What's The Stuff Growing?

[aquariumart22]

It's growing in the java moss but its growing most where the water comes out of the filter. Anyone know what it is and if I should leave or remove? It seems to be growing quick! I started leaving the lights on for 12 hours instead of the usual eight to promote plant growth.. Obviously that's why, what should I do?

 

[thereverendturtle]

You've got to different things growing. In pic 2 its cyanobacteria, pic 3 is string algae. Best thing to do is siphon them out and cut your lights back to 8-10 hours.

 

[aquariumart22]

Thank you for the reply. Will do. Any suggestions on how to get my java fern that's on the bottom to grow without co2? I have one that's closer to the top that's growing nice but the one on the bottom hasn't grown at all and its been in there for at least three months. That's why I started leaving the lights on longer. I'm at a loss unless I get co2 set up and I really want to do it without co2..

 

[DrRob]

The biggest problem you have there is the blue green algae (which isn't an algae). If I were you I'd get onto this one quickly as it's a real nightmare to get rid of. It likes good light with low nitrogen and high organic load. There's a lot of advice out there on what to do with it but the recommendations come down to;

a good clean and water change, removing as much of the algae as you can.
blackout for a few days with no peeking.
if you have it, up the fertiliser levels, particularly the macronutrients, but this is a longer term thing.

Basically, I suspect that you have a low tech system, have some plants that didn't do so well so upped the light, but the problem was lack of other things and upping the light has simply made the plants use up the last of the resources, leading to the BGA.

On the bright side it means that the solution, simply, may be to turn the lighting period back down in the long run, but that all depends on how complicated you want to get.

 

[aquariumart22]

Okay, first of all thank you so much for the info. I want to make sure I do this right, after googleing blue green algae and seeing how it can overtake a tank! Forgive me if I sound like a noob.

First step, remove all visible algae. Then clean and do a water change. Leave the lights off for 3 days, then when I turn them on do another water change. Go back to leaving the lights on for 8 hours.

I do have a low tech set up and have never used ferts and honestly don't know anything about them. I am open to using them but cant recall ever seeing them at my LFS nor has she ever mentioned them. The LFS owner has 2 planted show tanks and doesn't use ferts or co2 and leaves the lights on for 12 hours so thats why I was trying it. I also don't own a test kit and have never checked my water, only the ph. I meant to buy one, but for a while now I haven't had any problems and just never got one.

I have some questions. When you say high organic load, that means decayed plants/wood? Does it include fish waste too? I have one large pleco who will destroy my tank with waste overnight and I have been concerned about the welfare of the other fish. Hes awesome but would it be better if i rehome him?

Thanks for helping, I would like to learn more about the scientific reasoning for everything I guess I worry about being bothersome.

 

[cms091]

First step, remove all visible algae. Then clean and do a water change. Leave the lights off for 3 days, then when I turn them on do another water change. Go back to leaving the lights on for 8 hours.

The blackout is more than just turning the lights off. You have to exclude ALL light. I have used aluminium cooking foil (Baco etc) to good effect.
Cathy

 

[snazy]

How big is your tank and what's the filter flow rated at?(Litres an hour or gallons an hour)

 

[aquariumart22]

I'm not sure how to determine the flow rate but Its a 75 gallon tank and its got one aquaclear 110 filter. I was going to ask if I needed to up my filtration. I was planning on it eventually, just when I get the extra money.

 

[snazy]

I'm not sure how to determine the flow rate but Its a 75 gallon tank and its got one aquaclear 110 filter. I was going to ask if I needed to up my filtration. I was planning on it eventually, just when I get the extra money.

Well, from the online specifications of your filter, it is rated 166 US gallons/hour. Your tank is 75 gallons which means the water in the tank gets filtered at a rate of two times the tank volume an hour about and even less considering the filter media and other factors. This is very low. You should be aiming for a filter that filters 7-8 times the amount of tank water an hour, 10x is even better. The low flow rate could be causing your problem with algae and also will cause all other problems in the long term as it isn't sufficient to filter a tank this size.

 

[aquariumart22]

Great. I feel I did a substantial amount of research before buying the aqua clear and planned on buying another one but if I'm understanding right, that wouldn't even be sufficient?

 

[snazy]

Great. I feel I did a substantial amount of research before buying the aqua clear and planned on buying another one but if I'm understanding right, that wouldn't even be sufficient?

Not really. I'd go bigger than that. With a pleco in the tank as well the bigger the better.

 

[aquariumart22]

Thanks for the info.