Hi,

I have noticed that there has been a significant increase of algae in the last two weeks.

Now I'd be surprised if this is a cause somehow but it seems to coincide with me adding two java moss, a pair of bolivian butterfly and 10 neons.

Prior to that I had no algae. The light conditions haven't changed.

Could there be a reason for this? Is it because the tank is stabilizing somehow?

Cheers

The Java moss could have brought it in. What kind of algae is it?

On the glass and polystyrene background it appears brownish.

I have a few small things that looks like green hair between pebbles. That is hardly noticeable though.

Assuming that the moss brought it in, will it keep producing algae?

If the conditions stay right,

Heres an excellent page on algae and remedies http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm

algae can come in with new plants but it will only stay if the lifestyle suits it.. perhaps you are feeding the new fish a little much and this is providing food for the algae?

it can come in on the water in the fish bags as well

Great link Zeebee. Looks like a case of brown algae or black brush algae.

I am very careful when it comes with water out of a shop bag.

Will pay more attention to feeding. Any use in turning light off a bit more?

Currently my timer is set from 11 AM to 11 PM

umm, where it came from is kinda pointless as algae can be transferred long distances in the air

more likely that the moss has a dead spot in it from when it was bunched, or there has been a nutrient spike due to the addition of extra fish.

I would probably reduce to 10 hours.

You could cut the lighting down but without seeing the parameters of the tank in this thread it's a little hard to give suggestions. My tank lights are only on for 6 hours a day but then I run low tech tanks. If you have a lot of fertilisers or C02 in there then doing that would cause problems.

If you have a bit of money invest in a uv filter

So I have reduced my lightning to 10 hours or so. I probably have reduced the amount of food somewhat but the algae are still there.

I'd say probably increased over last week. I think what I see is black brush algae.

The light tube says "extra day hi-glow 40 W". I have no clue about lightning, should I look at something different. Most of the plants are affected. Initially it was noticeable on java moss but now my ambulias are getting really affected.

I also start to get small bushes on background and some rocks.

I have one bristlenose but he can't keep it clean :-)

Cheers

10 hours a day then imo the tank is getting too much light. Cut it right back to around 4-6 hours and that will help. Have it on so you can see it when you are home or in the evenings. The fish can see in the daytime without a light

Are your plants growing?

They grow like weeds :-) I guess that is expected with ambulia.

Need to do a water change tomorrow, will clean off as much algae as I can and reduce lightning some more.

be very careful when you reduce your lightning

be very careful when you reduce your lightning

I would be more worried about increasing lightning :digH:

Can the BBA be caused by higher flow? I moved from a duck mouth to spraybar and I wonder if it started since then?

I am also considering getting a Siamese Algae eater since they are the only one who eat this algae

I have found that siamese algae eaters are pretty useless at the cleanup of BBA unless you can make sure they don't get fed anything else. Also they grow really big really fast. Cheaper just to dose with flourish excel. Also yes, high flow does encourage BBA to grow.

I have lowered the flow and did a water change but whatever algae were cleaned up is back. Will give flourish excel a go. Any tips on how to use for best results?

Flourish excel works wonders :-)

:thup: