[emilie_5459]

this is my problem:

i constantly keep getting algea especially on my plants
i have a 5 months old, 130L tank (AR-620T) with 2 x 18 watts of 7100 k (new bubls)
Therefore i have 36 watts for 35gallons, with about 20 plants in the tank.
should i try using CO2 (using the DIY method)

water tested 06/04/07
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 5
ph: 7.2

i already have an bristlenose should i get some otos as well, because the bristlenose doesn't seem to be doing the job!

do you know what might be causing this algea, or do you have a solution?
please

here are a few photos:
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u130/emilie5459_photo/DSC05283-1.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u130/emilie5459_photo/DSC05282-1.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u130/emilie5459_photo/DSC05281.jpg

 

[jones57742]

I have responded to a post similar to this previously but cannot find it.

Algae is caused principally by:
1) Overfeeding;
2) Lighting of too great an intensity or
3) Lighting durations which are too great.

I believe that only 1) or 3) above are applicable to your post.

In your case another item which may be a cause of the algae is the the 7100K lighting.
This spectrum of this lighting produces blueish light and the frequency range is optimal for algae growth.
(I have a 7100K bulb in my lighting but I also have 3 other 10000K bulbs).

If your lighting duration is currently greater than 10 hours/day I would try decreasing the lighting duration to this value.

If your lighting duration is currently 10 hours/day or less IMHO (and you may not believe this one) the first thing that I would try is dosing with Flourish (a liquid fertilizer distributed by Seachem).
The above may sound like I have lost it but plants are more efficient nutrient consumers than algae and promulgating plant growth will decrease algae growth.

TR

 

[emilie_5459]

my light is on for about 11hours, so i will reduce it to 9 or 10

i have used flourish excel before and this does seem to help the plants grow much faster and the algea does reduce, but then comes back in a couple of days... and i do not want to keep adding flourish excel as it is expensive...

that's why i wanted to give c02 a try as my parents can by the yeast!!
lol and it'll be less expensive...

i don't think i overfeed my plants.
i give them flakes once a day, a couple of slices of cucumber a week and some peas as well about once a week

 

[Lupin]

i don't think i overfeed my plants.
i give them flakes once a day, a couple of slices of cucumber a week and some peas as well about once a week

Welcome to the forum, Emilie.:wave:

I think you mean fish. :lol:

 

[emilie_5459]

haha your so mean hehe
lol give me a break i made a mistake

 

[leifthebunny]

How about shrimp? They are a very low bioload and are great for eating the algae.

 

[jones57742]

An additional two cents worth from me.

Should you decide to "get into" fish for algae control I have had very, very good luck with my Siamese Algae Eaters.

I have seven of these in my 110G tank.

TR

 

[fish_4_all]

Couple other things to ask. Do you have any direct sunlight on the tank? What else do you dose as far as fertilizers?

 

[scottysgirl]

I agree, get some amano shrimp--they can take care of algae like nothing else. Also, a $10 bottle of flourish excel has lasted my 30 gallon tank about 2 months so far--and it really helps plants and deters algae.