Huge algae bloom

petluvr

petluvr

AC Members
Jun 5, 2008
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Podunk, Va.
Real Name
Larry
In my 29 I am experiencing the worst algae bloom EVER. It has about 2.2 wpg dosing ferts twice a week with DIY co2. I have a LOT of java moss, quite a bit of Ambulia, 3 larger java ferns, some hygro, a little water wisteria and some HM in the tank. About three weeks ago the water started to get a little green so I increased water changes to every other day about 15%. The water kept getting greener and greener so I unhooked the CO2 and decreased my photoperiod from 10 hrs to 8 and have been dosing ferts at half strength only once a week. The water is now totally green. My question is with the plants that I have would a total three day black out harm them? The only inhabitants of the tank are 6 corydoras aenus and about 40 RCS.
 
You should not have unhooked the CO2.
8 hours of light should be OK.
3-5 days black out will not harm healthy plants (nor fish)
Are you over feeding??
Most of the plants you have do not require too much ferts.
 
No overfeeding is not occuring I feed only twice a day and that is sparingly as the tank is so lightly stocked. Would hooking the CO2 back up help? I started adding the ferts because the ambulia wasn't doing so good and as soon as i startd adding the ferts voila the ambulia started growing like a weed.
 
Yeah, put the co2 back on...co2 only fights algae, it'll never increase it. In fact, I'd try to figure out exactly how much co2 you're putting in the tank. You can use a KH vs PH table for a rough estimate, or you can look into getting a drop checker off ebay. My guess is you'll want to figure out a way to add more co2 than you were before. You can look into Flourish Excel as a supplement.

How much fertilizer are you putting in the tank? You may be putting way too much, and with not enough co2, decent light, and too many nutrients, a huge green water bloom is inevitable.

Also, do a 50% WC, then your 3-4(I do 4) blackout, followed by another 50% WC. That should help a lot.
 
UUUGGGHHH I am so disgusted with this tank I have been :swear::swear: for days. After a 50% WC and a 72 hour blackout then another 50% WC the water continues to be green. All params are good with the exception of the PH being slightly low 7.2. I have added some CC hopefully that will raise the ph. Could the low ph be what is causing the algae bloom?
 
pH=7.2 is not low....and I would recommend never trying to alter your pH. My pH is 6.4. Did you hook the co2 back up?

What is the pH of your tap water? Until you get the drop checker you can either use the KH vs pH chart to tell how much co2 you have, or you can measure your pH in your tank, take a cup of take water and let it sit out for 24 hours and then measure it's pH. You are looking for around a 1 deg pH drop.

Green Water is usually due to excessive nutrients, too much light, too long of a photoperiod, or sometimes an ammonia spike. Consider all of those.
 
Yes i have hooked the co2 back up. My tap water is somewhere close to 8 which is why I consider 7.2 low I guess:) My photoperiod is 8 hours long on at 10 a.m. and off at 6 p.m. hooked to a timer so it is exact. Light is about 2.2 wpg and I have stopped ALL dosing of flourish to see if maybe it is excess nutrients. Any suggestions for nutrient hogs?
 
I have wisteria and hygro in the tank, neither seem to have grown any since I put them in about 3 weeks ago. I also have a field of ambulia in the tank that just grows and grows. I have thought about the water lettuce but I am afraid it will hog more light than nutrients. How much would you suggest for a 29 with 2.2 wpg without it taking away from the light reaching the lower levels of the tank. This tank is my favorite and I have gotten to where I hate to see it in all it's green glory:)
 
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