I posted about this a while ago in the Aquatic Plants section but didn't get any feedback despite a bunch of views. I'm trying my luck here.
I have an algae problem in my 10g puffer tank. What's interesting is that it has virtually the same water parameters as my 29g which has not algae problem.
pH-7.8
nitrates-5
nitrites-0
ammonia-0
phosphate- <.25
GH- 4mg/l
KH- 4mg/l
There are 3 dwarf puffers and 3 otos in the tank. I feed the puffers snails and bloodworms but I rarely see them eat the bloodworms.
The algae is dark green like a velvet and covers the plants and the sand substrate. Its really annoying but it does come off easy.
Lighting is from two 20w flourescent screw in compacts left on for about 11 hours a day. I use flourish excel about every other day and stump remover for nitrates and potassium about twice a week. Weekly water changes are around 40%.
This tank is pretty heavily planted and the plants seem to be doing okay. I don't feed bloodworms a lot because I don' see them eat them so I don't think there's an overfeeding problem. nitrates were non existant before adding ferts and the algae was there before ferts.
So, what type of algae is this and what the heck can I do to get rid of it? At this point my only thought is to reduce the light time by and hour or two but there's so much algae I just don't see that doing the trick.
Tom
I have an algae problem in my 10g puffer tank. What's interesting is that it has virtually the same water parameters as my 29g which has not algae problem.
pH-7.8
nitrates-5
nitrites-0
ammonia-0
phosphate- <.25
GH- 4mg/l
KH- 4mg/l
There are 3 dwarf puffers and 3 otos in the tank. I feed the puffers snails and bloodworms but I rarely see them eat the bloodworms.
The algae is dark green like a velvet and covers the plants and the sand substrate. Its really annoying but it does come off easy.
Lighting is from two 20w flourescent screw in compacts left on for about 11 hours a day. I use flourish excel about every other day and stump remover for nitrates and potassium about twice a week. Weekly water changes are around 40%.
This tank is pretty heavily planted and the plants seem to be doing okay. I don't feed bloodworms a lot because I don' see them eat them so I don't think there's an overfeeding problem. nitrates were non existant before adding ferts and the algae was there before ferts.
So, what type of algae is this and what the heck can I do to get rid of it? At this point my only thought is to reduce the light time by and hour or two but there's so much algae I just don't see that doing the trick.
Tom
