Avoiding Hair Algae And Plant Id Please

[Nosnibor]

Hi all,

Just a couple of quick questions. I have Hair Algae (well I think it's called Hair Algae, please correct me if I'm wrong). It's only really appeared since I introduced CO2. What is the best way to 1. Get rid of it and 2. Avoid it (if possible)?

This is it:

It's worse in other places but this was the best shot.


Secondly, can someone please ID this plant for me:

I have a list of Plants I have but they weren't labelled so I'm not too sure. My plant list is:
Echinodorus 'Aquartica'
Echinodorus 'Ozelot' (Green)
Microsorum pteropus
Microsorum pteropus ''Narrow'' BogWood (small)
Riccia fluitans
Vallisneria spiralis ''Tiger''

So I'm sure it's one of them.

Thank you

Martin

 

[Rob.S]

It's only really appeared since I introduced CO2.

I've got the same problem Martin So I guess it must be connected with the introduction of Co2.

 

[Nosnibor]

It's only really appeared since I introduced CO2.

I've got the same problem Martin So I guess it must be connected with the introduction of Co2.

Oh pooh! Hey I bet your 20 Cardinals look great I have 8 and I love them, what do you feed yours on a regular basis?

Martin

 

[SuperColey1]

The plant looks like a Giant Hygro or a strong Polysperma species to me.

You shouldn't be getting algae worries with your light Martin especially with CO2!!. What are you dosing ferts wise?

If you had high light then the time taken adjusting the CO2 until it is right would account for algae (which I also suffered from) but under low light should be much easier to control!!

Once you are up to a certain level then leave the CO2 unless you have to adjust it, and let is stay on a steady stream and eventually the algae should disappear.

Got to Tom Barr's website and have a look at threads on algae from yesterday. There was someone on there with a few problems and Tom detailed about using Excel, removing leaves, blackouts, high and frequent water changes etc. Was basically instructions on how to sort the problem. Even if you don't use them now they will be usefull in the future.

www.barrreport.com

You should register here seeing he is the God in many people's eyes and the man who brought EI to our attention, therefore there is some really good information and advice on his site, that we often only catch glimpses of on here.

If you want to see just how good he is, read this thread.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...t=0&start=0

Andy

 

[Nosnibor]

The plant looks like a Giant Hygro or a strong Polysperma species to me.

You shouldn't be getting algae worries with your light Martin especially with CO2!!. What are you dosing ferts wise?

If you had high light then the time taken adjusting the CO2 until it is right would account for algae (which I also suffered from) but under low light should be much easier to control!!

Once you are up to a certain level then leave the CO2 unless you have to adjust it, and let is stay on a steady stream and eventually the algae should disappear.

Got to Tom Barr's website and have a look at threads on algae from yesterday. There was someone on there with a few problems and Tom detailed about using Excel, removing leaves, blackouts, high and frequent water changes etc. Was basically instructions on how to sort the problem. Even if you don't use them now they will be usefull in the future.

www.barrreport.com

You should register here seeing he is the God in many people's eyes and the man who brought EI to our attention, therefore there is some really good information and advice on his site, that we often only catch glimpses of on here.

If you want to see just how good he is, read this thread.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...t=0&start=0

Andy

Great thanks Andy, I'll go and have a good read. The only nutrients we add is fertiliser sticks when we first installed the plants and Plant Grow to give them the iron.

Thanks Andy.

By the way you one one sexy man, I think I love you xxx

Martin

 

[Rob.S]

I bet your 20 Cardinals look great I have 8 and I love them, what do you feed yours on a regular basis?

Martin

Sadly now only 18...... I lost 2 of my older cardinals yesterday (possibly due to a long power failure on Saturday?).

I tend to mix up the feed, to give them a bit of variety. On the menu currently, is Tetramin Pro, and Tetra Prima, and half a cube of frozen bloodworm (a couple of times a week).

 

[SuperColey1]

Do you get the tetramin of ebay. I got 6 bags (un boxed) and put them in an old airtight tub for ^.99+P&P

from here

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/Tetra-Fish-Food-Disc...1QQcmdZViewItem

Lasts ages, and dead cheap.

Andy

 

[SuperColey1]

Cheap external CO2 reactor going cheap here Martin. Register on the site (UKAPS)

http/ukaps.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=79

Andy

 

[Nosnibor]

Sadly now only 18...... I lost 2 of my older cardinals yesterday (possibly due to a long power failure on Saturday?).

I tend to mix up the feed, to give them a bit of variety. On the menu currently, is Tetramin Pro, and Tetra Prima, and half a cube of frozen bloodworm (a couple of times a week).

That's a shame When I started out I had 10 and 2 died, then I got four more to take it to 12 and basically four died to get me to 8. I kept it at that and the 8 I have are well established now and strong fish - I caught one weigtlifting the other day behind the bog wood

I learnt that Cardinals (more than Neons) need the aquarium to be a little established before they go in. So even after a 5 week fishless cycle I should have waited another month or more before introducing them - lesson learnt.

How old are yours and how big are they? Do you have a great mix of sex there?

Martin

 

[Nosnibor]

Do you get the tetramin of ebay. I got 6 bags (un boxed) and put them in an old airtight tub for ^.99+P&P

from here

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/Tetra-Fish-Food-Disc...1QQcmdZViewItem

Lasts ages, and dead cheap.

Andy

That would be good for me but I was recommended when I first started that it wasn;t a good idea to get food in bulk as it goes off and you'd be feeding dry food that has no nutrients in?

What do you think? Have you had luck then with this?

By the way, I need to read your profile about what fish you have as I've forgotten.

Speak soon.

Hey Andy thanks for the notice about the external reactor - looks great

If I can;t get it from him I think I will still order the same one, I didnt know they were so established out there.

Martin

 

[SuperColey1]

Its not really that much bul. I put all the flakes mixed in a 1½ pint size old fish flake tub with an airtight lid. Lasts for 4-6 months.

The pellets I leave in the bag.

I have (I think) 13 cardinals now (all I can count anyway) I put in 19 five weeks ago.
4 pitbull plecs and 4 Otos

Neons and Cardinals are badly sold as starter fish. They are very sensitive and should really only be put into established mature tanks. Opinion on established varies from 3 months to 12 months but safe to say. after the cycle is not a great idea. lol

It is normal for some to die off within the first few days and weeks. Same as Otos. Sensitive and if you buy 8 you can guarantee that 2 months later you'll have 4 but they will be strong.

Andy

 

[Nosnibor]

Yeah I agree, Cardinals are great though eh

My hair algae is getting worse. I'll go and read some threads on Tom's site now, I think I'll chop off the leaves and see if they grow back.

I have the new T6 lights coming tomorrow (fingers crossed) so I hope that doesn't make it worse

Martin

 

[nry]

I have found that it takes up to 3-4 months for a tank to settle again once you change something major like light, CO2 and/or fertilisers. When I went to 2.5wpg from 1wpg, added pressurised CO2 and started EI, I had significant algae outbreaks. Remove the worst affected leaves, if you are confident that CO2 and fertilisers are adequate then do not change the dosing routine, and give it a while. Keep lights on ~7-8 hours per day. Things 'should' start to settle after much patience - I still have a degree of hair/filamanteous algae on some places after 4 months of EI but it is gradually going or at least not getting worse so I can control it with the help of a toothbrush

 

[Nosnibor]

I have found that it takes up to 3-4 months for a tank to settle again once you change something major like light, CO2 and/or fertilisers. When I went to 2.5wpg from 1wpg, added pressurised CO2 and started EI, I had significant algae outbreaks. Remove the worst affected leaves, if you are confident that CO2 and fertilisers are adequate then do not change the dosing routine, and give it a while. Keep lights on ~7-8 hours per day. Things 'should' start to settle after much patience - I still have a degree of hair/filamanteous algae on some places after 4 months of EI but it is gradually going or at least not getting worse so I can control it with the help of a toothbrush

Thanks for the advice nry.

My plants in there at the moment are looking really crap! So many brown leaves, tonight myself and my g/f are going to town to tidy things up. Then we'll give it a while to settle down before looking in to getting more plants or nutrients.

Martin

 

[Rob.S]

How old are yours and how big are they? Do you have a great mix of sex there?

Martin

Good question . I think my oldest ones are about 5 years old - or I should say, I've had them for this time (I only have 3 of these now), and about 25mm long. I reckon that's a good age for a Tetra. The remaining 15, I've had for a couple of months - bought them mail order, and had no losses (fingers crossed), they are about 15mm. As for sex - I can't see any differences between them; not that I've really looked.

As for keeping food (thanks for the ebay link Andy), how long, is too long, when it comes to storing it??