Dealing With Algae Break-outs After Unstable Co2

[nry]

Sooo, as I did vaguely expect, the move from yeast-based CO2 to pressurised resulted in a few days with unstable CO2 levels whilst I got the bubble count right etc for the new setup. Last week at water change I removed a reasonable amount of cabomba which got pretty infested with algae, it did leave a noticeable gap in the planting cover which probably didn't help either!

CO2 is now stable, the drop checker (4dkh water, bromo blue) shows a good green colour throughout the lighting period. EI dosing is still going on as 'normal' for my size of tank (15-gallon) and the weekly 50% water change is always happening on schedule. 2.5wpg on for 8 hours per day.

Many plants now have a light covering of hair/thread/fuzz algae (based on ThePlantedTank descriptions!) and I have the odd patch of cladophora.

I am using a toothbrush occasionally to rake out any bad patches, I am also adding a fair amount more biomass (rotala rotundifolia and some more nanjenshan) today. Pearling is pretty good, most plants have some form of bubble stream and/or noticeable bubbles on the leaf surface. I'll admit to adding the normal amount of Flourish Excel over the past few days, I'm hoping the few days of unstable CO2 are the only cause of this outbreak, and the now stable levels should curb things.

Does my current course of action seem reasonable? Anyone got any further suggestions or do I keep going and see how it progresses?

 

[xing]

I had exactly the same issue a couple of weeks ago when I moved from diy to pressurised. I got a bad breakout of BBA and some thread algae with a couple of patches of bga. everything seems to be in remission now (3 weeks later) but the bba seems the most stubborn. I've squirted some excel direct on to it and this has helped kill it off quicker. Also going to move to EI dosing regime when all ferts arrive (hopefully tomorrow) so with a bit of luck I should be all clear from here on

 

[BHornsey]

Hi,
When I had similar peoblems, plantbrain advised the three things algae hates; healthy plants, excel and water changes.
Do some big water changes every two days for a week or so, dosing ferts & excel each time. Prune off any infested leaves or replace the plant if badly hit.
Certainly worked for me.

 

[nry]

So, aside from more water changes, I guess I am doing things 'correctly'. No BBA, that went a good while ago when I upped the yeast-based CO2 to two cannisters. There was certainly less new algae growth yesterday before the 50% water change so hopefully things are beginning to settle down again!