"green Hair Algae"?

[Aqua Andy]

Hi,

I have some of what I think is "green hair algae" growing on some of the leaves of my Vallisneria. The coverage seems to be spreading gradually.

Is there any way that I can remove it?

I like the plant that it is growing on very much and don't want to remove it as it is thriving. I have four new plants that have trailed off of the original.

If it helps:

my nitrAte level is pretty high at around 40ppm (I'm looking into using RO water as it is almost that high directly from my tap),

I have little to no other algae growth (although I do have two Oto's and some snails who probably have some effect on that),

I use King British Plant food as directed fortnightly and

the single 18W florescent light bulb is on for five hours from 12:00 (midday) until 17:00, then off for two hours between 17:00 and 19:00 and then back on for five hours from 19:00 to 24:00 (or 0:00) giving a total of 10 hours of light per day in two 5 hour periods.

There is a picture in this thread.

As always your advice and feedback will be greatly appreciated.


Andy

 

[zig]

I was looking at that thread the other night and i said to myself "he has more than snail eggs growing on the vallis" its hard to tell what type of algae it is as the picture is very magnified, it looks like some sort of thread algae.

How big is this tank what type of light have you over it (make), and how long has this tank had plants in it.

How ofton and how much water do you change in the tank, and i dont suppose you have a phosphate testkit or know how much phosphate your tapwater contains.

More info would be helpful.

 

[Aqua Andy]

I was looking at that thread the other night and i said to myself "he has more than snail eggs growing on the vallis" its hard to tell what type of algae it is as the picture is very magnified, it looks like some sort of thread algae.

How big is this tank what type of light have you over it (make), and how long has this tank had plants in it.

How ofton and how much water do you change in the tank, and i dont suppose you have a phosphate testkit or know how much phosphate your tapwater contains.

More info would be helpful.

It's a 10G US/8G UK tank with a "Light Glo" light with an 18" "Sun Glo" tube.

It has been planted from day one which is approximately 3 months.

I change approximately 20-30% of the tank water weekly.

I don't have a phosphate test kit but I could buy one.

 

[zig]

I wouldnt buy a phosphate test kit, i would ring your local water company and get them to send you a report, if it looks like the report is telling you that you have high phosphates then i would buy a testkit to find out exactly how high.

The only other thing i can suggest is to try the RO water for a few weeks and see if it makes any difference to the algae i cant really see anything obvious that could be causing it, i would do a big water change using the RO water and try and bring the nitrates down below 20ppm (preferably around 10ppm) and try and maintain somewhere around that level.

I would also try a different brand of fertiliser, i had King British fertiliser once (i was stuck) but it does not give a breakdown on the label as to what exactly it contains, i would try Kent botanic grow or Seachem Flourish, both of these are excellent trace mixes.

 

[Aqua Andy]

I've now got my nitrAte level down to 5 ppm using Interpet Nitrasafe. It's a nitrAte sponge I wouldn't use chemicals.

I've bought a phosphate test kit and tested my tank and tap water, both are 5 ppm - too high.

I suppose it's now RO water or a phosphate filter/sponge?


Andy

 

[zig]

Hi Andy

Im not familar with phosphate removing sponges ive never had this problem with my water, maybe somebody else can advise on those, the only thing i would guard against with both the nitrate and phosphate removers is to make sure they are not too efficient and strip the water totally of both of these nutrients, you must ensure that some nitrate and phosphate is in the water column or you will have more algae problems, it is food for the plants after all and without it they will suffer.