thesorcerous
Seedling
Hi all,
First, thank you for reading this, and I really appreciate any suggestions you have.
I have read a lot of the pinned posts about algae, and I am at a little bit of a loss as to what my problem is and what to try next to solve it. Here's hoping one of you can easily identify it!
I have regular large growths of some sort of filament algae. Both the soft type that forms clumps around my plants (I think Rhizoclonium?), some fur (Oedogonium) and some staghorn. I am aware that these are probably just the ones that have hold at the moment, and that it is just a more general algae problem.
I have had advice from the great guys at Aquarium gardens, but I can’t get there at the moment, and I think i must have not mentioned something to them as their advice hasn’t solved the problem.
I have pasted the full details of the setup below, but in short, it’s a high energy system with regular >60% water changes done at least twice a week, usually three. Turkey basting to get as much waste from the bottom as possible.
Any plans I have put in the foreground gets swamped quickly with the Rhizoclonium and I have not had a great success growing anything there. I am an experienced fish keeper, and have a low energy planted tank running fine (which to be honest is slightly overstocked with fish, gets too much food and is nearly half the volume), but I just can’t get a handle on this high energy system.
My thoughts for the next steps are: 1. increase CO2 even more (hope fish will be OK) 2. increase fertiliser (but will this increase algae?) 3. buy one of those pumps for marine aquariums which moves the water around even more?
Photos attached, but happy to take more if you see something you think needs a closer look. Whole tank photos are before and after latest maintenance and water change.
Any advice is much appreciated.
Thanks,
Rob
The setup:
Tank: 87 litre (68 cm x 30 cm x 43 cm high) assuming gravel and hardscape are roughly offset by the filter volume.
Light: Twinstar V2 600SA; 6 hour photo period, 15 minute fade to 100%, then 5.5 hours, then fade to 0%.
Filter: Eheim Pro4+, 250 (950 litres per hour turn over, so possibly a little underpowered?)
Temp: 23 degrees C.
Substrate: PRODIBIO AQUAGROWTH AQUARIUM SOIL to a depth of 7 cm on average.
CO2: on 3 hours before lights, off when the lights go to 0. CO2 art regulator with inline diffuser. Two pH meters opposite sides of the tank, one near the top, one near the substrate, both showing light green.
Plants: Lots (but maybe not enough?). There are almost no spaces at the back where i can cram in any more stems. I have been cutting some which have got to the top and replanted them just to try to get more growth.
Animals: 19 ember tetras (Hyphessobrycon amandae); 1 Bristlenose plec (Ancistrus sp).; cherry shrimp population (30-50?); 3 amano shrimp (started with 10 about a year ago).
Fertiliser: TNC complete 8ml daily; TNC liquid carbon 1.5 ml daily.
Food: 1 spoon of NanoGran 3 times a week (this is fine for the number of fish and shrimp), occasional pleco wafer, but remains removed after a few hours if not consumed.
Maintenance: at least 2 >60% water changes per week, often 3. Turkey basing the substrate as much as possible.
First, thank you for reading this, and I really appreciate any suggestions you have.
I have read a lot of the pinned posts about algae, and I am at a little bit of a loss as to what my problem is and what to try next to solve it. Here's hoping one of you can easily identify it!
I have regular large growths of some sort of filament algae. Both the soft type that forms clumps around my plants (I think Rhizoclonium?), some fur (Oedogonium) and some staghorn. I am aware that these are probably just the ones that have hold at the moment, and that it is just a more general algae problem.
I have had advice from the great guys at Aquarium gardens, but I can’t get there at the moment, and I think i must have not mentioned something to them as their advice hasn’t solved the problem.
I have pasted the full details of the setup below, but in short, it’s a high energy system with regular >60% water changes done at least twice a week, usually three. Turkey basting to get as much waste from the bottom as possible.
Any plans I have put in the foreground gets swamped quickly with the Rhizoclonium and I have not had a great success growing anything there. I am an experienced fish keeper, and have a low energy planted tank running fine (which to be honest is slightly overstocked with fish, gets too much food and is nearly half the volume), but I just can’t get a handle on this high energy system.
My thoughts for the next steps are: 1. increase CO2 even more (hope fish will be OK) 2. increase fertiliser (but will this increase algae?) 3. buy one of those pumps for marine aquariums which moves the water around even more?
Photos attached, but happy to take more if you see something you think needs a closer look. Whole tank photos are before and after latest maintenance and water change.
Any advice is much appreciated.
Thanks,
Rob
The setup:
Tank: 87 litre (68 cm x 30 cm x 43 cm high) assuming gravel and hardscape are roughly offset by the filter volume.
Light: Twinstar V2 600SA; 6 hour photo period, 15 minute fade to 100%, then 5.5 hours, then fade to 0%.
Filter: Eheim Pro4+, 250 (950 litres per hour turn over, so possibly a little underpowered?)
Temp: 23 degrees C.
Substrate: PRODIBIO AQUAGROWTH AQUARIUM SOIL to a depth of 7 cm on average.
CO2: on 3 hours before lights, off when the lights go to 0. CO2 art regulator with inline diffuser. Two pH meters opposite sides of the tank, one near the top, one near the substrate, both showing light green.
Plants: Lots (but maybe not enough?). There are almost no spaces at the back where i can cram in any more stems. I have been cutting some which have got to the top and replanted them just to try to get more growth.
Animals: 19 ember tetras (Hyphessobrycon amandae); 1 Bristlenose plec (Ancistrus sp).; cherry shrimp population (30-50?); 3 amano shrimp (started with 10 about a year ago).
Fertiliser: TNC complete 8ml daily; TNC liquid carbon 1.5 ml daily.
Food: 1 spoon of NanoGran 3 times a week (this is fine for the number of fish and shrimp), occasional pleco wafer, but remains removed after a few hours if not consumed.
Maintenance: at least 2 >60% water changes per week, often 3. Turkey basing the substrate as much as possible.