Any Tips/Dealing with algea outbreak

BradSD

I have a pretty significat outbreak of algea in the last few days. Started on the glass and is now starting to cover plant leaves. The tank is one month old. Did a 45% water change just now, cleaned the glass well and rubbed the leaves of the plants with my fingers. The tank has never went longer than 5 days( usually 3) without a water change of around 40%. I am running two 32 watt 6500k lights for about 10 hours a day. I am planning to buy I better light fixture in the future, but thats not helping now. I keep the temp 79 to 80 degrees. The tank has about 35 smallish fish such as neons,black neons, lemon tetras, Gohramis, Angels, couple rainbows, and 3 cory cats. I have been adding a cap of Seacham Flourish about ever 5 days. The tank is 72 gallons and the substrate is a mx of reg black rock and eco. Looking for tips on controling this problem.
I have also noticed that some of my plant leaves esp on my swords amazonia and pygmy chain swords are starting to curl a bit and browning or yellowing,,,, any ideas?
Thanks and love this website!
Brad

redchigh

Are you using the suggested dose of flourish?
Yellowing is usually a sign of missing nutrients or missing light...I think the light might be good... How deep is the tank?

I would clean out as much algae as possible and dose with flourish as per directions... twice a week.

Byron

Agree with redchigh, but also as this is a new tank the yellowing can be normal when plants are moved. As you mention swords, I suspect this is the reason. And you ordered these from SA I believe? Which means they are probably grown emersed (most nurseries grow bog plants emersed because it is faster and less expensive). If you read the profile of the sword species you have, you will see the explanation without my having to repeat all that here. The profile will tell you how to ensure all is well.

This algae, is is green or brown? Brown (diatoms) is normal in new tanks, usually during the first 3-4 months, then it dissipates and you should never see it again. Green algae is normal, but an excess means there is too much light. This is explained in the series "A Basic Approach to the Natural Planted Aquarium" stickied above. It is mentioned in a couple parts. However, be aware that in a new setup it takes a few months for the biological equilibrium to establish, and during this period algae may well be a pest. So don't be too drastic in measures to deal with what is normally a temporary issue--although it can become permanent if everything is not balanced.


With the named fish species, I would lower the temperature to 77-78F. A temp of 79-80 is very high for neons and most corys (C. sterbai is about the only normally-seen species that manages well at 80+) and while Angels can be OK, the commercially-raised ones will do just as fine with 77-78F as it mentions in the profile. Wild angels need warmth, not tank-raised angels. And gourami similar, unless you have th rarer species (Chocolates, etc).

Byron.

BradSD

Okay guys thanks for the information. Plants were purchased at my local Petsmart, sorry to say that is all I have in my area.A few were ordered from website member here named Angel, they are doing okay. I do plan to order from Sweetaquatics in future. I lowered temp to 78, will increase a tad on the flourish. I think I will also reduce the length of time my lights are staying on. The tank cleaned up nicely, looked vivid when I came home from midnight shift this morning and turned the lights on. The green plants just pop against the black rock and new black background that I recently put on. On a side note,,,,, I checked my water last night and it appears the tank is cycled now as everything came back 0.