Green Hair Algae - Excel dosage.

[rsanz]

Stats:

20g long
-56 watts = 2.8 wpg (4 hours @ 36wpg + 6 hours @ 58wpg)
-Flourish Excel once per day (1 capful)
-Flourish Trace 2x per week
-Will be starting Nu-Salt regimen soon (have some holes in Anubias leaves)
-Weekly 40-50% water change

I've been seeing hair algae starting to grow on my substrate and Anubias leaves. The reason I put the extra 20wpg for a couple hours per day is because I have a Green Cobomba that was turning brown prior to the added wattage, but now seems to be growing in nice and green with the added wattage.

My question is, should I up my daily Excel dosage to help combat the green hair algae that's growing? I've been removing the algae by hand as it grows.

Actually, I'm not 100% sure that it's in fact "green hair algae", but it is green, and thread-like, so I made the assumption based on the name. It's only a little bit growing, and all google photos show an entire tank outbreak of the stuff, so it's hard to compare.

Anyways, I digress. I don't have CO2 injection, but I want the Cabomba to thrive. I love the look of it in the back corner of my tank. Can I up the Excel dosage safely?

Thanks!

[phanmc]

You're not dosing the full range of nutrients, you also need to consider nitrates and phosphates.

Your lighting is quite high for no CO2, lower the amount of light if you can. If you want do double the dosage of Excel, dose it twice per day rather than one large dose.

[rsanz]

Yeah, I know the light is a little high...

My options are either 20watts, or 36 watts (I have 2 fixtures). The Cabomba didn't seem to respond well to just the 36 watts... Actually, ALL of the plants have really perked up after adding the extra wattage.

Do you think that I'll absolutely need to try to make a DIY Co2 system?

[phanmc]

Higher light does that, it'll drive the plants to grow faster and will have an immediate effect. Then you run out of nutrients or CO2 and they start to go down the crapper fast; holes in leaves, yellowing, algae issues, etc. Try flipping your light scedule around, longer period at 36w and shorter period of 56w.

DIY CO2 is a more stable source of carbon than Excel. To me, there is absolutely no reason aside from cost not to use CO2 in any tank, low light ones even. Yeast CO2 is cheap, why not use it? If you're not a DIY type, buy the Hagen or RedSea systems.

[Riiz]

A capful is 5ml right, which is already 2.5x the recommended daily dose, I dont think more excel will help. Algae issues are most likely nutrient related, since you have enough light and a carbon source. But I sorta disagree with DIY CO2, IMO it is far less stable than using excel, since you have to monitor and use atleast 2-3 bottles to keep a consistent output.