Whitebeam
Member
I've been fighting Staghorn algae for a couple of months now. The process has taught me lots and I had thought I had it beaten. Now I look in the tank and can see it creeping back onto leaves that were previously clear. It's driven me to the point of wanting to abandon having a nice tank - but I can't stand not mastering a skill once I've set out to do it, so it's just driving me bonkers. I've tried getting the dosing right, reducing the photo period and cutting off affected leaves - but I'm running out of leaves
Please would you look at my details below and tell me is there is anything else I can try?
Yours in desperation...
Peter
Tank: Juwel Rekord 800.
Volume: Water volume above substrate, incl filter = 79cm(l) x 33.5cm(w) x 34cm(h) = 90l = 23.8USG.
Lighting: 2 x Juwel 18W T8 tubes 55cm usable length (1 x Warm Lite and 1 x Day Lite) 37 cm to substrate. Juwel reflectors on both tubes.
Photo period: 8 hours per day in two periods (07:00-11:00 and 17:00-21:00).
Filter: Standard internal Juwel Bioflow Super filter fitted with Bioflow 400 pump.
Substrate: ~3mm diameter smooth gravel.
CO2: D&D pressurised at about 4 bps to maintain green in drop checker loaded with homemade 4dKH. CO2 on with lights only. CO2 introduced into middle of the filter sponge column. Apparent full dissolution (no bubbles).
Ferts: High nitrate tap water (to about 25ppm) and high fish load, so dosing dry ferts at 0.25g KH2PO4 and 1.0g K2SO4 Sun, Tue, & Thu; 3ml TPN and 1ml Flourish Iron Mon, Wed & Fri. AE Aqua Carbon at 9ml after water change, then 2ml daily. Total weekly macro dose = 5.82ppm PO4, 18.5ppm K, 0.39ppm Fe.
Water change: Weekly 50% water change on a Sunday with light vacuuming of visible gravel. Water stats at the end of the week always 25ppm < Nitrate < 50ppm. 0ppm Nitrite. 0ppm Ammonia. GH 220ppm (12dGH). KH 180ppm (10dKH). Filter media washed out in old tank water every 3 or 4 weeks.
Décor: Two pieces of driftwood and one piece of local flint in there since the tank was started in Feb 10.
Fauna: High load: 8 x Rosy Tetra, 8 x Blue Tetra, 6 x Cherry Barb, 4 x Julii Cory, 1 x Oto, 3 x Amano shrinp, 3 x Red Cherry Shrimp, 3 x Nerite Snails.
Flora: Hygrophila difformis, Hygrophila corymbosa 'Angustifolia', 2 x Crypt. sp., Spiral Vallis (spreading nicely). An attempt at Pogostemon helferi (slow growing, going a little brown around the edges) and an attempt at Lilaeopsis brasiliensis (has now started to spread slowly, but so badly affected by Staghorn after planting that most of the leaves had to be cut off).
Flow: Rio+200 to supplement flow from internal filter.
Just like ordering a breakfast in the USA, I'm sure there will be one question I have not managed to anticipate...
Please would you look at my details below and tell me is there is anything else I can try?
Yours in desperation...
Peter
Tank: Juwel Rekord 800.
Volume: Water volume above substrate, incl filter = 79cm(l) x 33.5cm(w) x 34cm(h) = 90l = 23.8USG.
Lighting: 2 x Juwel 18W T8 tubes 55cm usable length (1 x Warm Lite and 1 x Day Lite) 37 cm to substrate. Juwel reflectors on both tubes.
Photo period: 8 hours per day in two periods (07:00-11:00 and 17:00-21:00).
Filter: Standard internal Juwel Bioflow Super filter fitted with Bioflow 400 pump.
Substrate: ~3mm diameter smooth gravel.
CO2: D&D pressurised at about 4 bps to maintain green in drop checker loaded with homemade 4dKH. CO2 on with lights only. CO2 introduced into middle of the filter sponge column. Apparent full dissolution (no bubbles).
Ferts: High nitrate tap water (to about 25ppm) and high fish load, so dosing dry ferts at 0.25g KH2PO4 and 1.0g K2SO4 Sun, Tue, & Thu; 3ml TPN and 1ml Flourish Iron Mon, Wed & Fri. AE Aqua Carbon at 9ml after water change, then 2ml daily. Total weekly macro dose = 5.82ppm PO4, 18.5ppm K, 0.39ppm Fe.
Water change: Weekly 50% water change on a Sunday with light vacuuming of visible gravel. Water stats at the end of the week always 25ppm < Nitrate < 50ppm. 0ppm Nitrite. 0ppm Ammonia. GH 220ppm (12dGH). KH 180ppm (10dKH). Filter media washed out in old tank water every 3 or 4 weeks.
Décor: Two pieces of driftwood and one piece of local flint in there since the tank was started in Feb 10.
Fauna: High load: 8 x Rosy Tetra, 8 x Blue Tetra, 6 x Cherry Barb, 4 x Julii Cory, 1 x Oto, 3 x Amano shrinp, 3 x Red Cherry Shrimp, 3 x Nerite Snails.
Flora: Hygrophila difformis, Hygrophila corymbosa 'Angustifolia', 2 x Crypt. sp., Spiral Vallis (spreading nicely). An attempt at Pogostemon helferi (slow growing, going a little brown around the edges) and an attempt at Lilaeopsis brasiliensis (has now started to spread slowly, but so badly affected by Staghorn after planting that most of the leaves had to be cut off).
Flow: Rio+200 to supplement flow from internal filter.
Just like ordering a breakfast in the USA, I'm sure there will be one question I have not managed to anticipate...