Algae growing in my tank - Please Advise

[oztun]

I have a 29gallon tank that should be half way or almost through cycling. Two large plants and six glow light tetras. I have about 85 watts of lighting and I've put a bit of liquid fertilizer in. I'm starting to have algae growing on the leaves of one of my plants. I'm sure this is caused by running my lights for 14 hours a day. My timer broke so I turn them on in the morning and some nights i don't come in till 3-4 in the morning to shut them off.

If I buy a new timer and only run the lights 8 hours a day, will the algae go away? How many hours a day should I run the lights?

 

[snakeskinner]

I've got timers on my lights and it doesn't faze the algae. algae eating fish are one method. another method I havn't tried yet is either something to absorb phosphates (phos-zorb or similar) or add a large amount of potassium. these methods were recommended by plant people to me but I have yet to try them. Kyle

 

[oztun]

Well my fertilizers main ingredients are Potassium and Iron however I haven't been adding too much because I didn't want to over do it. It is Kent's fert. with no Phosphates.

I have a carbon filter, wonder if that is removing the fertilizer before it has a chance to do anything.

 

[OnyxFishies]

Hmmm.. move this thread to freshwater plants?

I'm a newbie to aquarium plants, but from what I've seen with 85 watts of lighting on a 29 gal tank you need CO2 injection to help combat the algae. The plants are (most likely) not getting enough CO2 to be able to use the light to its fullest extent, and as such will only take in the nutrients they need, which with ferts is probably much less than is what is available.

The deal is this: The plants need CO2, macronutrients, micronutrients, and light. Limiting the ammount of any one of these will cause the plants to only use what they need of the others. Individual tanks will vary, but with nearly 3 watts per gallon of lighting and no CO2, the CO2 is usually whats limiting the plants. The ideal balance is (from what I've read, not my own experience) to have the macronutrients be what is limiting the plants growth. That way, the plants will use up nearly all of em, and the plants will compete with the algae for em. And the plants will win. I'm not saying starve the plants, but give em enough CO2 and the plants will starve the algea for nutrients.

In answer to the lighting question, I've seen most recommendations for length of time to be 10-14 hours, basically as close to the plant's natural day/night schedule as possible. Too little being just that, and too much just encouraging the algea.