Persistant green algae problem

Len, maybe you just caught me in a good mood, but you've persuaded me to persist and try to make the tank work.

How long would you recommend i black the tank out? this might sound lame, but can i turn the light on for a short while to wake up the fish so that they can eat?

So, either I'll add a DIY 2liter for addtl CO2 or order another one of those Hagen kits from bigals since I need to order a N test kit anyway :)

thanks everyone, i really appreciate your help

(btw, pics will be uploaded tonight)
 
Len, maybe you just caught me in a good mood, but you've persuaded me to persist and try to make the tank work.

How long would you recommend i black the tank out? this might sound lame, but can i turn the light on for a short while to wake up the fish so that they can eat?

So, either I'll add a DIY 2liter for addtl CO2 or order another one of those Hagen kits from bigals since I need to order a N test kit anyway :)

thanks everyone, i really appreciate your help

(btw, pics will be uploaded tonight)
 
First, make sure you have all the elements mentioned above in place(KNO3 and extra CO2 ready to start) before doing the blackout.
Then do a 50% water change, turn off lights and CO2, raise your spray bars if applicable, and cover the tank for 2 days. Then do NOTHING!!! Resist the urge to peek at the fish.....resist the urge to feed the fish......they will be fine. Leave the tank covered and the lights off.
After 2 full days, lift the cover(double layer of trash bags or blankets) and do another 50%er. Again, resist the urge to feed and re-cover the tank for 2 more days. Then another large water change. You should see a real lessening or possibly a total loss of algae. It can't handle being starved like that. The plants will be fine as well as the fish.
Think of it as a vacation for yourself.....you needed the extra time anyway, right?. The fish will be fine for 4 days without food.
Vacation is over......start the CO2 after pruning away any yukkiness(like that word?) on the plants and cleaning up any other gunk and then performing one more large water change.
Start up your ferts. according to Tom's schedule above and keep checking your pH to monitor your CO2 absorption.
Hopefully this will do it.

Len
 
I'm trying to find some Spectracide Stump Remover, and get ready some extra CO2. But here's a glimpse at the ugliness that is my tank:

algae-whiteclouds.JPG


whole-algae.JPG
 
does stump remover have to be spectracide?

I was at home depot the other day and they didn't have spectracide stump remover, but they did have another brand like scotts or something. It was in several mm grains.

I didn't get it because I was unsure if some brands of stump remover had other added ingredients.
 
Grant's Stump Remover

actually, I was wondering thing same thing. I'm not able to take the time to search AC right now, but maybe tonight I'll see what others have said. If anyone one knows the answer right off, however, please let us know.

thanks
 
I only have experience with Spectracide's. I know that Lowe's carries it. It's usually in the garden supply dept.
I have heard that there are other brands that are all KNO3, but also have heard that people have had problems with other ingredients in some. I would check the bottle for ingredients before buying or using them.

Also, a good source for it is Salt Petre, which some pharmacies carry. It is 100% KNO3.

Len
 
ok, I'm back from 6 days out of town.

Just did a 50% water change after scrubbing algae off the tank walls. I would start my black out now, however, I still havent found any KNO3.

As far as adding CO2, I'm about to order another Hagen CO2 system (don't cringe too hard, I dont have much space, and their diffusor & cannister seem to work well). So obviously I shouldnt start my blackout until the new one has arrived and I have tracked down the KNO3.

I'm wondering about O2 during the blackout: should I use my airpump 24/7 to keep the water oxygenated? Up until now, I have only had it on at night, when the plants weren't photosynthesizing (as I read about doing here at AC). So I'm wondering that now, without an HOB or the plants to give off O2, if I should have the air bubbles going all day & night.

thanks Len and everyone else for your help!
 
Running some extra air into the tank during the black-out is a good idea.
Get all your stuff in place so that you can implement them as soon as the covers come off.
Remember, the closer you can come to 25ppm/CO2 the better.

Len
 
Green light stump remover

I found this stuff at lowe's, other people on the net use it, so I decided to go with it. It's granulated instead of in prills, so it dissolves pretty fast. If I dump 1/4 tsp into the tank it's mostly dissolved before it hits the bottom.
 
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