Hi, all. I am coming out of lurker mode because I have an algae problem I
can't solve. I'll start with my tank's specs.
Size: 29 G "tall"
Substrate: flourite
Lighting: 3 x 55 W CF from AHS, 1 @ 10,000 K runs from 9:00 am - 10:00
pm, 2 @ 6500 K run from 10:30 am - 8:30 pm.
pH: 6.8 - 6.9
KH: 5 - 6 degrees
CO2 injection via pressurised canister system into filter, 24/7 @ 2
bubbles per second
Filter: Eheim 2224 w/ peat filtration
Water changes once every week to 10 days, appx. 35% (10 gal R/O, 1 gal tap
water)
Nitrates: 1 ppm
Phosphate: undetectable
Livestock: 15 - 20 Caridina Japonica, 15 "white tipped tetras" Hasemania
nana (I think), fed sparingly on micro worms, viniger eels, and freshwater
copepods.
Plants: java moss, dwarf hairgrass, madagascar lace, crypt. wendtii sp.,
Ludwigia repens, Ludwigia (repens?) species I have not identified but is a
beautiful purple, anubias nana, rotala magenta, and a myrophyllum sp.,
bolbitis heudelotii, some duckweed
My background: I have been keeping planted tanks for about 2 years now,
slowly moving from low-light to higher-light and now high light (hmmm ....
several power strips back there, so I'd say high tech) tanks. I've
experienced algae problems in the past, but have usually been able to work
it out.
Okay, anyways about 4 months ago I switched from a DIY spiral compact
fluorescent hood to a set of AHS compact fluorescents. The tank went
through a period of temporary upheaval, but after a couple weeks, the
algae started getting under control. My plants were growing, but not
thriving.
My rotala magenta started growing its intense red, but after a few weeks
it was back to the less pleasing orange. I increased my dosages of
tetra's florapride, but that didn't do the trick. My ludwigias were also
growing a duller pink. At this point, the Anubias was healthy and
relatively algae-free (a few of the older leaves had the remainders of
some BBA that was growing on them in a diff. tank), the java moss was
growing okay, the dwarf hairgrass was quickly filling in the foreground,
the madagascar lace was putting out new growth, and the crypts. were all
healthy.
Wishing to see the better colors out of my red plants, I felt it would be
a good idea to add one more CF light. I ordered the 10,000 K bulb and
bright kit from AHS and installed it once it came in. For about 2 days
everything was looking good. The desired plants were showing vibrant red
new growth.
Then all hell broke loose.
It started with the Anubias. The minimal algae that was previously just
barely hanging on quickly spread to some of the other, more established
plants. Within days every Anubias plant had some algae on it. The
myrophyllum, which had displayed very healthy growth began to stagnate and
algae started creeping up it, starting with the oldest growth and moving
up the plant. This pattern happened to all stem plants. Within a week,
the java moss was matted in algae, and the hairgrass as well. I began
studying nutrients and ordered what I needed to make PMDD (except for the
micronutrients, I am not sure where to get a well-balanced concoction ...
suggestions anyone?). I made the PMDD and supplimented it with some tetra
florapride to make up the micros. I hesitated to add too much florapride
(0-0-3) because I didn't want to cause a potassium excess. I have been
dosing at 5 drops per day of Conlin's newest formula (found on
theKrib.com) for about a month now.
I have had problems with the CO2 in the past couple months. I have been
injecting it straight to the Eheim via the intake tube, but when I
upgraded my lighting I wanted to increase the CO2. However, when I
stepped it up, it began to make the filter work poorly, requiring me to
burp it at least twice a day. I have ordered a CO2 reactor and expect it
in early this week.
I called this post "nutrient problems" because that is what I think it is.
A nutrient deficency of some kind. It is most visible on the Anubias
http://groups.msn.com/NatureAquariumHome/sydsphotos.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=179
http://groups.msn.com/NatureAquariumHome/sydsphotos.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=178
but also has shown itself in my crypts, as I have watched them melt
away. I doubt it's a K difficency, although that's what it looks like,
primarily because I have been dosing with PMDD, at recommended levels of
KNO3, as well as the K in the Florapride. Is it a micro? The duckweed
has been dying lately, and I thought I read that if duckweed was doing
poorly, N was probably to blame. I am hoping that if I can figure out why
the plants are not growing well and solve it, they will begin to
out-compete the algae, thereby solving both problems.
Thanks,
Reggie
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