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  • Users: tam
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  1. tam

    Mysterious red ring stain

    Coraline algae? I've seen them in reef tanks but not freshwater.
  2. tam

    Homing In On Cyanobacteria (aka 'BGA')

    I've never found that it does creep in that way, maybe try a small (few inches) section as a little test. I feel like there are certain combinations of conditions it thrives in and if you change one variable it often resolves it. It seems like there is more than one combination otherwise it...
  3. tam

    Homing In On Cyanobacteria (aka 'BGA')

    Tape a piece of card over the substrate area to create a blackout ... but maybe just do half so there is a control and then post a comparison photo in a week :) I've quite often seen it in that area but never spreading anywhere else. My parents tank has this at the moment, but just ignoring it...
  4. tam

    Cyanobacteria between glass and substrate

    You can try disturbing the front edge everytime you water change. Just becareful to avoid scratching the glass.
  5. tam

    Cyano in Floating Plants

    Thanks, a dip test (I know not super accurate) didn't show any nitrate. I'll try adding a bit more tap with my rain water. I'm going to put some root tabs under the swords too as they look hungry. I'll try a glass and and a shower to get out what I can before hand and hopefully the combo...
  6. tam

    Cyano in Floating Plants

    I had a few small patches of cyanobacteria around the tank and did a blackout before Christmas, which seemed to clear it. It's now back again but almost exclusively in the floating plants. There are a few thin penny sized patches on the substrate but I think it's where I've disturbed it in the...
  7. tam

    Losing battle with tank

    It depends, if you've a lot of mulm built up then sphoning the top of the substrate may help - it's more pockets that don't get a lot of flow e.g. around hardscape rather than you need to deep syphon the substrate. I wouldn't remove flow, again it's more considering if there are any areas that...
  8. tam

    Losing battle with tank

    There is no point swapping out substrate, it only needs invisible traces to come back. If you search the forum for cyano there are loads of posts on getting rid. It's good to work out why - sometimes it's low flow areas and excess mulm so a good clean and redirecting flow an help. Once it's...
  9. tam

    What is it? - Back Again

    The lobelia melted completely, and the rest had me a little worried but everything else seems to be putting on fresh growth now. TDS is now 140 and I'm dosing a couple of times a week with the tropica premium. I removed a little algae at water change but mainly from the glass, not much regrowth...
  10. tam

    Fighting algae in a two year old tank

    It looks like cyanobacteria (called blue green algae but not an algae) to me too. I would give it a good clean and do a 50% water change so it's looks visually clear. If your flow is poor then address that. Then blackout the tank for five days (don't put the lights on and cover the glass with...
  11. tam

    What is it? - Back Again

    Before and after again. Removed the wood/anubias on the left and filled the gap with 'easy' stem plants: Hygrophila 'Siamensis 53B' Hygrophila rosae australis Hygrophila polysperma Lobelia cardinalis Did a 20L water change mixed 60:40 rain/tap. Tank pre-change TDS 220, change water TDS 164...
  12. tam

    What is it? - Back Again

    That's really helpful thank you! What I might do then is up the proportion of rain and that will soften the water and lower pH maybe that will change conditions and put it off. I think it has a flow adjuster but I'm not sure what it's set to, so I'll check that too.
  13. tam

    What is it? - Back Again

    I'm not sure it's the ferts as I had it before I was dosing regularly, plant growth has improved (although still not great), but the algae hasn't gone. I'm happy to try a change though. I want to stick to an all-in-one just because the convenience means I am more likely to maintain a regular...
  14. tam

    What is it? - Back Again

    There is still more healthy plant growth but I can't get rid of the algae. Any idea what it is and what will finish it off? I thought maybe it was just taking advantage of old damaged leaves, but this is growing on a brand new bolbitis leaf.
  15. tam

    Fighting the BGM

    I'd still advocate a black out, in my experience you can do a thorough clean so it looks visibly gone and you'll be back to where you started a week later.
  16. tam

    What is it? - Back Again

    This reddish algae is being very persistent, any ideas? 1. Size of tank in litres - 55L 2. Age of the set - up - 18 months 3. Filtration - Aquael mini pat 4. Lighting and duration 15w T8 6hrs 5. Substrate - fine gravel 6. Co2 dosing or Non-dosing - none 7. Fertilizers used & Ratios - 1 pump...
  17. tam

    What is it? - Back Again

    This reddish algae is being very persistent, any ideas? 1. Size of tank in litres - 55L 2. Age of the set - up - 18 months 3. Filtration - Aquael mini pat 4. Lighting and duration 15w T8 6hrs 5. Substrate - fine gravel 6. Co2 dosing or Non-dosing - none 7. Fertilizers used & Ratios - 1 pump...
  18. tam

    Is this BBA and how can I eradicate it ?

    Now your NO3 has dropped down again, I would be adding ferts, trace at minimum but might as well do something comprehensive. You want the plants to grow healthily to replace the old damaged leaves. Are the new plants growing? I've never been keen on the idea of complete restarts - you would...
  19. tam

    Is this BBA and how can I eradicate it ?

    No ferts at all? What's your NO3 running at now? What's the tank volume?
  20. tam

    What is it? - Back Again

    Thanks :) The filter sponge is all algae growth, I give it a good rinse out in the bucket at each water change. I'll give it a pluck at the next clean though, see if I can get a bit more off and then scrub the plastic parts so it looks less grungy!
  21. tam

    What is it? - Back Again

    Edit - back again! How do I get rid of it for good? Been working on a little algae issue. First photo is 15th April, second photo 1st May. Not there yet, but I'm pleased with the progress. Thought you might like the dramatic before/after. Although the tank looks grubby in the first photo...
  22. tam

    Fighting the BGM

    I'm not sure I'd add add anything pre blackout as the plants aren't really going to do any growing in the dark so wont make use of it.
  23. tam

    Fighting the BGM

    It sounds like the lack of ferts and detritus build up might have been the cause. The trouble with it, is that once you have BGA just fixing the underlying issue doesn't get rid, or at least not quick. I would suggest a blackout. That should knock it back and if your fixes have addressed the...
  24. tam

    A bit of everything...

    You don't actually have to use duckweed for the duckweed index - frogbit would work great. The fact all your floaters disintergrated might also be a symptom of missing nutrients. You can use a ring of airline floating on the surface to contain floaters and protect them from surface disturbance.
  25. tam

    A bit of everything...

    The 3.0 is good because it gives you lots of flexibility. You can reduce light by having a longer ramp up/down. So it's lit for the 8 hours, but the light is much lower at the start and end of the 'day'. It can actually be nice as it looks quite atmospheric with low light and you'll see...
  26. tam

    Cyanobacteria within substrate - should I be concerned?

    Tape a piece of card along the substrate, that will block the light and knock out those last bits - leave it for a week or so. You can also, carefully not to scratch the glass, use a credit card to run along the front edge and syphon it out. It will only be along the glass as it needs light.
  27. tam

    Stuck on causes of small outbreaks of BBA & GSA. Overstocking?

    Have you tried just trimming off those old leaves and see if it reoccurs? It looks like it's on the oldest leaves that are probably already not in great condition. Might be you get rid of those and it's not really a big issue if you are seeing new healthy, rapid growth.
  28. tam

    Cladophora! Will I ever be able to remove it all?

    Interesting experiment let us know how they do. We raised some tadepoles in a tank for the kids to watch this year and it did make me wonder how they would do as a temporary clean up crew for algae. Bit seasonal though!
  29. tam

    Cyanobacteria

    I find addressing the under lying issue (and there maybe more than one factor that triggers it) and then blacking out gets rid of it most reliably. So, I would manually remove any you can (tooth brush and syphon), doing a water change at the same time. Address any excess mulm, clogged filter...
  30. tam

    Growing algae for blue gobies

    Temperature would be a factor too - so outside for light but perhaps under glass/plastic for warmth at the moment. Good luck with the veggies too!
  31. tam

    Growing algae for blue gobies

    You could try lighting 24/7 in one of the tanks and see if that sped up growth. Sunlight is pretty good for it though so, particularly over summer, outdoors or a sunny window sill might do best.
  32. tam

    All my algae has gone, and i want it back!

    September is still fairly new tank - that's the sort of algae you often see in a new setup - the soft type that most algae eaters seem to love. My guess is ramping up the ferts/light you'll get algae but not the same type. Which, I know isn't helpful. I don't know what's special about a new tank...
  33. tam

    All my algae has gone, and i want it back!

    Was it a new setup? Most people are happy when the diatoms disappear a few weeks in - does look cool though!
  34. tam

    Is it spirogyra and how to get rid of

    I get it all wrapped around the roots of my floating plants... I keep meaning to do a test dunk in some easy carbo to see if I can remove n treat and return. I get bits around the rest of the tank but not so bad. It seems more opportunistic than other algae - I'm sure I've physically transferred...
  35. tam

    Hair algae on plants!

    Put some in a container on your window sill in tank water - if they turn red it's not enough light, if they don't you know it's something missing in your water.
  36. tam

    Hair algae on plants!

    Scoop them out and stick them in a bucket whilst you poke about in the tank. That's the only downside with floaters lol
  37. tam

    Hair algae on plants!

    You need to balance the coverage of your floaters with the brightness of your lights. If you are seeing the first hints of algae, turn the lights down a bit and wait until the floaters multiply a bit more then turn them back up again.
  38. tam

    Waving the white flag! I need your help...

    I don't do high tech. But, if it was mine I would: knock down the light intensity syphon or scoop out the sand that's effected and deal with it out the tank and then return take a tooth brush to the rocks see what will come off the plants with your fingers/tooth brush and chop off the worse...
  39. tam

    Spyrogyra

    Could you do it selectively? I shifted all my floaters to the worst side and that's got a bit better. Maybe use a airline circle just above the lilies to keep it clear? I'm still waiting for my lilies to put floating leaves up and shade things a bit - super healthy looking but only 2" tall - not...
  40. tam

    Spyrogyra

    If you work it out let me know, I can't get rid either. Keeping it at bay manually, and lower light has reduced it but still an annoying amount left when you look close.
  41. tam

    ID

    Black beard algae, should pick off with a finger nail or tooth brush :)
  42. tam

    Algae strikes back

    Green on the glass is often too much light. Do your lights have a general % brightness you can turn down - if so try reducing that, otherwise shorten the period.
  43. tam

    How can i tackle this algae ?

    It's not going to disappear from the leaves it's already on, but your new growth looks good. I would cut off any damaged leaves on the crypts and once they stems have grown a bit more you can cut those and replant the tops. Aim to keep the new growth healthy and monitor that as your gauge for...
  44. tam

    Blue green "algae" or slime new set up

    Is it cyanobacteria - google for pics? If so physically remove what you can, clean up/do a water change and then blackout the tank for a week (leave lights off and tape paper over the sides to block out ambient light). It's usually a sign there is an issue with too much light/poor...
  45. tam

    What's this algae and how can I obliterate it

    Is the tank new? Diatoms are quite common when you've recently set up.
  46. tam

    Brown algae/light period advice ?

    At the moment just 7 ember tetra and a big fat ancient kuhli loach. The otos are quite chilled. They all gather for dinner in the evening and some mornings do some shoaling/wiggling when the sun hits that is fun to watch. The rest of the time they just shuffle about eating and aren't necessarily...
  47. tam

    Brown algae/light period advice ?

    Otos like to live as a group - I've five in my 70L - I'd have more but you do often lose a couple when they first arrive. I'd buy a few more than you want. Worst case you'll need to add a bit of food for them now and then so no hardship to have more than you need to eat algae.
  48. tam

    Do otocinclus eat green dust algae?

    You sure it's not diatoms? If so, yes they do eat that.
  49. tam

    Help Brown Hair Algae taking over my tank !!

    I got similar algae when I swapped out my lights, they were too bright. Removing as much as I could manually and then lowering the light level got rid of it for me :) I added floating plants so I could reduce the light getting through to the tank but still have the lighting period I wanted to...
  50. tam

    CLOUDY WATER!!help please...Algae bloom or bacteria bloom?

    Check the bottle but I think ferropol might not have any nitrates in. Some of the ferts will call themselves 'complete' but don't have nitrate/phosphate in, as in low tech tanks there would usually be enough naturally. Being lightly stocked and using CO2 you'll definitely need to add it as your...
  51. tam

    CLOUDY WATER!!help please...Algae bloom or bacteria bloom?

    Are you sure your nitrates are 0? A healthy cycled tank should have some nitrates from the nitrogen cycle. Did you feed your filter bacteria at all the week between moving the filter and adding fish? I don't know if adding CO2 would be enough to remove all the nitrogen... but even if so, if...
  52. tam

    White mould on wood

    Just one lonely one at the moment, but I've a new quarantine tank currently growing algae so I'm hoping to get three more next weekend. My tanks only a 75l so I'm worried more than that are there might not be enough food, as I've read they aren't so keen on algae wafers/supplementary greens.
  53. tam

    White mould on wood

    I soaked mine about a week and it had a sort of 1/2" think layer of fluffy white slime all over it, then scrubbed it with a tooth brush and popped it in my tank. It's not regrown 4 days in though that could part be down to the Oto/algae shrimp. The bit I left soaking is still slimy.
  54. tam

    Controlling GHA on Fissidens

    Try twirling a tooth brush around in it. Not sure how well it will work in the moss but worth a go :)
  55. tam

    Algae ID please, plus a bit of advice

    I had what looks similar recently - both hairy looking and slimy at the same time and drifts off the catch around things when removing. I think I triggered it by swapping out my lights to two LEDs - obviously too much but it didn't go away when I dropped it down to one. I shortened my light...
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