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Algae support

S

strangemark

Member
Joined
17 Feb 2024
Messages
46
Location
Essex
Hi all,

Tank has been set up for around 4 months now - lightly planted; due to resident horticulturalist (L191) 🤣 adding more as and when I find plants that he doesn't take a liking to (dig up/munch).

Tank details below:
1. Size of tank in litres = 300lt
2. Age of the set - up = 4 months
3. Filtration + Media/Sponges = Ocellaris 1400 UV External Filter, 1 x tray 30PPI sponge, 2 x trays Alfragrog
4. Lighting and duration = 9hrs, Standard Aquaone LED unit
5. Substrate = Alfragrog base capped with sand mixture (fine grain and medium grain)
6. Co2 dosing or Non-dosing = low tech (no Co2)
7. Fertilizers used & Ratios = API Green Leaf 1 x week (40ml)
8. Water change regime and type = 25% weekly
9. Plant list + When planted = Java Fern, Anubius Nana, Cryptocoryn (tried Vallis, however, suffer melt)
10. Drop Checker - low tech
11. Inhabitants = 1 x L191 Dull eyed Panaque (from past tank) , 1 x Khuli Loach (from past tank), Corydora 7 x Sterba's and 1 x Albino (from past tank), 21 Rummy Nose Tetra, 9 Rainbows 6 x Melanotaenia trifasciata, 3 x herbertaxelrodi
12. Full tank image & Surface image = Attahed (excuse the reflections, clearly not a photographer!)

Any advice would be welcome 👍
 

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Mike Singh said:
Hi nice tank! What specific advice do you require?
Click to expand...
Hi Mike,

Type of algae and best method to eradicate it. The java seems to be worst effected, with spot algae?? And what I believe to be black beard algae??

The Crypts seem to just need time to settle as the melt seems to be subsiding 🤞🤞 As for the Java, should I just trim it back hard or.......
 
strangemark said:
Hi there,
Yes, I'm using API Leaf Zone - I'm dosing for the size tank I have, however, is it too much as its not heavily planted (yet)?
Click to expand...
Hi
API Leaf Zone only has Potassium & Iron in the solution!
You will need Macro/Micro all in one fertilizer to cover all the plant requirements.
 
G H Nelson said:
www.aquariumgardens.co.uk

The Aquascaper Complete Plant Food 1000ml

The Aquascaper Complete Liquid Plant Food is designed to be single dose and easy to use. Complete Liquid Plant Food contains all the micro and macro
www.aquariumgardens.co.uk www.aquariumgardens.co.uk
You could start with the above then make your own in the future.
Click to expand...
Hi,

Thanks for the heads up - You made reference to making your own, how would someone go about that? I can see how it would be financially beneficial rather than paying £20 every 1/2 months.

Cheers
Mark
 
strangemark said:
Hi,

Thanks for the heads up - You made reference to making your own, how would someone go about that? I can see how it would be financially beneficial rather than paying £20 every 1/2 months.

Cheers
Mark
Click to expand...
www.ukaps.org

The Estimative Index

Quoted from The Barr Report: The Estimative Index - What is it? The Estimative index is a simple method to dose nutrients for any tank without test kits. In a nut shell, the aquarist doses frequently to prevent anything from running out (plant deficiency) and does large weekly water changes to...
www.ukaps.org
 
hypnogogia said:
www.ukaps.org

The Estimative Index

Quoted from The Barr Report: The Estimative Index - What is it? The Estimative index is a simple method to dose nutrients for any tank without test kits. In a nut shell, the aquarist doses frequently to prevent anything from running out (plant deficiency) and does large weekly water changes to...
www.ukaps.org
Click to expand...
Thanks hypnogogia - a bit of reading to do then 🤣😂
 
strangemark said:
Hi Mike,

Type of algae and best method to eradicate it. The java seems to be worst effected, with spot algae?? And what I believe to be black beard algae??

The Crypts seem to just need time to settle as the melt seems to be subsiding 🤞🤞 As for the Java, should I just trim it back hard or.......
Click to expand...
Hi
BBA is difficult to get rid off. Prune the affected leaves. Start by improving your water fertilisers as per @G H Nelson. I would plant a load more Anubias and Java ferns on the wood. Fill the foreground in front of the wood and rocks with C wenditti. Increasing your plant mass will help stabilise your tank quickly.
 
Andy Pierce said:
I'm starting to be convinced that BBA is aggravated by high levels of organic debris. You can get this suspended in the water column using a turkey baster to blast the substrate/plants/hardscape and then remove the suspended organic particulates with a water change.
Click to expand...
Filter cleaning of sponges and media will help!
 
Andy Pierce said:
I'm starting to be convinced that BBA is aggravated by high levels of organic debris. You can get this suspended in the water column using a turkey baster to blast the substrate/plants/hardscape and then remove the suspended organic particulates with a water change.
Click to expand...
Hi Andy,
A baster is part of my aquarium maintenance tool kit. I generally clean the glass down first, then waft out any waste material from under the woodwork, and then finally give the whole scape a gentle blast to clear detritus before changing water/hoovering up 😂🤣 - a handy tool indeed 👍
 
Hi all,
strangemark said:
You made reference to making your own, how would someone go about that? I can see how it would be financially beneficial rather than paying £20 every 1/2 months.
Click to expand...
<"The Estimative Index">
Click to expand...
You can use a horticultural fertiliser, <"it is a lot cheaper"> and a bit more <"plug and play"> than making your own complete mix from the base chemicals. This is a nutrient calculator: <"Nutrient Dosing Calculator">, we also have super-duper UKAPS one <"IFC Aquarium Fertilizer Calculator">.

Have a look at @Happi 's very useful thread using Solufeed <"Solufeed 2:1:4 and Solufeed Sodium Free TEC or Solufeed Coir TEC Combination">.

Solufeed 2 :1 :4 composition.

Solufeed_elemental.jpg

I recently bought this <"Elixir Gardens Bumper Crop High Potassium Fertiliser - 2 : 1 : 4 | 700g - 20kg"> 1 Kg for £10.50, but it is £14 from the Solufeed shop <"2:1:4">.

cheers Darrel
 
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