Drowning in an algae nightmare!

myswtsins

myswtsins

Global Moderator
Jun 15, 2008
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Central NJ
Real Name
Jen
Camera Used
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS
33g flat back hex
110 watts ahsupply (3.33wpg)
Pressurized CO2, about 34ppm
Flourite black sand
EI dosing NPK & plantex csm+b, until the algae outbreak!
Ph - 6.9
Kh - 9

So I was doing EI dosing until I got a horrible outbreak of what I believed to be hair algae so I cut back the phosphates, manually removed it & upped WCs. That was well over a month ago and it just won't quit. It grew so fast it strangled my first batch of plants. Then I took out the wood and the couple of surviving plants and cleaned them all. I have since added a new batch in hope of it beating out the algae but no luck there either. The plants are currently growing decently but the algae is growing better. Within minutes of turning on the lights I can see pearling.

The algae started out as bright green strong threads & then started to become brown soft fiberlike threads. When I pull it out it just sends little fibers all over the place. Now there are a few tuffs of BBA showing up on the wood so I am ready for drastic measures! Both of my digital scales crapped out on me yesterday too so the tank didn't get any ferts today. Please help? Photos are 1 day of growth!

100_1992.JPG 100_1993.JPG 100_1995.JPG 100_1994.JPG
 
From what info I found on Clado algae it is bright green, grows in tight masses & is very tough. My stuff is brown (when compared to a piece of tough long hair algae I found it was distinctly brown), grows very loosely & almost disintegrates when you touch it.
 
Do you have any shrimp in that tank? They might eat it.

You might also try using airline tubing sucking water when you mechanically remove it, so the fibers are getting sucked out of the tank as you go and can't repopulate.
 
When all else fails, try this.

One milliliter of hydrogen peroxide per gallon of water, everyday should immediately halt any more growth. If you up this dose to once every twelve hours, you should start seeing a decline in the algae already present with a couple or three days.

If you have sensitive plants and or occupants in the tanks, such as vals, ducks feet, anacharis or shrimp, etc. You may wish to remove them while treating. Or, half the first stated dose.

This has worked VERY well for me with algae which looks very similar to the one in your pictures.

Use caution ...

Regards,
TA
 
No shrimp currently because my water does not allow for it, 0 GH.
I do scrape the algae directly into a tube but it's impossible to get all of it. I tried to take a picture today of the tiny particles but my camera couldn't focus on them.

Anyone else vote for a full tank hydrogen peroxide dip? I have 7 otos in the tank so they would definitely be removed....I am just not sure to where & of course transporting them again concerns me with their sensitive nature.

My biggest concern is what is causing this algae (whatever it is!)? I don't want it coming back! I took the wood out today & let it dry and the algae turned nearly white with just a few spots of super light green.
 
myswtsins said:
... Anyone else vote for a full tank hydrogen peroxide dip? I have 7 otos in the tank so they would definitely be removed....I am just not sure to where & of course transporting them again concerns me with their sensitive nature. ...
Click to expand...

I have a small 25 gallon guppy breeding tank with a half dozen or so oto cats in it; I have never found the otos' to be harmed by 1 ml hydrogen peroxide per day, per gallon--indeed, they have handled a dosage of 3 ml per day for a few days (or, until the algae is brought under control) with no apparent harm, and the guppies displayed no ill effects either.

However, I don't recommend that high of dosage. I use that high a level because I breed guppies, mollies and platies for sale--it is a chore to have to have to find buyers; sometimes I just give them away because of overcrowding in the tanks. But, if I ever seen the fish being injured by too high of a dosage, I would scale back immediately!

In my experience, algae is something there is no 'cure' for. Algae spores are carried on the wind, introduced by just about everything you place in the tank(s), including your hands. Since algae is a plant (or, at least, most algae display some plant-like properties), it thrives under most conditions the aquatic plants do. Or, in other words, causing a condition where it, algae, is discouraged but the plants are encouraged is akin to being able to arrange a condition(s) where swords would thrive but java moss would be discouraged. Or, in other words, virtually impossible--in my humble opinion.

I think one is wise to view algae as a 'management problem', and one which will always be with us until we are able to engineer a solution which is very species specific ... and, my knowledge indicates, such a chemical/biological, or mechanical method simply does not exist, yet.

However, with all that said, I have never seen plants fail to respond favorably when one is able to throw the balance in the plants favor. Algae is simply too efficient/good at blocking light from plants (green water or coating the vegetation), out-competing for food sources, able to get carbon from carbonates, etc. Or, in other words, a formidable adversary!

And, going even further, most of my failure(s) with aquatic plants in aquariums, and especially in my early hobby years, has been due to algae and its' affects/effects on the plants. If sufficient nutrients and micro-nutrients are present, the PH is tolerable and sufficient light is present, all plants will grow well--algae will be the only limiting factor you face.

Regards,
TA
 
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Thanks for the info!

I completely agree that you cannot eliminate algae, it is part of aquatic life. But like you said it is a management issue. I need to know what it is and/or what is causing it to get it under control. Using the HP may kill the algae (as much as it can) but I do not want to do that everyday. I do not like adding anything to my tanks to treat "symptoms", I want to get to the root of the problem and fix it. My limiting factor right now is knowledge and that's why I come here. :) You guys are always so helpful, thank you!

Unless someone objects to the HP dosing I am gonna give it a try. Once the algae dies down then I will do a few large WCs to reset the tank and try to start fresh with EI dosing again.
 
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