Eeeekkk! Algae!

Hi Guys,

Just came back from holiday (my brother was looking after Solly) and to my dismay turned on the light and WHAM!!!!, masses algae all over one half of my tank (the side of my tank that has one light).
But this clue, my detective skills tell me that the light has something to do with it becasue there is NO algae on the other half of my tank.
I have a cool white 6500K Phillips Genie light, 11W for 24L, which acc to the alage ID link is medium light. I have an automatic timer to give my plants 10.5 hours of light everyday. My tank however is just under 2 months old (approx.) and I started a new fert regime before I left (1 week ago).
But I read that underdosing causes algae growth (and I follow the fert's instructions to the letter).
So my Question is: How can I get RID OF it and PREVENT it from happening again?
Remove the algae mechanically? Decrease my lighting hours? Decrease my watts/liter ratio?

Any suggestions and help will be GREATLY appreciated!
Thanks in advance,
Kelly

 

just a side note kelly was using a 11w eurolux cool white before converting to the 11w genie cool white and this light was changed when the new ferts were added a week ago

 

Also, the algae started growing but very slowly with the eurolux light.

 

Hi

Did you start the ferts before you left for holiday and then stopped while you where away?

 

Vis its florenette A so it only needs to be added once a week not daily drops

 

Can you give a description of the size of tank? You might find your lighting is too high for the size tank, which means you might need to lower the wattage a bit.

You could have also forced a huge imbalance with regards to light in relation to CO2 and ferts. Can you tell us what algae it is, and what research says on what causes this algae.

10.5 hours may alse be a nit much. My Nano tank is down to 6 hours.

 

Still think nanos need a lot less light then we think. My 1ft gets 14 hours of light a day and I am yet to see algae in them.

 

BBA often results from fluctuating CO2 levels,but if you are not using CO2 or injecting it,it could be something else.
You say that the tank has been running for only 2 months,then I assume your plants has only now settled in to the "new" conditions.
I have found BBA to grow on older or damaged leaves, but never on new growth.If you can look carefully and see on which plant/s it grows on and if the leaves are old,the emerged growth or new,the immersed growth,it will help.
If it is only on the older leaves,then you can carefully remove the leaves,this pruning will also encourage new growth.

I think you just contradicted yourself.:wondering:

 

Mmm I did, but what I wanted to say is less W/G and not hours of light.

 

Newbie question:Why do you have to put ferts in a nano tank?

 

My tank is 1.5ft, 6gallon tank.
I have a little black beard algae and green dust algae and then, I'm sorry but the main clumps of algae I ID'd wrong. It's not BBA. It looks very thready and dark so I'm leaning toward hair algae? But again I can only guess because I have limited experience in this field.

I have a low-tech tank, so no CO2. The algae is mainly on the older and damaged leaves but has spread to newer ones as well.
I will prune my leaves and see how that goes.

I attached pictures for you guys to see. Hope they are clear enough, otherwise I can take more.

 

I had the same problem in one of my tanks. The tank got to much sun light. In your case i would decrease the time.

First keep the light switched off and remove the hair algae manually.

 

Hmmm... I didn't think it was BBA, as I've only seen this in fairly mature tanks... not that it can't happen in a new tank.

My recommendation, and this is based on my experience with the green dust algae... do a high % water change (75% or thereabouts)... MANUALLY remove as much of the green hair algae... and then cover the ENTIRE TANK (NO LIGHT) for 4 days! This is commonly called a "blackout"... and 99.9% of algae cannot survive that long without light. Your fish will be completely fine. If anything, it'll be good for them, as this stops feeding them, which helps them to clean out their systems. (well, at least that's my philosophy.). This is the ONLY way that I managed to get rid of the green dust algae.

Then when you uncover the tank, turn the lights down to 7 hours a day.

 

Thanks for the advice all...
I did what Zoom and Nick said and removed the algae. There was quite a Bit of it and it clings so I had to prune the older leaves, as Rudi said. I did a water change and a gravel vac. I have now covered my tank to block all the light (thanks for such practical advice Zoom).
@Nick, I will definately decrease the time my light is on. As I said earlier, the algae was only growing on the side of my tank with the light.

Question 1: Without light, how will my plants do?
Question 2: According to the sticky link in the Algae section, "Underdosing" nutrients ENCOURAGES algae growth but is this article for real? It doesn't make sense to me so if someone could explain the reasoning behind this claim I would greatly appreciate it.

 

Answer 1: If the blackout if only for 4 days, they will take a slight knock, but you probably will not notice it. They will be fine. I've just had my hairgrass in a total blackout for 4 days. WHen I uncovered this morning, it was perfectly fine!

Answer 2: This is correct, BUT also incorrect. It all depends on what TYPE of algae it is. Certain algae grow when specific nutrients are low, other grow when specific nutrients are high. Hence algae is actually an amazing indicator to the aquarist as to what is short/excess in the tank.

 

When aquatic plants have a deficiency,a lack of nutrients or fertilizer will cause this,the leaves start to leak nutrients into the water column.This is the perfect time for algae to develop,usually on the struggling plants.If the nutrient deficiency is not addressed promptly,the algae can adapt and grow on healthy plants,using the nutrients destined for the plants.High light or a long photo period will help the algae at this stage.
Allot of people think that reducing the fertilizing can combat the algae,but this will only weaken the already struggling plants,fueling the algae even more.
The only way to combat algae successfully is to identify the deficiency,remove old and damaged plant leaves,remove as much of the algae as possible,make sure your filter is working properly,make sure to remove debry,i.e.uneaten fish food and dead plant leaves,from the substrate and have patience.And remember to continue with the fertilizing regime.
ALGAE IS NOT CAUSED BY FERTILIZER OVER DOSE.

 

I'm not sure if I agree with this Rudi. Whilst I agree that "overdosing" of a balanced fertilization regime will not result in algae, (and even so, I think it will), if you are buying a cheap, or imbalanced fert, you will have problems.

I use to use a very cheap locally made fertilizer. I landed up with some SERIOUS algae problems, and what I actually found out later was that this specific fert had too much N in it, and as a result, this lead to the algae blooms I was experiencing.

 

Zoom,you're almost making the point for me.What is the cause of the algae?I don't think there is a over dose of anything at the moment.Maybe to little dosing?
If Kelly can get her plants to grow optimally,in relation to the current setup,the plants will out compete the algae.For the plants to grow and be healthy,nutrients are needed,but when is it enough or balanced or to much?If the current dose is doubled,it might be seen as a overdose,but if the plants are flourishing and the algae stops spreading,it can be seen as enough or balanced.
I think all tanks are different and Kelly should be able to find the nutrient consumption rate of her own tank.But this takes time and patience.

 

Thanks everyone for the help. I did the black out and still some algae didn't die so I have another bloom. I think i'll just keep up the removing of the algae and fertilising my plants like Rudi said so that they can flourish. And I will reduce my light period.
*sigh*