what am i doing wrong? (algae)

[Ricky Savage]

Hello my old 29 gallon never had a algae problem and the same stuff is used on my 35 gallon now;

White silica sand
4ft Coralife freshwater light (12 hrs on)
homemade c02
fluval 404
submers heater
seachem Flourish dosed accordingly for every water change which is about every 5 days (20%)

tankmates are angels, pictus cats, pleco, 1 platy and 1 rescued oto cat

the algae only occurs on the leaves of the plants but its really thick on the wistera and heavily on the bunches of comboma shaped plants but they are softer and brighter than comboma...the algae looks like dark green fur

any input would be greatly appreciated, i have started a population of ramshorn snails as well as malasian trumpet snails, they took over my 29 gallon before but i dont mind because they cleaned up everything

Ricky

[doug z]

Sounds like staghorn algae?

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/dougzdanivsky/staghorn2Large.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/dougzdanivsky/staghornalgaeoutbreakoct2308.jpg

Or green thread algae?

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/dougzdanivsky/tankoct1608hairalgae.jpg

Are you adding any MACRO (iron, etc) ferts?

That's what helped with mine..

Cut back the light to 10 hours, too..

How many watts?

How long has the tank been set up?

How much CO2 are you adding?

Do you have air on at night?

[Ricky Savage]

yeah looks like that algae, some strands of greeen thread too

cutting down to 10 hours, the only fert i use is seachum flourish...or is that not a fert?...come to think of it i had better luck with other stuff

its a 3 foot tank but i bought a 4 ft light for when i expand, 4ft coralife freshwater lights...one colormax(pink) bulb 6700k F28 bulb says, other is a white coralife 6700k F28...T-5 fixture

the broad leafed plants like ths swords and hygras arent being attacked

the co2 runs all the time for its just a pop bottle yeast contraption and no air pumping into tank, only the splash from the filter (water level lowered to just below out tube)

[doug z]

I would recommend you start dosing some macro ferts, like nitrogen, potassium, iron, etc..

You can get them as dry compounds from any hydroponics store..

Here's what you need to dose, and when:

20-40 Gallon Aquariums

¼ tsp KN03
1/16 tsp KH2P04

On monday, wed, friday..

And 1/16 tsp (5ml) micros (like Flourish) on tues, thurs, and sat..

Then do a 50% water change on Sunday..

That should have it on the run in 3-4 weeks..

What wattage are the lights?

[DrNic]

I would recommend you start dosing some macro ferts, like nitrogen, potassium, iron, etc..

You can get them as dry compounds from any hydroponics store..

Here's what you need to dose, and when:

20-40 Gallon Aquariums

¼ tsp KN03
1/16 tsp KH2P04

On monday, wed, friday..

And 1/16 tsp (5ml) micros (like Flourish) on tues, thurs, and sat..

Then do a 50% water change on Sunday..

That should have it on the run in 3-4 weeks..

What wattage are the lights?

Sounds like a good plan. Do ferts help clear out algae?

[Dave66]

They help the plants outcompete the algae for nutrients by giving them what they need for balanced, vibrant growth. No excess nutrients = no algae.

Dave

[Ricky Savage]

54 watts altogether so the box says

[doug z]

54w isn't BAD.. 70-100w would be better..

Try adding dry ferts first..

[Ricky Savage]

persay its not always about the wattage...but about the lumens....6700k very nice!

[doug z]

Not ALWAYS..

But are you saying a 30w light is adequate, being 6700K? :)