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Old 20-04-2003, 07:23 AM
dpots
 
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Default Green Hair Algae

Does anyone have any suggestions for getting rid of Green Hair Algae?
My 60g tank has been taken over by this stuff. It is on all of my
plants. I have 20 amano shrimp and 8 otos in the tank, but they don't
seem to be eating it. Is there something better out there that will
get rid of it. My tank is densely planted with anubias, cabomba,
hornwort, hygro, java fern, java moss, najas grass, jungle val,
italian val, elodia, and diandra. All of the plants are growing quite
well, but the leaves are getting covered with this tough green hair
algae. My lighting is on for 10 hours and consists of 4 48"
flourescents (flora grow bulbs). I also run a diy CO2 system and
filter the tank via an aquaclear 500 power filter. I complete a 30%
water change weekly.

Any help or advice!
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Old 20-04-2003, 07:23 AM
Dave Millman
 
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Default Green Hair Algae

dpots wrote:

Does anyone have any suggestions for getting rid of Green Hair Algae?
My 60g tank has been taken over by this stuff. It is on all of my
plants. I have 20 amano shrimp and 8 otos in the tank, but they don't
seem to be eating it. Is there something better out there that will
get rid of it. My tank is densely planted with anubias, cabomba,
hornwort, hygro, java fern, java moss, najas grass, jungle val,
italian val, elodia, and diandra. All of the plants are growing quite
well, but the leaves are getting covered with this tough green hair
algae. My lighting is on for 10 hours and consists of 4 48"
flourescents (flora grow bulbs). I also run a diy CO2 system and
filter the tank via an aquaclear 500 power filter. I complete a 30%
water change weekly.


This is the information you provided:

60gallon tank, densly planted
160 watts flourescent lighting (reflectors?), 10 hours per day
DIY CO2
External power filter with bubble-over return
30% water change weekly

Here's what we need to know:
pH? KH? These will tell us available CO2.
NO3 (Nitrate)? Available nitrogen
Ammonia and nitrites should be zero, yes?
What kind of substrate?
What ferts or additives, if any?

The bottom line is, there is enough light in your tank, but not enough of
some nutrients to enable the higher plants to utilize available nutrients,
so the algae enjoying what's available. Once we figure out what's missing
and add it, the higher plants will be able to outcompete the algae again.



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Old 20-04-2003, 07:23 AM
Robin Pereira
 
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Default Green Hair Algae


"dpots" wrote in message
om...
Does anyone have any suggestions for getting rid of Green Hair Algae?
My 60g tank has been taken over by this stuff. It is on all of my
plants. I have 20 amano shrimp and 8 otos in the tank, but they don't
seem to be eating it. Is there something better out there that will
get rid of it. My tank is densely planted with anubias, cabomba,
hornwort, hygro, java fern, java moss, najas grass, jungle val,
italian val, elodia, and diandra. All of the plants are growing quite
well, but the leaves are getting covered with this tough green hair
algae. My lighting is on for 10 hours and consists of 4 48"
flourescents (flora grow bulbs). I also run a diy CO2 system and
filter the tank via an aquaclear 500 power filter. I complete a 30%
water change weekly.

Any help or advice!


I have noticed, and it has been posted here a number of times, that high
levels of iron promote the growth of green hair algae. Are you dosing an
iron supplement? Can you test your iron level?

Robin P.


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Old 20-04-2003, 07:23 AM
dpots
 
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Default Green Hair Algae

All great suggestions, but also very different. Some additional
information is that my ph=7.6, temp=80, kh=140, substrate=75 pounds of
fluorite, no additives or supplements provided.

The diy CO2 seams to be working quite well as all of the plants seem
to be growing nicely and are pearling and misting oxygen bubbles.

I hope this new info helps. Thanks!


Bill Beam wrote in message . ..
On 27 Feb 2003 08:05:26 -0800, (dpots) wrote:

Does anyone have any suggestions for getting rid of Green Hair Algae?
My 60g tank has been taken over by this stuff. It is on all of my
plants. I have 20 amano shrimp and 8 otos in the tank, but they don't
seem to be eating it. Is there something better out there that will
get rid of it. My tank is densely planted with anubias, cabomba,
hornwort, hygro, java fern, java moss, najas grass, jungle val,
italian val, elodia, and diandra. All of the plants are growing quite
well, but the leaves are getting covered with this tough green hair
algae. My lighting is on for 10 hours and consists of 4 48"
flourescents (flora grow bulbs). I also run a diy CO2 system and
filter the tank via an aquaclear 500 power filter. I complete a 30%
water change weekly.

Any help or advice!



You're leaving your lights on too long. Limit to 8hrs a day. Wait a
week and the hair algae will be gone.



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Old 20-04-2003, 07:23 AM
Dave Millman
 
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Default Green Hair Algae

dpots wrote:

All great suggestions, but also very different.


Regarding your lights being on too long, I am not familiar with the reasons for that recommendation and
will not comment.

Some additional
information is that my ph=7.6, temp=80, kh=140, substrate=75 pounds of
fluorite, no additives or supplements provided.

The diy CO2 seams to be working quite well as all of the plants seem
to be growing nicely and are pearling and misting oxygen bubbles.


Now here's what we can piece together:


60gallon tank, densly planted
160 watts flourescent lighting (reflectors?), 10 hours per day
DIY CO2
External power filter with bubble-over return

pH=7.6, kh=140 yields a CO2 level of 5.9 ppm at the time you measured using the calculator at
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_co2chart.htm. Probably higher in the morning, lower at night.

You have not mentioned fish load or Nitrate level. But I'll bet that Nitrates are near zero, and other
nutrients are low as well, given that you are injecting CO2 and "all the plants seem to be growing
nicely". They are using whatever nutrients are available in your tap water.

Suggestions:

1. Read about PMDD he
http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Fertilizer/

2. Measure Nitrates before you start dosing KNO3. It's not safe to add nitrates
to a tank with fish unless you know the level first. The target range for a
planted tank is around 10ppm, you are probably under 5ppm.

3. High iron is indeed a possible cause of green hair algae. It certainly is in
my tank. Contact your water department to request a water quality report,
or test your iron. It seems unlikely that you have excess iron if you are not
adding trace fertilizers AND your plants are growing. But if there is a high
level in your tap water, that could be the source.


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Old 20-04-2003, 07:23 AM
dpots
 
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Default Green Hair Algae

Great information Dave. Here is some more input on my fish load. I
currently have 4 medium sized boesmani rainbows, 4 small iranian
rainbows, 8 otos, 30 amano shrimp, 8 various corydoras. I am not sure
what my nitrates are currently, as I am out of the test kits for
Nitrates and have not ordered new ones yet. I believe they are low at
this time. I will be getting a dry goods shipment from Big Al's soon
with new test kits. As far as the iron goes, I have no idea what the
levels are. I will try to get a report from the local water company
and see what they say.

Is there any reason why none of my otos or amano shrimp seem to be
interested in eating this hair algae. They clean the driftwood and
rocks just fine, but seem to leave the plants to fend for themselves.

Thanks

Dave Millman wrote in message ...
dpots wrote:

All great suggestions, but also very different.


Regarding your lights being on too long, I am not familiar with the reasons for that recommendation and
will not comment.

Some additional
information is that my ph=7.6, temp=80, kh=140, substrate=75 pounds of
fluorite, no additives or supplements provided.

The diy CO2 seams to be working quite well as all of the plants seem
to be growing nicely and are pearling and misting oxygen bubbles.


Now here's what we can piece together:


60gallon tank, densly planted
160 watts flourescent lighting (reflectors?), 10 hours per day
DIY CO2
External power filter with bubble-over return

pH=7.6, kh=140 yields a CO2 level of 5.9 ppm at the time you measured using the calculator at
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_co2chart.htm. Probably higher in the morning, lower at night.

You have not mentioned fish load or Nitrate level. But I'll bet that Nitrates are near zero, and other
nutrients are low as well, given that you are injecting CO2 and "all the plants seem to be growing
nicely". They are using whatever nutrients are available in your tap water.

Suggestions:

1. Read about PMDD he
http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Fertilizer/

2. Measure Nitrates before you start dosing KNO3. It's not safe to add nitrates
to a tank with fish unless you know the level first. The target range for a
planted tank is around 10ppm, you are probably under 5ppm.

3. High iron is indeed a possible cause of green hair algae. It certainly is in
my tank. Contact your water department to request a water quality report,
or test your iron. It seems unlikely that you have excess iron if you are not
adding trace fertilizers AND your plants are growing. But if there is a high
level in your tap water, that could be the source.

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Old 13-06-2004, 06:03 AM
kevin
 
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Default Green Hair Algae

Hi All,
Sorry about not quoting any previous messages. Anyway, I posted this
message earlier in another thread and thought it was applicable to
this topic, so I'm re-posting in case you didn't catch it.

In my experience, FFF are very good filamentous algae eaters. I
haven't seen a filamentous algae they won't eat - but like pretty much
every fish out there, they will eat flake food instead of algae if
given the opportunity.

Generally, most fish will eat a bit of algae, rotting leaves,
detritus, etc, and so I always keep feedings in my planted tanks to a
minimum (often skipping several days at a time).

Incidentally, I believe (from experience) that the absolute best
solution for a tank that has an algae problem is 5 days of total
darkness (no lights, cover with thick blanket) followed by a 50% water
change. Depending on the kind of algae, you may need to pick at a bit
of the algae that has died and vacuum it out with the big water
change. All of your plants and fish (and corals, if sal****er) will
survive this treatment.

Take care,
Kevin
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