First post on the site, I'm looking for some help on a algae problem I seem to be experiencing
I have a planted discus tank, been up and running for around 4 years now, stats below;
Tank specifications - 4ft x 19" x 15"/approx 45 gallons
Lighting - 2 x T8 Arcadia Freshwater/Tropical - Photoperiod around 5hrs a day.
CO2 - None
Filtration - 2 x Eheim 2224 - returning through spraybars.
Fertilisation routine - Flourish Excel at recommended dose
Basically the plants have always grown well, I have a fertiliser substrate, topped with gravel and aquarium sand, heating cable as well. Plants include amazon swords, moss, fern, pygmy chain sword, wenditti etc. But around Feb this year the plants starting dying off, with the fern going first followed by the swords. My water stats are all normal, at the moment I have nitrate at 5.0, this is normally much lower, water changes are carried using a HMA filter unit, 30-40% water changes twice a week. Stock in my tank is 5 adult discus, around 15 tetra's and 5 ottos, nothing else.
At the same time my plants starting dying off the algae appeared, which is now covering most of the tank, but mostly on the plants, the algae is green hair algae, I've attached some pics of the algae.
I'm in the process of selling my discus because I know now the two don't go well together, at the moment the fish don't seem happy and I'm sure it's related to whats happening in the tank.
Any help would be very much appreciated
Thanks
Mike
I have a planted discus tank, been up and running for around 4 years now, stats below;
Tank specifications - 4ft x 19" x 15"/approx 45 gallons
Lighting - 2 x T8 Arcadia Freshwater/Tropical - Photoperiod around 5hrs a day.
CO2 - None
Filtration - 2 x Eheim 2224 - returning through spraybars.
Fertilisation routine - Flourish Excel at recommended dose
Basically the plants have always grown well, I have a fertiliser substrate, topped with gravel and aquarium sand, heating cable as well. Plants include amazon swords, moss, fern, pygmy chain sword, wenditti etc. But around Feb this year the plants starting dying off, with the fern going first followed by the swords. My water stats are all normal, at the moment I have nitrate at 5.0, this is normally much lower, water changes are carried using a HMA filter unit, 30-40% water changes twice a week. Stock in my tank is 5 adult discus, around 15 tetra's and 5 ottos, nothing else.
At the same time my plants starting dying off the algae appeared, which is now covering most of the tank, but mostly on the plants, the algae is green hair algae, I've attached some pics of the algae.
I'm in the process of selling my discus because I know now the two don't go well together, at the moment the fish don't seem happy and I'm sure it's related to whats happening in the tank.
Any help would be very much appreciated
Thanks
Mike