Update on the Algae tank

Angel079

First of: I wanna tank the one's that supported me so greatly via PMs during this hardcore outbreak in my 55g - you guys & gals rock!!

Now after first does it was time for a w/c last night and to actually look at my tank after 2 days black out and I have to say while I'm not 100% leased just yet, I am impressed!

After week 1 "fiddling" with it: Blue-green smear algae is totally gone :D no signs of hair algae any where last night. and the greater majority of staghorn has died off looking like gray dust and I vacuumed it out best I could yesterday and clipped about 4 leaf's total of plants.
What remains is the white cloudiness, which I am sure is simply due to re- cycling and bacteria bloom (that's exactly what it looks like)

I then added root tab's last night as well as the rec. dose liquid ferts (Nutrafin Plant Gro).
And I dosed the API stuff again as directed.

My review after ~1week after the hardcore outbreak with 4-5 different types algae: Its working well! While its not "all over" just yet it sure is getting there and its safe to say its looking much better by FAR!

I'll also have Excel coming in the mail today - Would it make sense to use it on top of what I already done or will that simply be too much then?
Now I also changed the lights - But i'm not so sure what would be the best so solution there, its 4on 4 off 5 on right now - What do you guys think?

MoneyMitch

great to hear things are looming up for you, your light cycle is fine and as far as the ferts go i would use one or the other not both, maybe after algae is gone bump everything back to where it was and if you get algae again you will have a better idea of what caused this imbalance, im going to guess the light caused this one bum bum bum!!!

Hawkian

Glad to hear that! Just out of curiosity, how does one go about blacking out a tank? Do you just turn off the lights or do you actually also have to cover it so that ambient light doesn't come in?

Angel079

@Mitch I'm VERY set by all I researched & learned the past 2 weeks that it was a number of things that happened and caused a "algae snow ball effect" At least now I know some thing better and will be better able to help others in the same situation (thou its actually pretty hard to "achieve" having 4-5 diff types algae going at one time I learned lol - so call me algae master lol)

@Hawkin: I turned off the lights lil more then 48hrs and hung 2 thick towels over it to make sure its really getting NO LIGHT from the window. Its sorta harsh method - but the way this tank became for the past 4-5 days was UNREAL, I mean it was SO BAD I don't even had words for it any more (others then words I shouldn't be posting here really

MoneyMitch

algae is so darn tiresome, everyones case is diffrent and the causies differ from tank to tank UGH worse than ich!!!!

good job though angel, looks like your through the worst of it.

Angel079

TELL ME! I had some feelings with this tank I can hardly repeat in writing here...calling it all kinds names...wanting to take it out back for target practice....wasn't cool the past 2 week I can tell you that and its better going to keep getting better as it has started now OR ELSE.....

Ich "at least" you treat it and A) its getting better fairly quick or B) they're dead....algae is like the DEMON of the tank world!!!

Romad

Good job on the tank.

When I get through Christmas I have to do some research on the brown algae that I've been battling with in my 5 gallon. Hopefully it's just a crappy bulb.

Isn't it awful???? Grrrrrrr!!!!!

Angel079

Just normal brown algae spots (Diatoms)??? That's often seen in new tanks due to lack of minerals and higher ammonia levels. So check your parameters. Once the tank reaches 0 ammonia and stay's there and the beneficial bacteria are well established (2-3 months) this should automatically subside by itself. Light really does not play too much of a role for this type of algae.