatoms, again.

    Other than whacking up the CO2 and re-dosing Excel at 1ml daily, no. It's still growing quickly. As does the BBA and Staghorn seem to be, but we'll see - I've only just upped the CO2 again. I lost the Otos at 1bps, and I'm now just over 2. I've got a new full length and very nice clear acrylic...
  23. Tom

    Diatoms, again.

    Thanks Darrel. That and the BBA/Staghorn still point to CO2 then. I've got the spray bar now with higher and more even flow, plus the CO2 is up to 2bps again alongside 1ml Excel so hopefully there will be an improvement. I'll try again. Again ;) Cheers :)
  24. Tom

    Diatoms, again.

    Can anyone confirm whether this is Spiro or Diatoms? Thinking it might actually be Rhizo? I know there's some Staghorn there, and there's now loads of BBA on the wood. I've increased the CO2 a few times recently.
  25. Tom

    BGA and hair algae in the Do!aqua cube

    Hi, I've been getting some small amounts of BGA for a while now in the little cube (8 liters ish). It can't be due to Nitrates as I dose 2ml Spezial N (upped because of BGA), alongside KH2PO4, MGSO4 and Flowgrow trace. I also doubt it's flow-related, as I have a 150lph HOB filter, and a 300lph...
  26. Tom

    Diatoms, again.

    One thing that hasn't happened as much as I thought was root development. Is that due to a heavily dosed water column? Thank you for the advice! I hope this works. My last two successful tanks went without any issues at all using the ADA system, but Malaya soil rather than Amazonia and I dosed...
  27. Tom

    Diatoms, again.

    Re: Diatoms, again. Getting fed up now. Thanks Mike, I will do exactly that! The way I had understood it, the more water changes the better, and it doesn't matter if ferts are overdosed so that's what I've been doing. I'll try reverting back to the ADA system then, and report back :roll: Tom
  28. Tom

    Diatoms, again.

    Thanks, yeah I have been using the AquaEssentials version. I added my normal dose yesterday and a larger dose today to see if there is any effect. Just read the packet and I'm at 4x overdose at the moment. Could this be hurting my HC in particular?
  29. Tom

    Diatoms, again.

    Re: Diatoms, again. Getting fed up now. GM - I've just done a 3 day black out. Took the covers off the tank a second ago, but there doesn't seem to be any improvement in the algae. Shall I keep going with the Blackout? I know I've now lost Both Otos, and maybe shrimp but I don't know :(
  30. Tom

    Diatoms, again.

    Re: Diatoms, again. Getting fed up now. On closer inspection it might be two types of algae. Definitely a mushy-er brown type (that I thought/think were diatoms) and one that could possibly be Spiro. Here's a closer pic below - Haven't looked that close-in before now.
  31. Tom

    Diatoms, again.

    Re: Diatoms, again. Getting fed up now. Thanks for the reply, It's getting pummeled by flow, so I doubt that's a cause. The worst affected area is opposite the outlet so the water goes down the wall and hits the HC. The algae blows all over the place in the flow. It was suggested in my...
  32. Tom

    Diatoms, again.

    My Mini M has been up for over 2 and a half months now, and just get steadily worse like my other tanks. Just as with the 10 liter, it started well with no algae. Then got fairly heavily attacked by the 'flat' diatoms for a week or two only on the rocks, but then receded very quickly. They were...
  33. Tom

    BGA in new tank

    I was targeting BGA with my blackout, but my point is that the blackout didn't harm the plants. I'm not sure about Rhizo, sorry. Tom
  34. Tom

    BGA in new tank

    No, I did a Thurs-Mon blackout over the last weekend on a tank I maintain for a school, with very good results
  35. Tom

    BGA in new tank

    You'll need to lower the light intensity, not the period.
  36. Tom

    BGA in new tank

    Yes you could use TPN+, but as with ADA, it's a lot more expensive than the powders. Take the recommended weekly dosage and divide it by 7 (days). Then adjust the dose to suit your system (more TPN+ for more plants, higher light/CO2 - less for less plants, lower light etc). You don't need an...
  37. Tom

    BGA in new tank

    Don't quote me on it but as I understand it, the pH to KH ratio relies on acidification by carbonic acid (CO2) alone - Aquasoil lowers the pH of the water by itself (although I'm not sure of the process), so I would say it's safe to assume the reading could be quite inaccurate. The Brighty K...
  38. Tom

    BGA in new tank

    Ignore the test kits, Green Spot Algae has also been linked to low PO4, as well as CO2. How is your flow around these areas? I would also increase the CO2 from 2bps unless you have pretty low lighting. What are you dosing?
  39. Tom

    Can a substrae cause BBA?

    Yep, that's the theory, and there's no benefit to adding the CO2 during the night as nothing's needing it. I don't think there is any way substrate could cause BBA, unless it can somehow remove CO2 from the water Tom
  40. Tom

    Can a substrae cause BBA?

    Naturally, the CO2 levels will build up during the night, as the CO2 demand is much lower, if present at all. At the same time, both plants and fish (and other things) will be producing CO2 and using O2 by respiration. Therefore, we turn CO2 off at night as it is not needed, and can build up too...
  41. Tom

    Can a substrae cause BBA?

    For the time being I would leave the lights lower, and increase the CO2 and ferts. Then slowly bring up the light if you need to, along with the CO2 and ferts. If you increase the light but not CO2/ferts, you are inviting algae. You want to aim for ferts and CO2 being plentiful, with the system...
  42. Tom

    Can a substrae cause BBA?

    I'd say the BBA will come back if you don't increase the CO2/ferts, especially if the light has increased. Should be nothing to do with the substrate. Clive?? :lol:
  43. Tom

    3 Week Rule?

    Don't worry about the pH or KH. I used a nice pretty sand in my nano, only to find out it was like pure calcium! Very high pH and hardness, no problems (any more, but that's another issue!!!) :) Keep an eye on the Otto's bellies - they should have a nice fat-ish stomach.
  44. Tom

    If light triggers algae...

    Thanks again Clive, I was hoping you might latch onto this one! So generally light is the main trigger of algae. Different algae types are able to read different deficiencies of the plants, and then latch on and grow (that's my understanding now). In a tank with high lighting levels, will...
  45. Tom

    If light triggers algae...

    ... how relevant are the other associated "causes" like low CO2, ammonia etc, and when do they come into play to determine the type of algae that develops? Or is it the combination of light and said "cause" that determines the algae type? Tom
  46. Tom

    Algae in non-planted tank

    Yet again, it's ages since I've been on here! Thought I'd post on here about some algae problems I've been having for ages in my non-planted puffer tank. Background Info It's a yucky Clearseal 120cm, 125 liter tank and houses a solitary Hairy Puffer (Monotrete baileyi). The decor is just...
  47. Tom

    *Growing* Cladophora

    Hi all, I am growing Cladophora algae on wood and rocks in my puffer tank as I can't have plants in there. It's growing just naturally from the available nutrients, but what I want to know is and ideas on how to grow it faster without increasing the light. Any ideas? I have TPN, and maybe TPN+...
  48. Tom

    Algae images required

    I have every type of algae I can think of, so you're welcome to bring the camera round mine for the evening!
  49. Tom

    Getting lots of hair algae

    Well 2-3 days after the blackout and water changes, it's back twice as bad. I've given up on this tank, and I'll try and salvage the ADA stuff out, although it's all mixing in. All plants might as well be chucked, and wood is gonna need a big cleanup job. I may just have enough stuff left to...
  50. Tom

    Getting lots of hair algae

    For the last week or so it's been closer to 1.5wpg. Will be getting the binliners out in the morining though in that case as a last resort. I've never had this amount of problems before. Since I stopped ADA ferts really, but I'm not going to blame Tropica as obviously many people like their...
  51. Tom

    Getting lots of hair algae

    OK well I've switched to the spray bar and doubled the CO2 for good measure, but the tank's almost had it. Plants are growing very quickly, but the algae twice as fast and it's swamping everything. I'm at a loss now.
  52. Tom

    Getting lots of hair algae

    Yup this is the 90x40x40. Why would the lily pipes make a difference? CO2 is on 24h, lights are 10h@48w with 2.5ml TPN daily. Tom
  53. Tom

    Getting lots of hair algae

    That's what I'm finding too, so it's now diffusing into the opposite side of the tank. Also putting in about 4bps as well now for good measure. Tom
  54. Tom

    Getting lots of hair algae

    I never saw any ammonia/ammonium on the JBL test from day one. CO2 is 2-3bps with my fire extinguisher through glass diffuser then into the filter. Tom
  55. Tom

    Getting lots of hair algae

    Both brown and green slimy looking hair algae - on everything. Getting normal brown algae on everything too, as well as green dust algae on the glass. Other than that, all is going well!!! :roll: The tank has been set up for around 3 weeks now, so the Aquasoil Amazonia could possibly still...
  56. Tom

    Don't BIN that Algae!

    My Micra would run for a month on that! :p
  57. Tom

    Can't budge it!

    Got some Excel from work yesterday. I've put a capful in last night, and one in this morning too. No messing lol. If I'm going to do the spot treatment of BBA, can I only do it on the rocks, or will the Java Fern and Moss cope with it too? Only one side of the moss has been attacked by the BBA...
  58. Tom

    Can't budge it!

    1 bucket is a 50% water change, it is hard work!! :wink: Will PM you :D I'll see if "our" shop sells Excel tomorrow. I work there and I don't even know what we sell :lol: Oh dear! Tom
  59. Tom

    Can't budge it!

    Thanks for the reply. Great as always :D I highly doubt that it is a flow problem, as the moss waves slightly in the current where the BGA is. There is a small patch of it underneath the filter outlet which is a bit of a dead spot, but the rest should be fine. Lighting is a 24w compact T5...
  60. Tom

    Can't budge it!

    Would appreciate some help here with the 40cm... I've got rid of my staghorn algae since getting back from college just over 2 weeks ago, but I'm still stuck with BBA and BGA. I'm dosing 2ml of ADA Step1 (Trace) and Brighty K per day, as well as 1ml of Special Lights (N+P). CO2 has been...
  61. Tom

    Algae on leaves

    I'll put pictures up as soon as the fern grows in a bit :D It's kind of iwagumi but not :roll: Oh and can I just pull the mini plantlets off or will that damage the main leaves? Tom
  62. Tom

    Algae on leaves

    Lol cheers :lol: It's wierd, the more and more I learn, the more I realise the last tank was a fluke :roll: In the last week its been like the penny dropping as to why the last tank did so well and others not so :) I haven't shown this tank yet, all it needs is that Java Fern tidying up...
  63. Tom

    Algae on leaves

    I've got some Microsorum and some of the older leaves have green spot and brown algae. I've now changed my dosing and upped CO2, and the new leaves are coming through nicely. The question is, will those older leaves recover or should I just chop them? Supposedly they are chucking out Ammonia etc...
  64. Tom

    Guide for algae?

    Thanks ceg, I've never seen that before Tom
  65. Tom

    Guide for algae?

    Is there a difinitive guide on algae anywhere, such as labels the common types, probable causes, and what to do about them?? Tom
  66. Tom

    Anubias and algae

    Its not the nutrients them selves (such as phosphate) that cause algae, but an inbalance of them. you could be fine on CO2, Light, Nitrate and Potassium and still have a Phosphate defficiency, causing algae. Tom
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