Lighting causing HUGE algea boom

[Sly_Marbo]

As you can see from the name, I bought a new 24'' PC, 65 watts for my 20 high. As of now, the plants are covered in beard and thread algea. I have been trying to remove the large clumps of it with a fork. Any ideas for getting rid of it?
I've heard CO2 injection will help, as well as octinoculus catfish.

 

[kyle3]

you'll never get rid of the algae with that much light unless you have enough CO2 and ferts for the plants to make use of it.

 

[TetraFreak]

Also, Get some Anachairis or other nutrient absorbing plants that will eat up the stuff that the algae needs to grow!

 

[Hannys_Papa]

Kyle3 "nailed it".
with 3+ Wpg you need CO2 and make sure you don't run out of macro nutrients - and dosing micros is a good idea aswell.
Its also important to have lots of plants in the tank when having that much light - so the plants use the light not the algae.

 

[Sly_Marbo]

That has to be the fastest reply to a post
So CO2 will work, I think I'll try a DIY one
I understand that i can never fully get rid of algea, but my tank is covered in it. I'll give those plants a try, thanks

 

[Sly_Marbo]

I do have planty of plants in the tank ( I gotta post some pics) I tried that first to see if that got rid of the algea.

 

[Hannys_Papa]

Thats good. Then make sure you have a high enough kH (carbonate hardness) of at least 3-4 before you start injecting CO2. Otherwise there is a risk of a pH crash.

 

[Lauren]

After you get the CO2 and the nutrients up, turn off the lights for an hour or two in the afternoon. The metabolism for algae is slower than plants, it will take them longer to "boot up" after the lights come back on, stifling their growth.