Help - algae etc

[crazyboy]

I have a 55g planted and I'm having algae problems. It appears to be hair algae, dark green and stringy. In addition my plants do not seem terrible happy. They are not dark green and the leaves appear to be dying off, closer to the tips. The algae is reproducing insanely fast as well. I'm running an Ehim Canister and an Aqua clear 50 for filtration. Lighting is 32 watts 5000k, 64 watts, 6500k, 24?watts of a color closer to 10000k. Currently only stocked with 2 Zebra Danyos and a pleco. Afraid to add more due to current issues. Water Parameters are Temp 74, Ammonia 0, Nitrite .05, pH 7.6. I use root tabs for nutrients. Going to need to use more root tabs and perform more water changes. Anything else I can do?

[Lab_Rat]

What are your nitrates? In my planted tank I try to keep about 10ppm nitrates as the plants need the nitrogen. With your light stocking there may not be enough for the plants (though I see your nitrites are at 0.5ppm). Also, how long are your lights on daily? If too long, it can stimulate algae growth. You have a nutrient imbalance in your tank somewhere.

[crazyboy]

Trates are at 0. Lights are on from 8-12 hrs a day, need to get a timer I know.

[Lab_Rat]

You need to start dosing trates or up your bioload so the plants have nutrients they need. I dose Seachem Nitrogen when my trates are low. Keep the lighting to 8 hours a day.

[crazyboy]

So it's safe to increase the bioload then? As I said I was worried to add fish due to the conditions.

[red eyes]

buy 6 otos they'll murder all algae and then you're plants won't been bogged down in it.

[Kaz]

Increasing the bioload would be beneficial to your tank right now.

Preferably try to get the danio numbers up to a good sized school first.

[Kaz]

buy 6 otos they'll murder all algae and then you're plants won't been bogged down in it.

True but remember Otos have a very high death rate.

[Lab_Rat]

So it's safe to increase the bioload then? As I said I was worried to add fish due to the conditions.

Do you mean the small amount of nitrite? How long has this tank been set up and have you silent cycled it or something?

[rich311k]

Fish do solve algae problems and they would not eat that crap anyway.

You need to get balance of ferts, CO2 and light. Remove as much algae as you can and keep the lights at 8 hours a day. You probably need to add nitrogen and potassium.

[crazyboy]

Do you mean the small amount of nitrite? How long has this tank been set up and have you silent cycled it or something?

I meant more with the rapid growth of algae, not knowing if there was something in the water I didn't know about. It's been setup a few months and it has cycled. I think I'm going to take the suggestion and add some ottos, then up the amount of danyos. I would like to have the stock some ottos, zebra danyos, alot of neon/cardinal tetras, and a centerpiece fish(s) Maybe an angel? How many of each do you think would work? How often and how many could I add them? Any other stocking ideas :)

[Lab_Rat]

The more rapid growth of algae is due to the imbalance in ferts for the tank. I would do as Rich suggested and remove as much as you can manually. I would go with a bristlenose pleco over otos as otos are very sensitive little fish, though neither are likely to eat hair algae. Rosy barbs are a good fish for hair algae, are you interested in keeping that sort of fish?

I would probably add 6 fish, make sure you don't have an ammonia spike (unlikely because the plants should take up most of the waste), then add some more. I would add the rest of the danios to fill out your school first. Neons and cardinals both have a pretty low bioload, so you could likely add them pretty quickly. An angel would be a nice centerpiece fish but may eat the neons when he gets large enough. A trio of gouramis instead of an angel would also be a nice centerpiece.

[crazyboy]

The more rapid growth of algae is due to the imbalance in ferts for the tank. I would do as Rich suggested and remove as much as you can manually. I would go with a bristlenose pleco over otos as otos are very sensitive little fish, though neither are likely to eat hair algae. Rosy barbs are a good fish for hair algae, are you interested in keeping that sort of fish?

I would probably add 6 fish, make sure you don't have an ammonia spike (unlikely because the plants should take up most of the waste), then add some more. I would add the rest of the danios to fill out your school first. Neons and cardinals both have a pretty low bioload, so you could likely add them pretty quickly. An angel would be a nice centerpiece fish but may eat the neons when he gets large enough. A trio of gouramis instead of an angel would also be a nice centerpiece.

Ok sounds good, Will work on upping my bioload. For the trio of gouramis, I assume I should stick to all the same type? Also with the danyos, pleco, tetras and gourami my tank is pretty much full right?

[Lab_Rat]

Yes, with a trio stick to the same species and get 1m/2f. Depending on your numbers, yes, the tank is likely full with all that. What sort of pleco do you have?

[VoidParadigm]

A trio of pearl gouramis is the only species I suggest. Otherwise only do 1.

[Lab_Rat]

A trio of pearl gouramis is the only species I suggest. Otherwise only do 1.

If you get 1m/2f of Trichogaster trichopterus or Trichogaster microlepis and add them at the same time it should be successful. The tank is 55g, plenty of room for a trio.

[VoidParadigm]

Three spots are one of the (if not the most) unpredictable though.
As I do not know whether this aquarist has any experience dealing with gourami, I suggested Pearls or the one because pearls 99% of the time get along with each other while 3-spots (blue, gold, etc) it's hit or miss for a good number of labyrinth keepers.
My first pair lived together in harmony until disease took one.
My second pair? The female killed the male.
I will admit that with such room as a 55 there could be no aggression at all.
It is still, in my opinion, hit or miss.

My apologies if I've misinterpreted the species names you provided, though. It is possible as I often have a hard time remembering them.

[Lab_Rat]

Three spots are one of the (if not the most) unpredictable though.
As I do not know whether this aquarist has any experience dealing with gourami, I suggested Pearls or the one because pearls 99% of the time get along with each other while 3-spots (blue, gold, etc) it's hit or miss for a good number of labyrinth keepers.
My first pair lived together in harmony until disease took one.
My second pair? The female killed the male.
I will admit that with such room as a 55 there could be no aggression at all.
It is still, in my opinion, hit or miss.

Yes, three spots can be unpredictable, but so can many species of semi-aggressive fish. While pearls are certainly a valid suggestion (and my favorite type of gourami) they are not the only trio that is likely to be successful in a tank the size of a 55g. A lot of whether it will work is having the proper ratio (a trio, not a pair) and introducing all three (or more) at the same time.