Hair Algae

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boyohboy

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Jan 28, 2004
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Hair (Fuzz) Algae

I've set up my 20g for almost 2months now. The hair algae has finally starts to appear. How much of hair algae is acceptable really, before it's out of the "normal to have abit of algae" range? There isn't much of it yet, but it's definitely growing. How can I get rid of them?

Is a SAE or 2-3 Amano-shrimp better to deal with hair-algae?

I'm currectly dosing DIY trace, iron, Mg, K and Excel. No extra NO3 or P addition. My tank nitrate is 5-10 ppm; 55W compact for 9hrs, and the plants look very healthy and grow well.

PS. There isn't any other algae present ATM, except just a few spots of green algae on the tank glass.
Thanks
 
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This is not uncommon to newly set up tanks and will clear up as the tank ages. You have a nice amount of light and if your P level is .5 - 1.0ppm, your dosing looks good. If you have a relatively heavy plant load they will take over the tank....in time.
In the meantime you can hold it down by cleaning/scrubbing/siphoning it away as it appears. The less you have, the less you'll continue to get.
I don't use shrimp, but Otos do a great job on most soft algae. If you get them, get 4 or 5. You may lose one or two as they sometimes don't adapt easily to new tanks and environments. I try to keep at least 1 Oto per 10 gals. of water(I now have a 1 week old, 5 gal. with 3 of them in it).

Len
 
I'm just checking the types of algae on the web... The algae in my tank was mostly like the "Fuzz Algae" in this website http://www.aquaticscape.com/articles/algae.htm
ie, short separate strands, browish in color.

Hope my plants will take over the control soon. I do have a few fast growing plants like hygro (I think anyway), caboma(sp?), java moss.

I dont' have a Phosphate test kit yet. But i'm not dosing phosphate so I hope it's not too high ;) Maybe should get a P test kit afterall.

As for the Otto, I actually have 4 for a few weeks. I think there'r still all alive, as of last friday that I could see anyway. Hard to tell if they'r actually eating the algae or not tho :rolleyes:
 
Hum this whatever algae really grows fast... there seems to be quite alot more of them today compare to just yesterday. How should I take care of them ATM while waiting for my plants to hopefully balance things out? Siphoning on the infested leaves can't get the algae off. Even rubbing by hands is kinda hard to get them clean. Any tips? I don't think my 4 Otto are keeping out with the algae speed now :(
 
First of all, you do need to get a PO4 test kit. Check your tap and tank water. Let the tap water sit for an hour and then test for P.
You may need to dose PO4 if the water company isn't supplying it in the tap water. If you're going to dose the other elements, you need to balance that with an adequate supply of Phosphates.

This algae you are experiencing...is it green or is it brown? Oto's are not adequate for taking care of BBA if that's what you have.

Len
 
Hum finally got a PO4 test kit that hasnt' expired, after going to the 3rd fish store here..arh. Anyway I tested other things too while I'm at it:

from tap
NO3 and PO4 both 0 (town utilities say 0.4ppm NO3 average)

from tank
pH 7.3-7.4
NO3 < 5ppm
PO4 ~0 :rolleyes:
non-chelated Fe <0.1ppm
chelated Fe between 0.1-0.25ppm

The tests were done tonite (Wed), I just did a 30-40% waterchange on Sunday nite. No feeding during weekend as I was out of town.

I thought I would have enough PO3 with my heavy fish load... but guess not ;)
The NO3 is abit low too, likely due to the no-feeding weekend and waterchange I suppose. Last week testing was 5-10ppm. Maybe I should dose NO3 after every waterchange?

As for the algae... I *think it's dark green. Here's a pic:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/116137651/124543560eZjDHG
Thanks
 
Maintain N @ 5 - 10ppm, P(with Fleet Enema)@ .5 - 1.0.
In your first post of this thread you say, "....currently dosing DIY".
Is that DIY CO2?


Len
 
Originally posted by djlen
Maintain N @ 5 - 10ppm, P(with Fleet Enema)@ .5 - 1.0.
In your first post of this thread you say, "....currently dosing DIY".
Is that DIY CO2?

Len
Click to expand...

No sorry, I meant to say "DIY-trace plus K, Mg" that I mixed from raw chemicals myself. For "CO2", I'm doing Flourish Excel, 1.5mL daily.

I'm gona make some NO3 and PO4 solutions today. KNO3 and KPO4 sounds ok (with all the K)?
 
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Originally posted by djlen
KPO4?

Len
Click to expand...
Heh, I meant to say the potassium salt of PO4 like KH2PO4, K2HPO4, lazy to type sometimes :p

Anyway yesterady I added KH2PO4 and KNO3 to up my tank's PO4&NO3 to ~0.5 & 5+ ppm respectively. Hope that will take care of the balance :)
I guess KH2 is better than K2H, as I won't be adding so much K, right? Would adding pure acid form of both P and N be good? probably not huh?
 
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