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Re: Algae problems with a new tank
> From: George Booth <booth at hpmtlgb1_lvld.hp.com>
> Based on my experiences, a new tank will cycle through various types
> of algae as the various parameters seek their equilibirium values.
> A new tank is biologically unstable and seems to drift through
> different conditions favorable to different types of algae. Thus, it
> important to have different types of algae *eaters* in the tank from
> the first. As long as the algae is controllable by whatever means,
> just be patient - it will get better.
I'm trying to be patient, but I am having a horrible time with green water in
my 2-3 month old planted tank. Details are listed at the bottom of this
message, but basically after I added two Vitalites (I already had two Tritons)
I got great plant growth, along with algae.
At first it was just green algae on the glass, which was no problem as I
have 3 SAE's to keep it under control. Next over a 2-3 day period my
water turned green as my nitrates dropped from 3.0ppm to unmeasurable.
Assuming that excess light and nitrates were the problem, I removed one
Vitalite, lowered 'daylight' time from 11 hours to 9, and began doing
25% water changes every couple of days.
Then I had a minor disaster. One of my timers broke (unknown to me) just
before I went away for a couple of days. One Triton/Vitalite combo was on
for about 36 hours solid. When I returned my tank was almost opaque green.
I did a 50% water change and things look a bit better. Should I just continue
with the water changes and reduced light, or will it require something more
to get rid of the green water? One thing I'm concerned about is that when
I do a water change, the tap water treated with de-clorinator tests positive
for ammonia. Assuming my bio-filter just converts the ammonia into nitrates,
am I ADDING food for the green water 'algae' by doing water changes?
More details on my tank below:
38G (36x12x18) | pH: 6.9 (morning) | Anubias nana (growing)
glass top | 7.4 (evening) | Crypt. balansae (growing)
2x30W Triton | CO2: 15 ppm (morning) | Ludwigia repens (great!)
2x30W Vitalite | 4 ppm (evening) | Hygro. poly. (growing)
AquaClear 300 | KH: 4.0 dH (+2.5,b-soda) | 'Java Fern' (dormant)
Dupla Laterite | GH: 20 ppm (dropping) | 'Java Moss' (growing)
DIY Yeast CO2 | Temp: 81 F | E. tenellus (just added)
2 pc. driftwd | Amm-N: None
3" small gravel | NO3: 3.0 ppm (dropped to 0)
I have three very active and growing 3" SAE's (no other fish) which I do not
feed. All my plants are growing and producing O2 bubbles. Thanks for any help
you can give.
--
Steven Hicks, ILX Systems 212-720-3148
steveh at ilx_com 111 Fulton Street 212-312-2983 (fax)
New York, NY 10038