"Nemo" wrote in message
...
I think I should get paid for the tank I keep, or at least have it
declared
a "national resource of significant scientific interest" . Why? Because
I
grow every kind of algae known to aquarists in this tank of mine in some
quantity.

All is good, however. We are only talking a few strands/clumps/spots here
and there. Last Saturday, however, I blew it.

I'm not very good at this hobby. I only started a few months ago. Luckily,
however, I'm eager and willing to learn. And, by-and-large, there is a lot
of good information on the net that is helpful to newbies like me. But
it
gets quite confusing at times.

One of the most talked about strategies of controlling algae is that which
promotes the PMDD routine. It made sense to me, and I decided to start
mimicking the experts. Over a period of a week, I eliminated excess
phosphates (dosed with Alum), and raised NO3 and K levels to 5-10 ppm and
10-20 ppm respectively. Then I read that, at these macro nutrient levels,
dosing 2-3 times the recommended Flourish amount should be safe (and
desired). So last Saturday, after a 25% water change, I dosed the NO3, K,
and one drop of Sodium Phosphate (Fleet Enema) in the change water,
together
with a whopping 5 mL of Flourish (the entire weekly recommended dose).
Within hours, I had green beard algae spreading like fire in a dry forest.
I had other kinds of algae growing too, but green beard algae was
dominant.
It has been slowly overtaking my tank ever since. The cleanup crew of 5
Otos
and 3 SAE cannot keep up (also also have 1 glass shrimp and 3 platys, all
of
which are algae eaters).

So was it the iron, or was it the phosphate?

I have read several reports on the internet of people experiencing similar
blooms of green beard algae due to an overdose of iron (as in Flourish)!
Any similar experiences?

My BBA outbreak came from lack of CO2, lack of PMDD, and a pH crash of
sorts...

NetMax, TomBarr, Bill Kirkpatrick, and several others, have and will be on
my "MUST READ" list, especially when it comes to chemicals and additives and
such...

I've learned that it benefits us ALL for one to ask a broad based question
about situations, then more people can chime in and help. Also, if you get
the chance, ask someone to help you offline if you feel more inclined to
share 'outside' the group.

Needless to say, we're mostly 'all' learning as we go... some are just
further than others... even the experts have problems.... they just choose
not to express it all here...

Recently, I've had to take some drastic measures on my own 29g tank that had
been a guppy nursery of sorts... CO2 ran out, plants died, fish got sick,
add a bunch of other little problems and I had a Black Brush algae/ Red
Brush out break... and it took some 'elbow grease' and hard work, but ended
up going to the beginnings of my brain, and realizing, KISS, Keep it simple
stupid, and the basics will lead you back to where you want/should be...

patience grasshoppa... patience is the key to success.... learning is the
tool to turn the key to happiness...

Good luck

--
RedForeman ©® future fabricator and creator of a ratbike streetfighter!!!

==========================
2003 TRX450ES
1992 TRX-350 XX (For Sale)
1987 TRX250R (sold)
1987 CBR600 Hurricane (sold)
1987 VFR700 Interceptor (sold)
1995 TRX300ex (sold)
2000 CBR600F4 silver/red (sold) *sniff*sniff*
'98 Tacoma Ext Cab 4X4 Lifted....
==========================
ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤° `°¤ø,¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø
"By US Code Title 47, Sec.227(a)(2)(B), a computer/modem/printer
meets the definition of a telephone fax machine. By Sec.227(b)(1)(C),
it is unlawful to send any unsolicited advertisement to such equipment.
By Sec.227(b)(3)(C), a violation of the aforementioned Section is
punishable by action to recover actual monetary loss, or $500,
whichever is greater, for each violation."

If you do send me unsolicited e-mail I will proof-read it at a rate
of $100 per hour (4 hour minimum).