Would be good if someone could give some further advice on what to do about my algae issues. I have attached images to show what I’m talking about.
I’m starting to get really fed up with the algae.
Set up is currently:
Juwel Vision 180L
Standard twin T5 lighting
Light period: 7 hours
Minimal natural lighting as blinds are left closed most of the time.
Plain sand substrate.
Easy life root sticks.
Daily dose of the aquascaper complete fertiliser. (5ml)
Daily dose of Seachem Flourish Excel. (5ml)
Weekly water change approx 60%.
Medium stocking fish wise.
Filtered using Fluval 206. Filter maintained once a month.
Air pump runs 24/7.
Tank is mature. Well over a year.
So as can be seen from the images I have some BBA, Staghorn or Black Thread? and Brown Diatoms.
Around 4-5 weeks ago I introduced 5 otocinclus catfish and they have eaten a lot of the brown diatoms however some is still present on the Anubias and crypt leaves.
As per the image of my valisneria, lots of thread algae or stag horn? Is this due to it being right near the waters surface therefore very close to the light? I have spot dosed this with flourish excel and it did kill the algae but also killed the valisneria.
The roots on my anubias are covered in BBA and some of the hardscape also have bits here and there.
I get that I haven’t got it that bad as I have seen others with real big algae issues. But I have tried very hard and been patient with the tank and the plants and it still looks unpleasant close up.
If anyone has any more advice further to what I am already doing I would really appreciate it.
I have read some other posts where people are suggesting some stem plants to suck some of the excess nutrients out of the water? Correct me if I am wrong but doesn’t that counteract the point of adding liquid ferts?
Plant stocking is currently:
Anubias
Crypts
Java fern
Valisneria
Echinodorus Harbich
hygropgila
Thanks in advance!
Ryan