Safe to add new plants? (algae related)

[michael.qian]

Hi all

Recently my tank is got infested with hair/fuzz/green algae and they killed all my blue hygrophila plants, all 5 of them which was my centerpiece.

Got 2 siamese algae eaters on friday and another two yesterday, but it's too late they can't stop the plants dying now.

Just had to take out all the blue hygrophila plants as all the leaves are rotting away and branches are breaking off.

Was wondering if it's safe to get some new ones straight away? The SAEs will eat the new hair algae growing to stop them spreading but won't eat the old algae.

If I get some new ones, say tomorrow, are they likely to be infested with algae again?

Thanks a lot

[michael.qian]

I'm thinking of Java Fern, a few bunches of rotala.

I have medium lighting.

And just sold some fish today, 5X neon tetra and 5X leopard danios, so that's should reduce nitrate a bit.

[Nicolette]

Do you have any phos pad in your filter.. I believe if you put new plants in and have a phos pad in there to remove the excess phosphate (the cause of hair algae I am told) You should be fine.

Let me know if this works. It did for me.

[michael.qian]

Don't have a phosphate pad, don't think I can fit on in my filter anyway, it's a Internal Eheim 2010.

Though planning to upgrade to a canister but havn't found one yet, limited budget.

Did a 25% water change yesterday and today also, and all the blue hygrophila plants I've taken out, so most of the hair algae is gone.

I'm thinking if I add a new java fern, if new hair algae starts to grow the SAEs should eat them before they grow further.

More inputs appreciated thanks.

[Caryl]

I would wait and see how effective the SAEs are first.