help! algae has arrived.

[trashion]

oh dear.

so i recently upgraded my lighting on my 15 gallon from a 15-watt standard fluorescent light strip to a 55 watt T6. i heeded the warning of a member, and began adding CO2 via the jungle CO2 fizz factory system [1.5 tabs 2x a week]

unfortunately, i've now got algae.

here are the tank stats:
-planted lightly to moderately, several java fern, 2 anubias barteri, 2 echinodorus bleheri, several pieces of anacharis, 2 anubias afzeli
-eco-complete substrate
-24" x 12" x 12"
-aquaclear 30 filter with biomax, carbon, and sponge
-100 watt heater
-temp: stays around 80 degrees
-tank inhabitants: 5 skirt tetras, 4 cardinal tetras, 3 otocinclus.
-weekly water changes of 20% with some vaccuuming
-55 watt light on a timer from 10 AM to 8 PM, 10 hours on, 14 off.
-dose with flourish 2x weekly.
-pH is around 7.8 before adding co2, haven't measured it again
-CO2 doesn't get much higher than 3ppm
-KH is around 9.

the otos haven't touched the algae. it looks somewhat fluffy and bright green. perhaps hair algae? NONE of it is on the glass, the glass is spotless. there's a little bit on the driftwood, a little on my lava rock, but a lot is just growing on the substrate. should i start adding more co2 tabs? start using flourish excel again? i had been dosing daily, but i've slowed to only a few times a week, since i started with the CO2.

[Damon]

Simple. Too much light coupled with not enough co2, not enough plants, and not enough fast growers. All you plants are low light plants and you have none in there to absorb the excess nutrients. You have thread algae. You will need to add more fast growing plants, and increase the co2 or reduce the light. Many species of barbs will eradicate the stuff. Remove what you can. Spot dosing of H2O2 works in small amounts.

[JustOneMore20]

Originally Posted by trashion

oh dear.

so i recently upgraded my lighting on my 15 gallon from a 15-watt standard fluorescent light strip to a 55 watt T6. i heeded the warning of a member, and began adding CO2 via the jungle CO2 fizz factory system [1.5 tabs 2x a week]

The Fizz Factory isn't going to do you much good. You'd be better off with a yeast DIY system.

unfortunately, i've now got algae.

When the nutrient/light/co2 relationship is out of balance, algae is your result.

here are the tank stats:
-planted lightly to moderately, several java fern, 2 anubias barteri, 2 echinodorus bleheri, several pieces of anacharis, 2 anubias afzeli

The only fast growing plant you have is Anacharis. You should add more fast growing plants like Hygro, Rotala, Ludwigia.....to outcompete the algae for light and nutrients.

-weekly water changes of 20% with some vaccuuming

I'd bump that up to 40 or 50% weekly. You have a decent fish load.

-55 watt light on a timer from 10 AM to 8 PM, 10 hours on, 14 off.

You could try cutting back to 8 hours until you get more fast growing plants.

-CO2 doesn't get much higher than 3ppm

Thats about how much you'd have in the tank without the Fizz Factory.

the otos haven't touched the algae. it looks somewhat fluffy and bright green. perhaps hair algae? NONE of it is on the glass, the glass is spotless. there's a little bit on the driftwood, a little on my lava rock, but a lot is just growing on the substrate. should i start adding more co2 tabs? start using flourish excel again? i had been dosing daily, but i've slowed to only a few times a week, since i started with the CO2.

The algae sounds like Fuzz algae, which is fluffy-ish and bright green. Here is a link to a picture (hopefully its there for you) http://aquariumalgae.blogspot.com/20...uzz-algae.html. It can be caused by a nutrient imbalance. I suggest getting a more efficient CO2 system (DIY yeast will work) and getting balanced nutrients by fertilizing. If thats not it, look around on the site http://www.aquariumalgae.blogspot.com/ at the different algae types and see if you can ID it.

You should add Potassium and possibly Nitrates to your tank along with the Flourish. Flourish only provides micro nutrients and plants also need those macro nutrients I listed first. You can use the Seachem line if its easier for you (Flourish Potassium and Flourish Nitrogen).

You can dose the Excel. Its good at getting rid of some algaes. It is a carbon source, but IMO DIY CO2 is more effective, especially in the high wpg ranges.

Here is a link to DIY CO2: http://www.plantedtank.net/articles/DIY-Yeast-CO2/7/. Hopefully balancing everything else will stop the algae growth. If you can scrub it off the driftwood and the rocks, do that. Try to get what you can off the substrate too.

If you can't ID it, can you take a picture?

[trashion]

thanks so much for the answers!!!

a few more questions:

1. i don't have a car, so getting places tends to be a bit of a hassle. can i put the old 15 watt light on top instead of the 55, at least to buy a bit of time to pick up new plants? will that slow the algae?
2. can i use up the tablets i got with the fizz factory in the meantime, just dosing with more tablets? i know it's not as effective, but i've got a whole box to get rid of. in the meantime, i'll go about getting supplies and doing the DIY route.

[jones57742]

trashion:

In addition to the posts of Da and Jom also please refer to my first post in

http://www.fishforums.com/forum/fyi-...xas-style.html

A few of the responses became theoretical, although applicable, but my my first post may be of some help with respect to problem resolution.

Originally Posted by trashion

...start using flourish excel again?

Yes: this is my "gut reaction".

Originally Posted by trashion

should i start adding more co2 tabs?

No. (please bear in mind that my response is based on minimal experience here.)

Originally Posted by trashion

... can i put the old 15 watt light on top instead of the 55, at least to buy a bit of time to pick up new plants? will that slow the algae?

Yes you could but I would not do that one!
Significant growth of the plants will induce significant reduction of the algae.

Originally Posted by trashion

... can i use up the tablets i got with the fizz factory in the meantime,

I would not do this one double seal them with two baggies until you have established a uniform steady state condition in your tank without visible algae.


trashion:

I do not have a "ton of experience" but I have never observed

Originally Posted by trashion

NONE of it is on the glass, the glass is spotless. there's a little bit on the driftwood, a little on my lava rock, but a lot is just growing on the substrate.

I also have only employed activated charcoal very rarely and in only a few conditions.

Originally Posted by trashion

... aquaclear 30 filter with biomax, carbon, and sponge...

TR

[JustOneMore20]

You could put the 15w fixture on and it might slow down the algae growth, but its going to slow down the plant growth too. If its not going to be too long before you get some DIY supplies, then you are fine to keep using the 55w. I'd definitely cut back the time you have it on to 6-8 hours. Dose Excel everyday because it works as an algaecide sometimes.

I just noticed from jones' post that you are using carbon in the filter. I'd take that out. I don't think that has anything to do with the algae, but it might be pulling some of the nutrients out that you are dosing. If its been in there awhile, its probably inactive by now, but I'd still take it out, as its not needed.

As for the CO2 tabs, well you could use 2-3 times more than needed just to get rid of them. I don't think it would hurt, since its not producing alot of co2. If you do get some higher co2 levels though (higher than 3ppm), it may fluctuate quite a bit and could lead to another type of algae. So, its up to you whether to use them or not.