Help with algae problem

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L

lnk89

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 23, 2012
57
4
8
canada
I started a new planted tank a little over a month ago and I am having a bit of an algae problem. I seem to have a few different kinds in there as well or at least they look different and scrape off the glass differently.

So the algae on the rocks in the back has to be really scrubed off and and even then I can't get it all off.

The algea in the top middle of the tank, when I scrub it off comes off in pieces and floats around the tank until it's picked uo by the filters.

The algae in the top right, the long green stuff comes off easily when scrubed.

The algae at the very bottom of the tank doesn't come off easily at all. It has to be scraped off with a metal scraper.

Any idea how I can get rid of this stuff?

Some info about the tank
Been set up for a little over 2 months.
Temp is 76F
Size 65 gallons
Filter eheim 2217 and 2213

Thanks

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I'm not too experienced with planted tanks, but it seems to me if you have a planted tank and you have an algae problem, then you have too much light and / or too much nutrition.

Consider reducing the lighting, reducing feeding or reducing any supplemental plant nutrients.
 
Drstrangelove said:
I'm not too experienced with planted tanks, but it seems to me if you have a planted tank and you have an algae problem, then you have too much light and / or too much nutrition.

Consider reducing the lighting, reducing feeding or reducing any supplemental plant nutrients.
Click to expand...

Algae most always is never an issue with to much nutrients. If it was then fertilizing systems like estimative index fert dosing would never work. EI dosing is supplying your tank excess or what's known as non-limiting nutrients. Its a way to make sure nutrient deficiency is not an issue for plants to not do well. I've used it as well as others for some time now.

The main causes for most all algae is either to intense light for what the tank is set up for. Such as a high light planted tank is going to need non limiting nutrients and the proper amount of co2 mixed into the water with good circulation. Besides to much intensity it could be to long of a photo period for any amount of light. Could be heavy dissolved organics. Normally if plants suffer and don't grow then algae can and will move in.

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To the op. We need more info on your set up.

What brand lights ? How many bulbs in the lights? What intensity? How many inches from the bottom of the light to the substrate? Are there any windows near? How bright is the room? How many hours is the tank exposed to any and all light sources?

Are you fertilizing? What are you fertilizing? How often?

Looks like you have several types. Some green spot. Some green slime algae, some bba and some hair. Maybe even some diatom. All of them are true algae but the green slime. Gsa is a cyanobacteria.


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I have 3 100W CFL daylight 6500K bulbs. Don't know of the brand, but they are the same ones used in any household fixture. They are pretty high off the substrate and the tank is in a low light room with little sunlight. The lights are on from 9:30am - 10PM. So I am thinking it might be because of the lights that are on too long.

I am not fertilizing and feeding the fish once a day.

Here is a image of the tank before the algae started.

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photo 1.JPG
 
lnk89 said:
I have 3 100W CFL daylight 6500K bulbs. Don't know of the brand, but they are the same ones used in any household fixture. They are pretty high off the substrate and the tank is in a low light room with little sunlight. The lights are on from 9:30am - 10PM. So I am thinking it might be because of the lights that are on too long.

I am not fertilizing and feeding the fish once a day.

Here is a image of the tank before the algae started.

View attachment 919653
Click to expand...

Lights are on for to long. You also should fertilize the tank with both micro = trace and macro = NPK nutrients. When plants don't have nutrients to thrive, algae can and will take over reduce your lights but 3 hours. Try to clean up what you can and water change. Fert micro and macro. Also dose excel for carbon supplement. Algae should recede and go away

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somebody needs to verify this but i read somewhere that those household CFLs emit a spectrum of light that is conducive to algae growth.
 
evilobster said:
somebody needs to verify this but i read somewhere that those household CFLs emit a spectrum of light that is conducive to algae growth.
Click to expand...


Any light can be conducive to algae growth. Specific lights work better for plants such as these cfl. The issue is how much light intensity in PAR output at what distance you have for how long of a duration. The spectrum won't make the difference on algae. There are other factors that do equate into it as well. Plants that are doing poorly due to lack of nutrients will allow the algae to take over with all that light. To much PAR intensity will allow the algae to take over if your not boosting a tank with co2 injection. Light photo periods that are on for far to long will cause algae.. it has nothing to do with the spectrum of a household cfl. I know several aquarist that use them with great success.

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