how do i know when it gone 2 far

H

hmt321

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Nov 21, 2005
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before i up-graded my lights to 2.5 wpg over my 40 gal, my tank was impecably clean and very nice looking.

I now have algea issues, here are my 2 threads about the hiar algea and green water
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79703
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78029

I am getting very discourged and i am temped to break down the whole tank and order new plants, kinda start over fresh instead of trying to play catch up.

the tank is just a filthy mess and it gets on my nerves, I was going to wait a few weeks and see if the fertilizers and all will do there thing but the tank is looking kinda hopeless, if i were to pull out every single plant covered with algea, i would not have any plants left.

how long should i let it go before i start over??
 
Hi hmt321, read your two threads and I think about the only thing you've really not tried is the co2. Give it whirl and see if it works, plant gurus swear by co2 to fight alage.

:)
 
yeah, im gona go that way, I just looked at the tank and kinda got disgusted


I think im gona ditch all the plants, turn the lights out for a few weeks and then start over, with C02 and the whole works, i have spent a buttload of money so far I guess another $200.00 wont kill me.
 
You got nothing to loose if you are going to ditch the plants, so give it a blackout. Plants are stronger than algae and can pull through. Add more plants then to out compete the algae. I see youve been patient (months) but your plants look good, i wouldn't ditch them just yet,
Keep it up I think your close to beating it and then you will be a pro at killing algae

good luck
 
Gotta agree with podheadx on this one, and also as I told you in the reply to your PM.
The algae will clear with time, work and proper dosing.
Get your CO2 system, set it up and then do the black out. Then re-set the tank with another WC, resume dosing and crank up the CO2. I think you will see a big improvement by doing this.
Dumping plants that can be cleaned makes no sense to me.

Len
 
One other thing. When you are ready to re-set and get everything running, let me know and I will send you some decent floating nutrient hogs to shade the tank.
They will help a ton with cleaning up the algae.

Len
 
Yep, I always thought that lack of Co2 was the problem. Too much nutrients and practically no uptake from the plants.

It's the reason algae is growing crazy instead of your plants.
 
blackout is pointless and does not fix the problem. The algae will come right back afterwards if the tank params remain the same.

You need at least SOME balance in the tank between co2, wpg, and nutrients, then you can let the nerite/sae/oto etc to keep the algae under check.

Right now looks like you are just dumping nutrients. I would suggest:

1) add co2 (diy or pressurized) at 1-2 bubble per sec 24/7 (get a cheap powerhead and turn it on when lights are off). I never trust excel, because not all the plants will benefit and it actually melts certain plants, still have a huge bottle in the closet somewhere after it melted half my tank

2) reduce nutrient dosing to 1x per week and limit only to the 3 macro + micro, none of the other stuff. I would get the seachem flourish and the 3 seachem macro and dose them per the instruction once a week.

3) need a lot more fast growing plants! get a dozen hornwort and float them in the tank and some anarcharis

4) buy 10 more nerite snails and 4 otto

5) i know you cant really change this now but your substrate is not suited for a real planted tank, especially with the high tech setup you are going for. They look just like large pebbles? you need special plant substrates like the eco-complete or ada aquasoils.


good luck!
 
you know, a good thing to do IMO is to add some java moss. it grows rampant in your light levels, and since it takes up lots of space and nutrients, overcompetes algae out. i've had my tank up for almost a year and there hasn't been a spot of algae in my tank (as far as I can see) and its thanks to the java moss most likely, and maybe my BN pleco.
 
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