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Ok - photos of algae on plants

4K views 7 replies 3 participants last post by  jaybyrd 
#1 ·
Hello guys! Thanks for the input fish_4_all reguarding my question on the earlier post. I have changed my substrate using 40 lbs. of eco-complete and 25 lbs. of med to large brown gravel on top of the eco-complete. I am using DIY CO2 and my current readings are 6.6ph and 3-4kh as far as computing the amount of CO2 that is being absorbed into the tank water. I did have algae until CO2 has been injected.
The questions:
1. will the eco-complete really help as many say they have observed all over the internet. I really would like to see success in the growth of my underwater plants.
2. I dipped the algae riddled plants in chlorine water mixture (10% chlorine ) for 3 to 3.5 minutes each. There has been immediate improvement but how long before I will know whether or not this method of removing algae will work? And will all the algae die on the plant surface? This question is for all but more specifically for fish_4_all - he said he has used this technique to remove algae from his plants.
Here are the photos of the plants after the chlorine bath and de-chlorination bath:



 
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#3 ·
I am sorry I didn't see pictures or ask what plants you had before but unfortuntaley none of them are aquatic plants. I get ahead of myself sometimes and I had to learn the same leasons about non-aquatic plants. I had hedge I my tank for 3 months thinking I could save it but it eventually it died and made a mess. They will grow for the first couple weeks but they melt and rot son after.

Top one is Monda Grass
Middle one is Dracena sanderiana
Bottom one is Brazilian Sword

All of them will die, rot and pollute your tank. Sorry. This is also the main reason they are covered in algae. They are dying and the algae is feeding off them.

As far as I could tell the other plants, the aquatic ones, seem to be doing ok and not covered in algae, right?

Look at this link for future plants to make sure you are not getting ripped off by your LFS. My LFS sells them all and until I actually asked they would not tell me they were not aquatic. The good thing is they all make wonderful houseplants. I have aluminum plant growing on my windowsill right now and they are really cheap.

http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide_list.php?category=11
 
#4 ·

Uuhmm, fish_4_all - is this an aquatic plant? I bought this from a local fish store but has algae on it. These have lasted a long time and are flowering since CO2 injection. The other plants are all fine and the non-aquatic plants are from petsmart and are labeled for aquatic use. This wouldexplain all the plant expenses...
Death to petsmart!
 
#5 ·
That one looks like either Ludwia or alternathera. Should be aquatic. I think the algae is gonna be tough to get rid of until the tnak gets back to normal after removing the non aquatic plants. Until the condition that causes the algae is taken care of it will be hard to control.
 
#6 ·
plan of action?

Thanks for the help. So what should my plan of action be? BTW that is ludwia. These plants are on the re-bound. All the other plants are fine.

I plan to remove the non-aquatic plants now. I have bought a moss ball (floating ) red luwig, water wisteria, pilea species. Basically, should I leave the older ludwig that is doing better in my tank?
thank you again! BTW - how can the LFS sell these and label them aquatic plants? They admitted they were not that knowledgeable.
 
#7 ·
Once you remove all the non-aquatic plants I will focus on the other plants. Remove any leaves that look 50% covered or more. Get the Wisteria in there so it can suck up the excess nutrients and have patience.

There is another option, a 3 day total blackout. Completely cover the tank with a blanket or cardboard boxes, add an airstone for the fish, feed them well and leave it alone for the full 3 days. I know many that have done it and the plants come out just fine but a majority of the algae will be dead or dying.
 
#8 ·
Curses!

My wife has been wanting to by a japanese moss ball. She is a beautiful but weird of asian descent girl. So we were at the shop and she say their "moss balls". Well the darn thing was wrapped with a weight attached with a fisherman's string. So I told her I would buy the "moss ball". I removed the string and weight and behold! - it was regular moss wrapped around styrofoam! No Joke! I have tried to research and I have tried being kind to certain LFS folks - but they know to some degree what they are doing.
What is this plant? It came unlabeled but I think this is an aquatic plant. My brain is slightly frying and I have a client to talk to in an hour. Thanks again fish_4_all.

 
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