View Full Version : Can adding ferts cause algae problems
Ive been adding seachem excel and flourish to my tank as well as having a bhagen nutrafin natural co2 system, I've been doing this a while now but recently I seem to have had an outbreak of brush algae on my rocks and a bright green algae build up on my sand. Could the excel/flouish complete be causing this? I have 50w of lighting in a 180 litre tank but, (I only noticed today), the power glo bulb I had in the rear fitting was running dim, could this of had any affect on the tank?
RedScare
12-12-2007, 2:04 PM
Algae likes ferts.
theotheragentm
12-12-2007, 2:13 PM
Adding ferts can cause problems. Algae arises when your ferts, including carbon, are not in balance. When they are in balance, plants should out compete algae for the nutrients.
jones57742
12-12-2007, 2:42 PM
Ive been adding seachem excel and flourish to my tank as well as having a bhagen nutrafin natural co2 system, I've been doing this a while now but recently I seem to have had an outbreak of brush algae on my rocks and a bright green algae build up on my sand. Could the excel/flouish complete be causing this?
Not if your tank is well planted.
When I had a well planted tank and I observed significant algae I:
1) Reduced feeding of the fish;
2) Reduced the lighting period from 10 hours/day to 8 hours/day and
3) Increased dosing of Flourish, Flourish Excel, and Flourish Iron from the recommended quantity to 1.5X the recommended quantity.
TR
Its not a heavily planted tank, Its 6 large anubias in with my cichlids, its the only plants they leave alone
jones57742
12-12-2007, 3:55 PM
Its not a heavily planted tank, Its 6 large anubias in with my cichlids, its the only plants they leave alone
You got a photograph which you can post?
TR
You got a photograph which you can post?
TR
Of the algae or the tank in general?
Volenti
12-12-2007, 4:13 PM
Anubias aren't exactly heavy feeders, so I'd cut back on the ferts or add some floating plants that would uptake nutrients faster.
What are some good floating plants that my cichlids wont destroy?
IceH2O
12-12-2007, 4:43 PM
You have the equivalent of about 1 watt per gallon.
You're wasting your money with the ferts, depending on how much you're using.
I run 1.73 wpg over my anubias tank (75 gallon) and only add 5 ml of Flourish comprehensive a week.Might throw in a tsp of nitrates once a month or so. My tank is all slow growers, I also have mosses and other ferns mixed with crypts. I have no algae, with more light and less anything else. My anubias have even bloomed, ones about to bloom as I see the stalk now.
The brush algae is due to fluctuating CO2 levels from the Hagen, you'll never get a constant enough flow unless its pressurized.
In my tank that has fast growers I do dose and do have black brush.
I recommend just pulling the CO2 and quit adding any ferts. Also only run the lights for 8-10 hours or add more plants and more light.
For floating plants I would use some Brazilian Pennywort.
jpappy789
12-12-2007, 4:48 PM
I second the pennywort, it is a great grower even in lowlight situations.
Can you explain exactly how much ferts you are adding and how often? I agree with Ice that the Co2 and fert dosing should be cut back alot, if not stopped completely. It is kind of a waste of time and money unless you really want a lot of growth.
jones57742
12-13-2007, 11:51 AM
Of the algae or the tank in general?
Yes.
TR
You have the equivalent of about 1 watt per gallon.
You're wasting your money with the ferts, depending on how much you're using.
I run 1.73 wpg over my anubias tank (75 gallon) and only add 5 ml of Flourish comprehensive a week.Might throw in a tsp of nitrates once a month or so. My tank is all slow growers, I also have mosses and other ferns mixed with crypts. I have no algae, with more light and less anything else. My anubias have even bloomed, ones about to bloom as I see the stalk now.
The brush algae is due to fluctuating CO2 levels from the Hagen, you'll never get a constant enough flow unless its pressurized.
In my tank that has fast growers I do dose and do have black brush.
I recommend just pulling the CO2 and quit adding any ferts. Also only run the lights for 8-10 hours or add more plants and more light.
For floating plants I would use some Brazilian Pennywort.
Cheers for the info, I've just done a deep clean of my tank, scrubbed all the rocks and the structured background, will take out CO2 tommorow and see how things go
danbryans
12-13-2007, 9:36 PM
Since you have only about 1wpg with anubias... I second the cut-off CO2 and fertz. For your current setup your fish waste would be more than enough IMO.
GirlieGirl8521
12-14-2007, 1:52 PM
BBA is usually caused by inconsistent CO2 levels......which is probably from your Hagen CO2. Its not near big enough to produce adequate CO2 for a 180L(~48g) tank. You'd need a few of them to be adequate. So, I'd take it off.
How often are you adding the Flourish? It may be causing your green algae problem if you are adding it often. In low light, with slow growing plants, I would just add it weekly, whatever the recommended dose is on the bottle.