Blackout a little scary

[Lorazoo]

Well, I did a blackout for 5 days as suggested by you guys to help with algae. It seemed to knock back the hair algae, but the green algea that grows in patches on the glass has gotten worse.

Also, I had bought some Wendtii, Red version a few days before I did the blackout. Now they have lost all of their leaves. they look healthy, even the leaves that fell off look healthy. I called the place I got them from and they said this can happen with Cryps? He said if they don't look mushy they might come back.

Has anyone ever had this experience? Know how to combat the algae on the glass? Should I be moving my Otto cats in there?

 

[Quartermain]

Rule #1) You can't kill a crypt.
Rule #2) Crypts are notoriously susceptible to changes in the environment.
Rule #3) If you think your crypt is dieing refer to rule #1.

 

[djlen]

I agree with Quartermain on all three of his 'rules'. Cryptocoryne tends to 'melt', sometimes for no reason at all. A blackout can trigger this as well.

I'd advise not disturbing the roots and they will probably come back over time.
You need to balance the tank if you want to rid yourself of the algae. The black out will kill it off temporarily, but it will return in an unbalanced situation.

Len

 

[twig]

when i get algae it's because my plants aren't getting the right things they need to grow ... >.>

Or i'm just adding too much ...

 

[Lorazoo]

I just got in my Co2, which is now running. I gave them planted fertilizer tablets from aquariumplants.com before the blackout. My lights are 2WPG. Do you think I should also add liquid fertilizer or see how they do now that they have the propper CO2. I dont have fish in there so I have the CO2 at about 30ppm, which I will lower before I add fish.

 

[phanmc]

Algae is the result of excess nutrients in the water, usually one of the macro nutrients (NKP or nitrogen, potassium, and phosphate). Plants will consume these but a balanced level of the three are required or else the plant won't be able to effectively use all of the nutrients, allowing algae to grow from the excess.

Since you don't have any fishes, a lack of N (ammonia and nitrate) may be a problem. Excess phosphates can be a problem since decaying matter like dying plants will release phosphates so get a phosphate test kit to see if you have a high phosphate level. Potassium isn't easily measured but you usually have to add K and may be deficient here as well.

 

[Lorazoo]

Well, the aldae isnt too bad. Just some on the glass which i can clean off. you are right, I have no nitrates right now. I will be adding fish next week, so hopefully the tank will find a balance. I was told by the LFS to not run my lights more than 8 hours a day. Right now I am running them 12 hours a day. If my phosphates are high, how would i lower them? water changes? I will work on getting more of the dying plant matter out of the tank.

 

[phanmc]

8-12 hrs a day light period for a planted tank is common.

There are phoshate sponges out there but a water change will do and costs nothing.

If you haven't read the fertilizing sticky, please do. It will help alot in knowing what to add and how to do it cheaply. Giving the plants all of their nutrients will allow them to grow and outcompete the algae. If the fertilizing sticky is a little intimidating, ask away and we'll explain as simply as possible

About the hard green spot algae on the glass, even the best kept tanks will have that problem occasionally. You'll just have to scrub away at it. You'll never completely beat algae, but a well maintained tank will slow it down considerably.

 

[Lorazoo]

The alge on the glass is the main problem right now. The fertilizer sticky is just very confusing to me. Too many ratios and different compounds. I am hoping I can do well with the fertilizer tablets and the liquid fertilizer. I guess if it doesnt work I will be coming back and asking more. I figure i need algae anyway if I want to have Otto cats in the tank.

 

[Lorazoo]

I would like to add Nitrate, since I have none in the tank. I see the sticky says Spectracide Stump Remover, but I can't find anywhere telling me how much to add. Dosing these liquid ferts i see how it can become exspensive. Just working with all of these different things, making solutions is a bit overwhelming. Ill use the liquids I have now and see how things go. But I definately need to get a nitrate source since none of liquids contain nitrate or Phosphorus.