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Cichlid tank with plants and an algae problem.



I recently took some of my extra swords and vals. from my planted tank and
transferred them to my 48 gallon Malawi cichlid tank because I was running
out of room in the planted tank.  That was about 2 weeks ago.  Now, I notice
that there is a lot of whitish material on the plants and some stringy-type
algae that is white to black in colour.

I know from experience that C02 will get rid of these algae in my planted
tank by lowering the pH.  Should I add co2 injection to the cichlid tank
too?  Won't this lower my pH from 8.2 to lower dangerous levels for the
cichlids?  This was just an experiment as far as plants in a cichlid tank so
I guess I could just pull them out - a shame because the tank looks really
nice.  The cichlids don't seem to chow down on them or dig them up at all
either.  I have been leaving the light on too much (love to look at the
fish), so I will reduce the light to 10 hours a day.  I've also added PMDD
in the past for the plants - maybe this is the cause of the algae?  What
about adding SAEs to the tank?

Conditions of the tank:

PH 7.8 (yikes, time for a 1/3 tank change. I'll need to add pH 8.2 buffer in
too)
KH 6 (usually up near 10)
GH 2 (always low, here in Vancouver.  I've even added calcium as per Steve
Pushak)
Coral mixed with fine gravel
Lace rock
2 40 watt fluorescent bulbs
8 small Malawi cichlids and a pleco

Anyway, I hope there is someone out there with some experience in this that
can offer some suggestions.  I've checked past postings, but nothing seems
to answer my questions (other than people suggesting that cichlids and
plants don't mix).

Grant, Vancouver, BC
grantmiller at home_com