killing algae while encouraging plants to grow

[Lauren]

I think I'm between a rock and a hard place. This is in a 45gallon 2.8wpg I have these little green spots of algae on my glass, and a bit of hair algae. Then, on the flip side, some of my plants are showing signs of mal nutrition. I am injecting co2, but its less than it should be (9.6ppm) I was going to do the 2 liter soda bottle co2 retrofit this weekend. I also use flourish, and could use info on how to tell what nutriants are lacking in my tank.

So here is the question. How do I kill the algae while allowing my plants to prosper? I have 5 otos in the tank, and have the light set to turn off for an hour in the afternoon. If I add more co2 is it likely that the algae would blossom?

I attached a picture of what the tank currently looks like, in case it helps

 

[Lauren]

ops forgot the pic:

 

[Blinky]

IME, increasing CO2 and ferts will help the plants outcompete the algae - raising CO2 is especially helpful in ridding the tank of hair algae, and many people here have use Flourish Excel to kill off hair algae as well.
I have a high light tank and try to keep my levels at: NO3 10ppm, PO4 1ppm, CO2 25 - 30ppm. I mix my own PMDD (in my tank specs), but whether you mix your own or use bottled ferts I think balancing nutrients and making sure the plants have enough of everything is the key - if they're well nourished and growing well, algae doesn't have a chance to really take hold.

 

[Lauren]

I don't know how to tell if my tank has enough nutriants aside from CO2. How do I figure that out?

Thanks Blinky for your help.

 

[SnakeIce]

in a planted tank that you are adding CO2, the levels of nutrients to shoot for is 5-10 ppm nitrate, and 1 ppm phosphate.

if you get that level of nitrate from KNo3, or stump remover(grants is what I have) the Potassium(K) from that will be enough. I have premixed a solution up so I can add 1 cc to my 20 gallon tank and have 1 ppm in the tank from that addition.

if someone can post the link to Chuck Gadd's fert calculators.... I'm under web probation with my wife and can't paste that link in here right now.

anyway Grants stump remover, and I forget the other stump remover that is pure KNO3... again I'd look it up but don't have the clearance to do my own searches... yes I'm getting rather annoyed at the inability to provide the sources of my information.

and Fleet enima as a source of Potassium. about a drop per 5 gallons is the 1 ppm mark that you shouldn't go over with that nutrient.


after you get those addressed and the plants start growing again you can start adding your favorite micronutrient in. I'm using Flourish. if your plants arn't growing much water changes generally provide the majority of the micronutrients needed.

look for plantbrain's posts here in this forum on this subject as well he is the source of my information

 

[Mooch28]

I just recently added C02 and 3.7 watts per gallon. within the last few weeks, my algae has really begain to die, and the plants are just taking off amzingly!

The key, keep nitrates at around 10-15ppm, phosphates between .50-1ppm, and dose micros weekly or how ever much you think your plants need. Dont over do it though on the micros, as the iron in them can cause major BBA or other algae issues. Also, load your tank with some good algae cleaners.

Otto cats for Brown and green algae.
Siamese algae eaters for Hair algae and other stringy or green algae!

It will take some time though. Within a month or maybe a few weeks, you should see your tank take some change, especially when the plants begin to grow. Just dont give up though, you will eventually get it right. It took me a very long time (3-4 months), to learn how to get the tank right, but only a few weeks once i figured out what to do!


EDIT: I just realized your C02 was only aroundd 9 ppm, that too low imo. You gotta get it up too atleast 15-25 ppm for it to be effective enough! Try adding more yeast, thats what i here will to get your levels up with DIY. I could be wrong though as ive never done DIY, but rather started off with pressurized.

 

[Blinky]

Here's the link to Chuck's planted aquaria - it's a great site, the calculator is wonderful.

Just a minor thing, SnakeIce you mentioned using fleet as a source of potassium - I know you meant phosphate, just wanted to make sure it's clear for Lauren.

Lauren, if you don't have kits for NO3, PO4, pH and KH I'd suggest getting them - it makes managing a planted tank a whole lot easier. Check out the sticky on ferts as well as Chuck's planted site, that should help with knowing how much of each micro and macro nutrient to dose

 

[Lauren]

I only have a 1 liter CO2 bottle now, I'm upgrading to a 2 liter this weekend.

 

[betty]

Betty

I also had horrible problems with algae and finally won the battle. Flourish excel on a daily basis did it. I mix flourish, flourish excel, iron, potassium, nitrogen, phosphate in a bottle enough for two weeks and dose daily. The plants get enough but the algae doesn't and all is growing rapidly. I have a two bottle co2 system and change one bottle weekly. Betty

 

[Lauren]

I also had horrible problems with algae and finally won the battle. Flourish excel on a daily basis did it. I mix flourish, flourish excel, iron, potassium, nitrogen, phosphate in a bottle enough for two weeks and dose daily. The plants get enough but the algae doesn't and all is growing rapidly. I have a two bottle co2 system and change one bottle weekly. Betty

Wow, the grocery store must think you bake A LOT of sweet bread with all that yeast and sugar!

Thanks a lot for everyones help. I already upped the fert and once the DIY CO2 is up and ready, hopefully I'll be showing that algae whos boss.