View Full Version : Help!
Hey guys. So my tank recently cycled, but now I am getting attacked by crazy amounts of hair algae, I did a 50% water change and started dosing with that african tea. So far it looks like its only getting worse! My glass walls are getting cover like crazy! I went and bought some flourish (herd it gets rid of algae real fast) but I couldnt find "flourish excel" and only found "flourish" how big of a difference is there? Im so desperate the algae is getting out of hand! I dont wanna tare my tank down and scrub everything!
smaug
02-28-2009, 11:01 PM
The xcel is not an algae removal tool and will at best just discourage algae ,the diff between excel and just flourish is that fluorish is a fertilizer and will do nothing for a non planted tank but encourage algae growth.How much light does your tank have,how long do you keep them on,does the tank get any natural sunlight,and what is the amount of fish in your tank?
Hey smaug. My tank is currently getting about 1.8-2.0wpg I have no fish since I just cycled. The tank is located in the living room, and is far away from the windows, so I doubt it gets any sunlight. My lighting hours are about 10hrs to 12. I dont add any ferts or anything, I think its because of the nitrate build up since I was cycling for almost 2 months(long story) and I also noticed that the hair algae did not grow in areas the light did not shine on. All I got in the tank right now is moss and anauibas or something like that. Thanks for taking the time to reply :)
smaug
03-01-2009, 01:03 AM
With the type plants you have you can cut your lighting time back to 8 hrs or so,this will help drastically in reducing algae.Realistically you need neither the excel or the flourish as the plants you have are not fast growers,but because of that they are also not doing much to remove algae feeding nutrients.How are the plants growing?
Well the moss seems to be doing better since I just recently upgrade my lighting and now I got the 1.8-2.0wpg, the anaubias doesnt seem to be doing to well , because the lighting I had before did nothing for it and its almost dead, so I doubt it will survive. Btw If I did a water change (50%) and added decolrinater 4 hours later, would that have killed my bacteria colony?
loachcoach
03-01-2009, 03:14 AM
Let me make sure I understand...you did a water change, added new water and then waited four hours to add dechlor?
If this is the case, there is a good chance you decimated your biofilter....bummer.
Let me make sure I understand...you did a water change, added new water and then waited four hours to add dechlor?
If this is the case, there is a good chance you decimated your biofilter....bummer.
I left home and forgot to add it. Its been sitting with out the decholrenator for about 3-4hrs? I just came home rushing as quickly as I could, and put it in! Plz tell me I wont have to cycle my tank all over again?!?
NickFish
03-01-2009, 11:58 AM
Its a possibility.
You probably won't have to do a complete cycle again, but theres a good chance you will have another mini cycle.
You can't forget these things!
Augh....what are the signs of mini cycle? and when will it start?
NickFish
03-01-2009, 05:39 PM
If there is one it will start as soon as there is ammonia in the tank. This could be from fish, or, if you have no fish it will come from the ammonia that you should be adding every now and then.
Its just like a normal cycle but smaller and. Ammonia spike, nitirite spike, then nitrates.
You may still be fine, maybe nothing will happen. Just moniter your levels for a little bit before adding any more fish.
_Shea_
03-01-2009, 05:53 PM
A good time to add dechlorinator (like Aquasafe or Stress Coat) would be like right after a water change, right? Then you wouldn't have to worry about having to do cycles over?
A good time to add dechlorinator (like Aquasafe or Stress Coat) would be like right after a water change, right? Then you wouldn't have to worry about having to do cycles over?Yup. I just screwed up and forgot about it X_x"
If there is one it will start as soon as there is ammonia in the tank. This could be from fish, or, if you have no fish it will come from the ammonia that you should be adding every now and then.
Its just like a normal cycle but smaller and. Ammonia spike, nitirite spike, then nitrates.
You may still be fine, maybe nothing will happen. Just moniter your levels for a little bit before adding any more fish.Alright thank.
frizzlefish
03-02-2009, 10:35 AM
A good time to add dechlorinator (like Aquasafe or Stress Coat) would be like right after a water change, right? Then you wouldn't have to worry about having to do cycles over?
I put mine in the tank where the water is coming in from the hose. That way it's getting mixed with the new water right away and there's no chance of the chlorinated water getting anywhere first.
frizzlefish LOL nice avatar xD. Btw I just tested my waters, and it seems that I am now in a mini cycle X_X. My nitrites went up to .50-1.0 in like a day and a half, same with nitrates they are now at 20 and were 5.0 a couple days ago. Sigh X_X I am soo screwed. Now I definitely wont be able to stop my brown hair algae, the high nitrates will just fuel them AUGH!
vBulletin v3.5.4, Copyright ©2000-2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.