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Old 18-07-2003, 11:15 AM
Reb
 
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Default another algae question

I am having a bearded algae problem. Tank parameters:

20 gal
Temp: 78-82
pH: 6.5
NH3/NH4: 0
NO2: 0
dGH: 7° or 125.3 ppm
dKH: 2° or 35.8 ppm
Fish: 2 opaline gouramis and 1 albino cory
Plants: 2 small swords, 1 large sword, some hogwart that can't decide
whether its gonna gro or die and several hagwartish looking plants that I am
unsure of their names, broader leaves than 'wort
Filter: UGF mostly, run a whisper Power Filter on the lowest flow to help
with mech filtration.
light: 25w for about 12-14 hours a day
Fertilizer: Tetra FloraPride as directed

I think I put everything I know about my tank in there.

Recently I noticed algae growing in my tank. After perusing various NG's and
asking some questions I found out it was bearded algae. I thought I'd read
to feed the plants more and they'd outcompete the algae. I doubled up on
florapride and increased light from 8 hours a day to about it's current
level of 12-14 hours. The algae has gone insane now. It seems like the only
thing it isn't goring off of is my fish.

Any suggestions. Right now it actually looks kinda neat but I think a couple
of weeks growth like it has been and all will be lost. Chemical solution?
Maybe a fish I need to add, seems I remember seeing that one particular fish
loves bearded algae but I can not find that post? Snails?

I am new to keeping nothing but live plants in a tank and need some help
please. Thank you for any you provide.

Derek


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Old 18-07-2003, 11:15 AM
LeighMo
 
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Default another algae question

How long has your tank been set up? It's normal to have outbreaks of various
kinds of algae in a new tank, as it finds its balance.

Any suggestions. Right now it actually looks kinda neat but I think a couple
of weeks growth like it has been and all will be lost. Chemical solution?
Maybe a fish I need to add, seems I remember seeing that one particular fish
loves bearded algae but I can not find that post? Snails?


People get Siamese Algae Eaters (SAEs) to take care of BBA. However, your tank
is a little small for them, since they get to be almost 6", do best in groups,
and are very active. Your calm, quiet gouramis may not appreciate SAEs as
neighbors, at least in such a small tank.

Do you have a 20 gallon long tank, or a 20 gallon high? And what kind of
lighting? A normal 20 gallon long comes with a 20 watt flourescent bulb, I
think. If that's what you have, you've got only 1 wpg, which isn't a lot.
Even if you really have 25 watts, it's still not very much.

That is probably why your plants aren't doing well -- not enough light. The
swords might be okay, because they get big and your tank isn't very high (if
it's a 20 long). They'll be able to get right up to the lights.

You should have your lights on about 12 hours a day. Cut back on the
fertilizer. With your lighting levels, you may not need any fertilizer at all.


I don't think you can use the "fertilize the plants and they'll out compete the
algae" method. You don't have enough light. You might be better off choosing
plants that are suited for your lighting level and making sure you are doing
regular water changes.

How big are the gouramis, BTW?


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/
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Old 18-07-2003, 11:15 AM
Reb
 
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Default another algae question

Thank you so much for your reply. I tried to be thorough but I guess I still
left some information out.

"LeighMo" wrote in message
...
How long has your tank been set up? It's normal to have outbreaks of

various
kinds of algae in a new tank, as it finds its balance.


My aquarium has been set up for about two months.

---SNIP---

Do you have a 20 gallon long tank, or a 20 gallon high? And what kind of
lighting? A normal 20 gallon long comes with a 20 watt flourescent bulb,

I
think. If that's what you have, you've got only 1 wpg, which isn't a lot.
Even if you really have 25 watts, it's still not very much.


20H. When you said it was probably a 20 watt I decided to check. The bulb in
the hood is only a 15w. What would be a good wpg? I think I've read 2 in
this group maybe.

---SNIP---

You should have your lights on about 12 hours a day. Cut back on the
fertilizer. With your lighting levels, you may not need any fertilizer at

all.

I will cut back right away.

I don't think you can use the "fertilize the plants and they'll out

compete the
algae" method. You don't have enough light. You might be better off

choosing
plants that are suited for your lighting level and making sure you are

doing
regular water changes.


I change about 1/3 of the water every two weeks.

How big are the gouramis, BTW?


My gouramis are about 3" each. I also added a pleco, about 4" and two
glo-lite tetra's since I wrote this. Their 12 gallon Eclipse went on the
blink.

Thanks for you advice,

Derek


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Old 18-07-2003, 11:15 AM
LeighMo
 
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Default another algae question

My aquarium has been set up for about two months.

It is still a fairly new tank, then. I wouldn't panic. Algae outbreaks are
common in new tanks.

20H. When you said it was probably a 20 watt I decided to check. The bulb in
the hood is only a 15w. What would be a good wpg? I think I've read 2 in
this group maybe.


If you want a planted tank and don't want to inject CO2, 2 wpg is a good
number. Right now, you have less than one wpg, in a fairly high tank. Even
your swords might not survive in the long term.

If you don't want to upgrade your lighting, choose plants like java fern, java
moss, and anubias. They will be fine in your tank. A low-light tank, if you
choose the right plants, can be very beautiful and easy to maintain.

At any rate, I would not put more than the recommended amount of Tetra
FloraPride in the tank with your current lighting. You may be better off not
using it at all. I suspect it's not doing your plants any good; if they don't
have enough light, fertilizer won't help.

I change about 1/3 of the water every two weeks.


You might want to up that to every week, at least until the algae problem is
solved. In fact, consider doing a large (50%) water change right now, to
eliminate some of the fertilizer you've been adding.

My gouramis are about 3" each. I also added a pleco, about 4" and two
glo-lite tetra's since I wrote this. Their 12 gallon Eclipse went on the
blink.


The increased bio-load might affect the algae. You may find a different kind
growing. Or the brush algae you have might take off. (A lot of people report
BBA prefers acidic water, and water tends to get more acidic with more fish in
the tank.)

Speaking of pH, your pH seems a bit low for your KH. With a KH of 2, your pH
should be about 7.2. Yours is 6.5. Are you adding something to the tank to
lower the pH?


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/
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