Algae growing on plants = dying plants

[Unislash]

Hello all,

I have had my 30g planted aquarium for around a year now and have only recently come across this problem. It seems as if there is algae growing on the tops of many of my plants, which is causing them to die.

Some pictures of the outbreak:

Milfoil
Hygro

As you can see, for now the hygro is fine, but my milfoil isn't able to withstand it, and to make matters worse it seems to be surreptitiously spreading across the top of my tank onto all of my plants.

I keep my lights on for about 14 hours a day, using a T5 20w fluorescent. I fertilize with a liquid fertilizer every few days. I have two filters running merrily. Can't think of much else that would help

Any ideas?

Cheers,
Unislash

PS: Yes, there is a related thread Here, but I thought I'd make a separate one for my problem

 

[dundadundun]

cut that light down to 10 hours.

are you fertilizing. if so, how and when? if not... it's time to start, i'd think.

 

[GMYukonon24s]

I agree I think you should cut down the to 10 hours or less.

 

[tbsused0327]

cut that light down to 10 hours.

are you fertilizing. if so, how and when? if not... it's time to start, i'd think.

He said that he fertilizes with liquid ferts

 

[Jspigs]

I would shorten the time the lights are on to about 10 hours a day.

 

[captaincaveman9]

I'd go less light more like 6 hours a day tops, and what liquid ferts are you using?

the fastest way to get it under control is to increase the CO2 in the tank, by either using one of the bubble systems, bubbling the gas from yeast into the tank or using excel.

 

[RustyRay]

Plants and algae are always in competition for nutrients. When the plants grow properly, they keep the algae in check. But too many nutrients --or too little-- actually benefit the algae. Too many nutrients and the algae can overwhelm the tank and grow on all the surfaces including the plants. Too few nutrients and the plants can't compete with the algae, which doesn't need much to grow. The key is to find the middle ground.

If you reduce the time the light is on, you will be hobbling the plants, and the algae will still grow, because algae doesn't require much light. You want the plants to take up the available nutrients, and they can't do that without light. 12 hours is about the right amount of time.

Milfoil is a slow growing plant and Hygro is a fast growing plant. So, instead of pouring fertilizer in the water, which benefits the algae, too, try directly giving the plants' roots what they need. A few fertilizer tabs (or balls) pushed into the soil around the roots will give the plants a boost and an advantage over the algae.

Basically, if your plants are growing now, you're adding too much fertilizer and the algae is taking up the excess. If the plants are not growing, then they don't have the proper nutrients, and therefore can't compete with the algae.

 

[Kashta]

Those are both stem plants, so that makes it easier. Trim off the top part. Not only will that get rid of the accumulation of unwanted algae, it will also stimulate NEW growth, which will then help outcompete new algae developing.

You also don't need to worry about cutting back on lighting by a lot or completely for a few days. Even in nature, the sky gets dark and cloudy sometimes.... they don't get full sun 12 hours a day... every single day. Your plants won't die from that. Besides which, we ship plants and plant cuttings all around the world where they're boxed up and kept in total darkness for days on end. That doesn't hurt them either.

When I see algae taking hold like that, I'll shut off my lights completely for a day or two... then run them for a short period of time, say 4-6 hours after that. That does reduce algae quite a lot and it doesn't harm the plants.

The other suggestions about cutting back on nutrients/ferts and a lower photoperiod to 8-10 hours a day are also good. That should prevent this from happening again.

 

[pjrichar]

start flourish excel and you should be good after that takes hold ...

 

[Unislash]

Wow! You guys are awesome. 8 posts in 9 hours (overnight, even--well, here at least).

So, what I've collected from all of your replies:

1) Reduce light hours to 10 hours a day. RustyRay, thank you for your thought-out advice here.

2) Use root tabs.

3) Cut my plants back a bit to promote growth. I do bonsai as well, and doing this certainly works with them. Thanks Kashta


A few replies:

@pjrichar, dundadundun: I have already been using flourish excel for a half-dozen months (and it is great!)

@RustyRay: My Milfoil seems to be growing on par with my hygro, if not faster . I'm not quite sure what you meant by your last paragraph... but I've only been adding a capfull every few days.

@captaincaveman9: I also already have a bubble system going. It's just normal air bubbles, though. Not sure if that is the kind of bubble system you were referring to. Let me know .

Cheers,
Unislash