Algae kicking my arse

Yoemen

Yoemen

In Boogeyman's closet
Nov 2, 2005
765
0
16
Galveston
Well my planted tank is coming along. Except for the hair on my plants and the beard algae growing on my rocks. I can't use Algae eaters because they would be a snack for my Jack.

Here are my params:

PH: 7.6
KH: 170
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: 20
Light: 160 Watt Shop Light with aluminum reflector housing

Dosing with Flourish and Seachem Nitrogen 2 days and Potassium and Iron on 2 other days a week. 1 40-50% water Change a week.

2 2 liter bottles DIY CO2 with an active diffuser.

Have tiger lotus, hornwort, annacharis, wisteria, moneywort, dwarf hairgrass, and 2 types of ludwigia growing in the tank. 55 gallons at 80 degrees with a Jack, 2 featherfin synos, and 1 or 2 Raphs. Haven't seen one lately so I am sure it is still there, just haven't seen him.

I have read on here, on planted tanks, and on plantgeeks for info. Any specific help would be appreciated.
 
is there a way u could get a pic of your diffuser? in my planted tank i had a "bell" type diffuser over my ludwigia and was having a horrible time with hair algea. i moved the diffuser to a spot with no plants underneath it and the hair algea really slowed down alot. you can also try 'fiesta lighting'. the lights will be on for a total of 10 or so hours but you turn them off for about 2 hours in the middle of the day. since algea takes alot longer than plants for photosythesis to start the plants will benifit longer from the lights than the algea will. it will help keep the algea a little more controllable but will also help your plants win the battle for nutrients in the tank. i would also recommend holding off on adding fertz at this time because you are really just feeding the algea, once it dies out start up the ferts agian. also just a side note, be carefull of your jack digging up plants. you may not have the problem because theres only one in the tank, but if he starts it can really be a pain in the, as you say, arse. good luck!!
 
oh and also, do you know what the bubble count is thats coming from your diy co2? also whats the yeast to sugar mixture? you may benefit from adding a little less yeast, or a little more sugar.
 
I am using the Red Sea 500 active diffuser. My yeast mixture is 2 cups sugar, 1/2 teaspoon yeast, and quarter teaspon of baking soda.

As for a bubble count... I have no idea. The diffuser has a setting to control how fast it lets it in, but after talking to others who have used this diffuser they suggested to just leave it wide open but that is all I know on it.
 
Yoemen said:
I am using the Red Sea 500 active diffuser. My yeast mixture is 2 cups sugar, 1/2 teaspoon yeast, and quarter teaspon of baking soda.

As for a bubble count... I have no idea. The diffuser has a setting to control how fast it lets it in, but after talking to others who have used this diffuser they suggested to just leave it wide open but that is all I know on it.
Click to expand...

well a general rule i go by is, 1 bubble every 3 seconds. but on a tank that size you need more, somewhere around 2 bubbles every three seconds. i looked up the diffuser you have because i personally have no experience with it, and it says in the description theres a bubble counter on your model (although its probably not to easy to see the count). bubble count is really the only way i know how to adjust co2 going into the tank on diy systems other than changing the yeast to sugar mixture (which yours looks fine). i think the reason you were advised to leave the valve wide open is because it is diy, and back pressure is never a good idea with 2L bottles if you know what i mean. soemthing i forgot to mention in my original post is i stopped using co2 for about 2 days and the algea slowed down dramaitaclly, its not enough to hurt your plants, it will just let you get the algea a little more under control. once it dies out, it usually wont come back. (problem is getting it to die out though, right :D )
 
I have mine wide open since I figure why not? if my CO2 is 33 ppm in my 20 with it wide open why not leave it that way?

Don't know if it is correct though. I'm getting 3 bubbles per second entering the reactor and hardly any is spitting out of it so most of it is getting diffused. I think I'm going to use less yeast next time. I use the 3 cups sugar, 1 TBS baking soda and 1 tsp yeast in a 2 liter. if yuo get the read seas bubble counter you ca get a better idea of your bubble rate and when to change the mixture.

Hair algae might also be from too much excess Iron...
 
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hi - I think that it's all about balance. I'd cut down on the ferts for awhile and add some floating plants. Maybe prune some of the rooted plants to encourage rapid growth. You need to have the plants eating up all of the nutrients so that the algae starves. Sometimes after I add ferts the algae blooms, but then the plants take over again. I added some shrimp to my tank to assist, but they would just be food for your Jack! Is that his picture? Splendid looking fish. I'm surprised that he doesn't uproot and eat your plants?
 
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