Attack of the killer algae

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orgetorix

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Jul 23, 2003
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First, the tank psecs:

300 gallon
100% flourite
576W PC
Pressurized CO2
Tank about 1 month old.

OK....my tank is set up. I have quite a few plants. Unfortunately, I had a bunch of fish dumped on me, and I have been so far unable to get rid of most of them. Over that least week and a half, I noticed fuzz algae on the glass and leaves of my plants. Since, for some odd readon, I cannot find the most common and effective algae eaters, I ordered a bunch of SEAs, Ottos, and Bristlenose Plecos. I was able to find a farowella and have some mollies that seem to be dutifully taking care of business.

The fuzz algae was almost completely under control within a few days, but there were some green and brown spots on the sides, and a green tinge on the substrate and rocks. I did a water change and cleaned the sdes thoroughly. I asked my LFS guy (who is usually quite knowledgeable) and he suggested that I probably have way too many nutrients (I haven't dosed any ferts yet). He gave me a bout 50 stems of anacharis and a bunch of floating plants (water lettuce, frogbit, and duckweed). He said that these would help suck up the excess nutrients and starve the algae.

The result: disaster. I came home from work the next day and there was a ton of green spot algae on the sides and what appears to be a case of green water. Now I am thinking that I may have the opposite problem and not have enough nutrients to allow the plants to out-compete the algae. I don't have a test kit yet and no fertilizer. I was going to wait awhile before dosing ferts, but since things are obviously out of whack, I think I may need to start. What are your opinions about a good solution? I think I will start a blackout as my plants and fish seem healthy enough to endure. Please help ASAP. Thanks.
 
SLOW DOWN> Think your tank too young now, and algae has a large "foothold". Do not think tank too low on nutrients. LFS stuff will help, but not overnight. Just wait out the algae bloom. Do you measure for phosphate?? Think that is maybe it is a little high (you said you have new/lots of fish). Go a little slow in begining with nutrients. Check for nitrates and phosphate, then go from there.
 
What kind of plants do you have other than those mentioned?
Sounds like you have hit it on the head. Plants can store a few weeks of nutrients and then need to have them replenished. How are they growing? Not the new ones.....the original plants.
Your lighting is reasonable. Is it CF lighting?
Also, if you are over feeding your fish, especially with dry food, you could be loading up on P and this will increase the balance issue.
You are using CO2. What is your kH - what is your pH?
If it was my tank: First, scrub and clean up the algae followed immediately by a large water change.
Try to find some Otos and an SAE. They love the stuff you have.
Check out the sticky at the top of the page and pick up the N,K,P and Traces that you will need, and begin dosing lightly. No P or N until you find out what's in the tank. Test your tap water for both as well. Leave a sample on the counter for at least 2 hours and then test it.
Once you know your kH/pH ratio you can adjust your CO2 for 20 -30ppm. If you are dosing CO2 blindly it's dangerous for the fish.

Don't be discouraged. I'm convinced that almost all tanks are subject to this or a similar mess until they get established and build a bio-filter. BTW, what kind of filter are you using and what's in it(media)?
You really need to have test kits for pH, kH, Nitrates, and IMO Phosphates.

Len
 
First of all, I feel for you. I had to tear a salt water tank down due to algae.

Second of all, algae feeds on nutrients and light.
Where is your tank sitting? Does it get natural sunlight? Direct or indirect? Have you tested your tap water for Iron, Nitrate, or phosphate?

All this time I thought I wasn't doing anything right for my salt water tank. I've tested my water for nitrate, made sure I didn't over feed. I've made sure it didn't get enought sunlight.

Who would've figured out that it was my tap water that was the problem!?!?!?!?!

Good luck.
 
If you want my uneducated opinion on the green water.....you may want to start considering a UV sterilizer. You may be able to get things under control, or you may spend the next few months doing everything right and not acomplishing anything. A sterilizer would clear you up in a few days...then you would actually be able to SEE your plants when you move on to the next step..... focusing on getting the plants growing well.

Again, just my plant newbie opinion.
 
Your tank is a little "young". Give it time to settle, it was not anything you did or didn't do. This is what happens to "NEW" tanks. I had same problem when I moved established tank just to next room. Algae bloom (green) followed by turf algae. Now my tank is as clean as can be. Plants growing just great. I used a Magnum filter with the micron cartridge to remove the green water. The turf algae I just kept cleaning every few days till it just stopped growing. Did not use any chemicals. Now all clean.
Be patient==It will be great!!! And you can look back at this with pride!!
 
Green Water Update

I added 6 SAEs and 10 Ottos yesterday. By this morning, there is a noticable decrease in the spot algae. The water is still green, but now that I can see better through the sides, It isn'at all that bad. At least in comparison to some of the other GW cases I have seen. I still have no test kist for some nutrients. I do have pH, KH, GH, Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate. I think I'll try to pick some others up today. I also placed an order for a UV sterilizer and a diatom filter. The plants I can see in the tank look pretty healthy. Except for one Anubias Nana, which has a yellowing leaf. Thanks for all your suggestions.
 
Re: Green Water Update

Originally posted by orgetorix
I also placed an order for a UV sterilizer and a diatom filter
Click to expand...

One or the other would have been fine.....unless you absolutley require the crystal clean water the diatom filter will give you.
 
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