diatom issues

[goalieman59]

I have had a brown algae out brake out in my tank, I need so help. It is a 55g with all real plants, real drift wood, and no plastic anything in it. I have a pressurized CO2 system on the tank running about 1-2bps. The lights come on at 9am run till about 2pm then go off till 4pm then stay on until about 9pm. Am I doing something wrong, I also can seem to keep any otto, or bn pleco alive in the tank could this have something to do with that. But I do have a clown pleco that is doing great. For inhabitants the tank has 3 balas, 2 hatchets, 6 BS tetras, 2 green corys, and 6 angles(waiting for pairs.) I also does with fert tabs for my swords, and kent's proplant and excel, flourish, and trace. I have tried the algae fix from api. Can any one give me some help with this? Thanks

 

[jmhart]

I have had a brown algae out brake out in my tank, I need so help. It is a 55g with all real plants, real drift wood, and no plastic anything in it. I have a pressurized CO2 system on the tank running about 1-2bps. The lights come on at 9am run till about 2pm then go off till 4pm then stay on until about 9pm. Am I doing something wrong, I also can seem to keep any otto, or bn pleco alive in the tank could this have something to do with that. But I do have a clown pleco that is doing great. For inhabitants the tank has 3 balas, 2 hatchets, 6 BS tetras, 2 green corys, and 6 angles(waiting for pairs.) I also does with fert tabs for my swords, and kent's proplant and excel, flourish, and trace. I have tried the algae fix from api. Can any one give me some help with this? Thanks

Ok, couple of thigns:

1)In a planted tank, never use any anti-algae marketed product. If it's marketed to kill algae, it's almost certainly not good for your plants. Just in case anybody questions this because of Flourish Excel, Excel isn't marketed to kill algae.

2)How long has the tank been setup? Newer tanks almost always have algae issues. Additionally, recently I've had a diatom outbreak in one of my tanks. I let the co2 drop accidentally and out came the diatoms. How are you measuring co2 concentration?

3)Have you tested your water parameters? How's your cycle? That could be effecting this fish?

 

[goalieman59]

Ok, couple of thigns:

1)In a planted tank, never use any anti-algae marketed product. If it's marketed to kill algae, it's almost certainly not good for your plants.

The one is bought is said to be plant safe.

Just in case anybody questions this because of Flourish Excel, Excel isn't marketed to kill algae.

2)How long has the tank been setup?

The tank has been set up for over 8 months, but was recently changed to a 55g from a 45g.

Newer tanks almost always have algae issues. Additionally, recently I've had a diatom outbreak in one of my tanks. I let the co2 drop accidentally and out came the diatoms. How are you measuring co2 concentration?

I am using a drop checker, but i dont have any 4dkh, so I followed the instructions on the bottle.

3)Have you tested your water parameters? How's your cycle? That could be effecting this fish?

I Tested the the water the last weekend everything was good, I am waiting on my GH and KH test kit as we speak.

 

[jmhart]

How long ago did you switch over to the 45g? New glass tanks(or those that have been dry for a long time), even if the filter and everything is already established, will have diatom outbreaks.

 

[goalieman59]

The switch was about 3 months, the tank was a used tank with some water in the bottom of the tank but it was not full. If that was the problem what can I do to help get rid of them?

 

[gcis]

You know it is kind of funny because I was in this same situation about a month ago. I was battling diatoms for about 8 months in my 55 gallon. It was new when I set it up and I constantly battled the stuff. I had posted about my problem awhile ago and some members suggested that I remove the activated carbon and ammo chips from my filter. Once I just used the mechanical filtration and started dosing ferts and Flourish Excel my plants did alot better and my diatoms have all but vanished. Some of the stuff I read about diatoms had mentioned something about them lasting in a new tank for up to a year because of he silicates leaching out of the glass. I would just keep up your water changes, dose ferts, and keep up your carbon source. also, ottos love em, at least mine do, so that helped but definitely don't add fish to fix the problem.