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Re: Algae, algae, alga
Hi Bob,
I have about 10 planted tanks. In 9 of them (low to medium light, no
CO2, most with water softened by mixing RO water with well water), I
have algae problems to varying degrees. The algae usually starts to
be a problem at about 4 - 6 weeks. The most problematic algae is bba.
The 10th tank is totally different. It is a 75 gallon tank with
very high light (220 watts of AH Supply compact fluorescent lights
with the high efficiency reflectors) and CO2. I have been following
Tom Barr's advice on this tank. I use straight well water which has
a KH and GH about 10 DH and a pH of 8.3. Previously, I had been
softening the water because of all the reports I had heard about
plants needing soft water. Fortunately, Tom set me straight! What
a joy it is to not have to make my own aquarium water although I
still use RO water to make suitable soft breeding water for some
fish. I have to dose nitrates, potassium, sulfates, Fe, and
phosphorous but not as often and reliably as I probably should. This
tank has now been running for 4 months with just a small amount of
thread algae which came on some plants and still exists. If I had
the appropriate algae eaters, even this would not be a problem.
Fortunately, some are on the way. This tank has been a joy to have
and to view. The biggest "problem" I have is finding the time to
prune the plants! Maybe I am jinxing myself but I am seeing a
dramatic improvement by following Tom's advice (many thanks, Tom!!!).
I would encourage anyone having difficulties to consider trying his
methods. It has worked for me.
I have learned the hard way while keeping fish and plants. When I
first started keeping fish, I took a little advice from here and some
more from there. After about 6 months of things not running as well
as I liked, I finally took the first advice I received - a friend
told me to pick the advice/method that seemed to work for someone I
trusted and follow it faithfully for 6 months to a year until I
learned enough about what worked for me. I believe this advice was
repeated on this list (by Purchase in Toronto?). Since I started
doing that, the hobby has been much more enjoyable and I have
significantly increased the number of tanks I keep.
Ken
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 07:36:39 EDT
>From: ROlesen104 at aol_com
>Subject: Algae, algae, algae
>
>Here's my observations on algae:
>
>1. Set up a tank, pond, whatever - with plants and fish and you will have
>algae.
>
>2. You will have the algae for 3 to 6 months in spite of all you do or do not
>do..
>
>3. It will then go away.
>
>Bob Olesen
>West Palm Beach, FL
>
>------------------------------