Ok, it's nothing new here I have a hair algae problem. I have been tring to find bits and pieces of information from other threads and have not got anything conclusive.
Here's the facts: This might be too much info? But, I always see the posts with min. info and following Q/A ensues, I figured i'd prempt the process. sorry in advance.
size: 90 gal
substrate: ecocomplete mixed with laterite 2.5" deep w/ a top layer of med gravel at 1.5"
filters: prime 20, and a prime 30 hagen canister filters ( I also have a vortex diatom I run for about 8 hours a week after water changes to clean any thing that might get stirred up but not vaccumed out. (no carbon in the filters).
UV sterilizer: 18 watt coralife (runs at night 12 hours)
heater: under gravel cable type w/ thermostat set at 79 deg F
Co2: 10lb tank regulator with solenoid s/o with milwaukee ph controller ph limit set at 6.6 on a timer with M.H. lamps
lighting: 2 - 150 watt metal halide lights 5500k on timer runs for 11 hours a day, with compact flour that run an hour ahead and behind the M.H.
The tank has a medium bio load (50 small fish.. neons, tetras etc..), and is heavily planted. lots of hygro etc..
I do weekly 25% water changes. and clean the filters monthly.
My tap water is from a well with the folowing parameters:
PH 6.4, No2 -0ppm, No3 -40ppm, Gh -150 ppm, Kh -90ppm, Fe - 0, Po4 -0.25
My tank parameters are:
PH 7.2 in the morning w/ and 6.6 after CO2 has been running all day
No2 - 0ppm, No3 -80ppm, Gh -150ppm, Kh -110ppm, Fe -0ppm, Po4 -usually about 0.5ppm.
I dose Kent botanicals daily: Fe -2ml, k -1ml, vita - 1.2ml, micro - 8.5ml
how come I cannot ever measure any amount of Fe? should I increase this? I have played around with it but was afraid of prompting a worse bloom of algae. No matter how much I put in I can never find a measureable amount?
I know I need to starve out the algae by promoting plant growth. My plants pearl nicely they look and are growing really well, but so is the hair algae?
Here's the facts: This might be too much info? But, I always see the posts with min. info and following Q/A ensues, I figured i'd prempt the process. sorry in advance.
size: 90 gal
substrate: ecocomplete mixed with laterite 2.5" deep w/ a top layer of med gravel at 1.5"
filters: prime 20, and a prime 30 hagen canister filters ( I also have a vortex diatom I run for about 8 hours a week after water changes to clean any thing that might get stirred up but not vaccumed out. (no carbon in the filters).
UV sterilizer: 18 watt coralife (runs at night 12 hours)
heater: under gravel cable type w/ thermostat set at 79 deg F
Co2: 10lb tank regulator with solenoid s/o with milwaukee ph controller ph limit set at 6.6 on a timer with M.H. lamps
lighting: 2 - 150 watt metal halide lights 5500k on timer runs for 11 hours a day, with compact flour that run an hour ahead and behind the M.H.
The tank has a medium bio load (50 small fish.. neons, tetras etc..), and is heavily planted. lots of hygro etc..
I do weekly 25% water changes. and clean the filters monthly.
My tap water is from a well with the folowing parameters:
PH 6.4, No2 -0ppm, No3 -40ppm, Gh -150 ppm, Kh -90ppm, Fe - 0, Po4 -0.25
My tank parameters are:
PH 7.2 in the morning w/ and 6.6 after CO2 has been running all day
No2 - 0ppm, No3 -80ppm, Gh -150ppm, Kh -110ppm, Fe -0ppm, Po4 -usually about 0.5ppm.
I dose Kent botanicals daily: Fe -2ml, k -1ml, vita - 1.2ml, micro - 8.5ml
how come I cannot ever measure any amount of Fe? should I increase this? I have played around with it but was afraid of prompting a worse bloom of algae. No matter how much I put in I can never find a measureable amount?
I know I need to starve out the algae by promoting plant growth. My plants pearl nicely they look and are growing really well, but so is the hair algae?