60 Litre/15 Gallonplanted Tank. Algae Issues

[Benj]

Hi,

I have a 70 litre aquarium with a juwel 280l/hr filter. Stock is as follows- 1 dwarf gourami, two weather loaches (4 and 6inches) and 8 mature mountain minnows. Have had the loaches for 7/8 years, and the minnows for 5 years. Have had the gourami at least two years.

I've a good, established amount of plants growing well, and the light is on for approx 7 hrs a day. Fish all seem healthy and water tests consistently show there to be no nitrite or ammonia in the water.

However I cannot get my nitrate below 40-50ppm ,and am constantly having trouble with dark green algae on the glass and surfaces. Tests for ammonia and nitrite are consistently xero. Water changes do not seem to make much difference.

I would be greatful for some advice on how to solve these problems-

Do I need to shorten the lighting period?
New nitrate removal sponge in my filter?
Is it a stocking issue?
Over feeding?

Would you reccomend leaving bubbles moving through the water via my Venturi constantly?

Many thanks

B

 

[Sarette]

I'm just wondering, have you tested your tap water lately, for nitrate?

 

[levahe]

What lights do you have, 7 hours isn't bad so perhaps the lights are too powerful.
Stop trying to remove nitrate!!! Regular weekly water changes will keep it within safe limits, and plants need nitrate.

Nitrate doesn't cause algae. Algae in a planted tank occurs when there is an imbalance of nutrients/co2.

Do you add any fertilisers or co2 ?

Could you post a photo to give us a better idea what type of algae it is?


Here is a good algae guide http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm

 

[KittyKat]

Well, nitrate in itself is pretty much directly related to feeding amounts and rotting plants. It is true than an imbalance of nutrients causes algae, so unless you want to slightly reduce feeding or increase water changes, I wouldn't worry about it.
 
Is your "algae" actually a cyanobacteria?

 

[EllieJellyEllie]

What lights do you have, 7 hours isn't bad so perhaps the lights are too powerful.
Stop trying to remove nitrate!!! Regular weekly water changes will keep it within safe limits, and plants need nitrate.

Nitrate doesn't cause algae. Algae in a planted tank occurs when there is an imbalance of nutrients/co2.

Do you add any fertilisers or co2 ?

Could you post a photo to give us a better idea what type of algae it is?


Here is a good algae guide http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm

Algae is due to nitrate high waters, and/or nutrient imbalances.

 

[Benj]

Thanks for the replies!

Tested my tapwater and that seems fine. No, I do not add any nutrients or fertilisers- my plants have been taking over as it is! My light is fairly basic- a juwel 'colourlite' if I remember rightly.

On the issue of wether it is algae or Cyanobacteria- some of it at least is definitely algae- it is growing in long hairs to the leaves. The glass of the tank keeps being covered by a slimy, very soft and green layer. Unfortunately I have no pictures of this on the glass- I've just given the sides a thourogh clean. Have included a pic of the whole tank though. - I've also cut back the plants considerably, they were about twice the density before this pic was taken.
Picture of the tank as a whole ( after a thorough clean!)

 

[levahe]

You have bba (black beard algae) which is due to low co2 (carbon dioxide) levels. low co2 levels are a symptom of too much light.

The more light plants get, the more co2 they require so here you have a co2 shortfall which causes bba and unhealthy plants and it looks like your plants could use some fertilisers too.

In order to effectively combat this algae you need to decrease the lighting period/intensity and add a source of co2 and add some fertilisers. You also need to do decent sized weekly water changes and keep the tank clean. A decent amount of water flow around the tank is needed too, enough to make all the plants sway a little bit.

If you don't want to use pressurised co2 you can use liquid co2 (easycarbo/seachem excel)
And for fertilisers you could use something like tropica plant growth specialised
There are cheaper alternatives but a bottle of each of the above will cost around £10 each and last about 6 months +