It all depends on PAR output and intensity.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Sent from my SPH-L710 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
too much light?
- Thread starter tetraodon8
- Start date
the tanks been set up in one way or another for 3 years, its a ten gallon tank with an aquaclear 20 and a quietflow 30 it has a ranbow fish 3 danios, a bushy nose pleco, upside down catfish, and 2 corys. i used to just have the standard single bulb flouresant bulb, which didnt put out enough light and i was noticing the plants where declining, the algae isnt black beards, its growing off the plants in long whispy strands and some small clumps but those never grew fast or grew over anything, i can try and get a pic later on,
I can tell you from my experience that a few amano shrimp should take care of it...but what are your water parameters like? Chemistry is the cause of 99% of algae issues. However, I have also seen a similar issue in my planted tank. I start getting little clumps of filamentous algae (just below the surface, among my water sprite) when my power compact bulbs are about to go bad. Maybe some better bulbs may help? I imagine you're using ZooMed or Coralife or something, but maybe you should switch to better bulbs like ATI or Wavepoint. I know that in my case the spectrum of the bulb changes over the course of its life, and old bulbs are often to blame for "random" occurrences of algae. Maybe the spectrum of your bulbs just favors algae growth?
the bulbs i have are less than 3 months old so i dont think they are due for a change, ive also tried to get amano shrimp and my lfs doesnt even know what they are, i havent tested the water in a while just cause every time i did, my tests came back very good most of the time
I laugh and died a little bit with the guys at the LFS not knowing what's with amano shrimps... Try cherry shrimps... just like everybody said it's lighting and the CO2...
i know right, i used to be the guy at the LFS but they didnt like how i did things, and the fact i showed everyone else up all the time, anyway ill set up another co2 generator and see if i can get any shrimp like that, thanks for the advice
I don't use CO2, but I use Excell- with about the same light as you, so I am familiar with what your going thru.. For a long time I used to have too much green hair algae, myself.
a few years later, turns out I just didn't have enough "higher" plants in the tank.
Go buy some Hornwort, or water sprite. Just throw it in the tank, let it float and grow. It will clear your algae up in about a week or two, then find a way to plant some of that. Wysteria is also an option, but I think Hornwort is the best algae fighter. I run the tank below 2.5 watts per gallon 10 hours per day. Add NPK, excell and local homebrew macro/trace concoction. Every quarter add some sort of root tabs. That is really it. I couldn't be happier.
a few years later, turns out I just didn't have enough "higher" plants in the tank.
Go buy some Hornwort, or water sprite. Just throw it in the tank, let it float and grow. It will clear your algae up in about a week or two, then find a way to plant some of that. Wysteria is also an option, but I think Hornwort is the best algae fighter. I run the tank below 2.5 watts per gallon 10 hours per day. Add NPK, excell and local homebrew macro/trace concoction. Every quarter add some sort of root tabs. That is really it. I couldn't be happier.
I was thinking perhaps the cheaper bulbs come with a spectrum that is better for algae growth, regardless of age. That was just a possibility though. Also, if your LFS orders from Segrest Farms they may know the Amano shrimp as "Japanese Algae Eating Shrimp", which I believe is what Segrest calls them on the order form. I'd get your water chemistry checked also just in case. You don't want to shop for products only to find out that your chemistry is the problem!
i id have alot of higher plants, such as amazons the plant that comes in betta bulbs, anudius, and java fern, yet i still had the problem, so i pulled them out cause they where getting over grown, and i see what you say about the bulbs for the light now, i know what segrest calls them, the store that i used to work at and get my supplies is now going down in quality and have to put it lightly, idiots work there. ill try and get ahold of them some how, though im worried about my rainbowfish he does like to be a bully. ill have to get it tested, plus ill build another cos generator tonight
