Staghorn Or Hair

[stu40]

Hi

as above, is this Staghorn or just some sort of hair algae.?

About week ago various plants started getting low ferts prob, bit of green hair algae too.
Started to dose 3 ml of both Easycarbo & TPN+ (160L tank)
Circulation's around x8-x10, lights 2x30W T8 about 7 hours
Gave the gravel a good clean last week, as well as rinsing filter sponges
Algae is now about 10 times worse in the last 7 days.
Advise?

 

[L_Plates]

How heavily planted is your tank ?

Also for 160ltrs dosing 3ml of tpn+ is a little low. I was dosing 12ml daily in my 240. Now i use EI dosing as its cheaper.

LP

 

[stu40]

how planted? see sig for link to journal.thought i'd start with label advise for tpn dosing, though i'm aware that some do more like 1ml per 20l

 

[L_Plates]

Sorry i never noticed your sig.

Looks like you have quite a few fast growing plants in there which is good.

I would suggest upping the TPN+ to 1ml per 20ltr as you said. It worked for me when i was getting algae like the one you have.

There are also other factors that can cause algae as well such as flow but it looks like you are ok on that one. Does the flow get to the affected areas ?.

I have never used liquid carbon so i cannot help on that im afraid.

Your lighting seems good to me as well but i am no expert on that either. I run 2 x 54 watt t5 for 5 hrs a day.

LP

 

[minnnt]

I had a similar issue with my Vallis. It's horrible stuff isn't it?! Was advised it was an inbalance of nutrients, co2, light and circulation. Basically everything!

 

[stu40]

Sorry i never noticed your sig.

Looks like you have quite a few fast growing plants in there which is good.

I would suggest upping the TPN+ to 1ml per 20ltr as you said. It worked for me when i was getting algae like the one you have.

There are also other factors that can cause algae as well such as flow but it looks like you are ok on that one. Does the flow get to the affected areas ?.

I have never used liquid carbon so i cannot help on that im afraid.

Your lighting seems good to me as well but i am no expert on that either. I run 2 x 54 watt t5 for 5 hrs a day.

LP

so do you reckon that i haven't upped the ferts enough to balance the increased co2?
The koralia is blasting straight down the front face of the tank.Exactly where the main probs are

I had a similar issue with my Vallis. It's horrible stuff isn't it?! Was advised it was an inbalance of nutrients, co2, light and circulation. Basically everything!

thanks Einstein

What did you do,and how did you get on?

 

[L_Plates]

I don't think you have to balance the Co2 and ferts out you just have to have enough of each one.

Not enough co2 or ferts and plants will struggle and start to die off, which in turn can cause algae.

From what i have read people use to think that to much ferts can cause algae, but that seems to have been proved wrong now that people use the EI dosing. With EI dosing we dose way to much so the plants to not go without what they need. Which can combat algae problems.

LP

 

[minnnt]

LOL!!

I cut off the affected leaves, sold the tank and moved the plants to another tank.

TBH i think it was the fact that i was leaving the light on too long, only had a breeding pair of fish in there and lack of flow. My tank was also near a window so wasn't suprised really. No longer have the problem touch wood.

 

[stu40]

advice /guidance needed:
last week removed every leaf & stem with any hint of this stuff 50% WC.dosing easycarbo 5ml, tpn+ 7.5 ml daily. Lights on for 5 hrs. added frogbit.week later, some stems starting to show a bit of algae returning.
what do you reckon, up easycarbo, or more water changes.or leave for another week?

 

[stu40]

anyone?

 

[minnnt]

I'll bump it back up for you mate. Unsure as to what the answer is. RadaR is pretty good on algae issues, maybe drop him a pm to speed up a reply?

 

[stu40]

Ta
i'm just a bit confused about the whole 'do water changes to remove spores' vs 'water changes=fluctuating co2=algae'

there was the thread the other day about something similar (the one where fingers were pointed at you

)

FJ13 ended up having a conversation with himself, with input from Radar. I kept up for awhile but not sure what answer was come to.

I know what the cause was for the bloom (me being a plonker, and fiddling too much), and have addressed the root problem.

Think i'm going to try the extra WC's path this week, see if i can work this one myself.Probably add a Pitbull plec to help clear up the little bit i've got back this week.He can then join the other 2 i got from you

(they're doing an excellent job BTW,that tank looks better than mine now)

 

[minnnt]

Great stuff matey. Glad they're doing ok!!

Re-read that thread you mentioned, i was exhonourated as i pointed out that i know jack shi... about algae so it couldn't possibly have been me that gave Steve that info.