Sophia Posted January 13, 2010 Report Share Posted January 13, 2010 is this what you guys rave about to feed plants and will it kill my staghorn algae? ? http://www.hollywoodfishfarm.co.nz/prod ... hp?id=1933 I have been dosing with Florapride 0-0-3 npk to feed the plants, hoping it would starve the algae but instead it's getting longer and more seaweedy. It's very pretty in places but I just don't want it! :evil: I have got to the point where I'm ready to dose the tank with something that will blast it to oblivion because other than feeding the fish less I can't change anything else about the way the tank is set up. I'm willing to give it blast and for it to grow back in a few months, I don't imagine it will be gone forever. The tank isn't big enough for a siamese/chinese algae eater either. Fish are 7 cardinal tetra, 7 corydora (4 are juvenile), 2 oto, 2 swordtails that are leaving soon I do stick to the 'feed only what they can eat in 5 mins' theory - about a quarter of an algae wafer for everyone in the morning and in the evening a tiny pinch of mixed flakes/dried worms and maybe 1 or 2 shrimp pellets. Does that sound too much? If anything I have dropped off the feeding a little but the staghorn has gotten stronger. The other thing to add to the mix is that Alan has just sent me a bunch of extra plants that could a) choke the algae if I'm lucky or b) get consumed themselves. I want something to work, am tired of experimenting on my tank with my wallet!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrazyGeoff Posted January 13, 2010 Report Share Posted January 13, 2010 Thats the stuff. I pour the recommended dose directly on the algae, and then the next week a bit more etc etc etc. Here is another thread that may be usefull, and a long link in that one. excel-staghorn-algae Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted January 13, 2010 Report Share Posted January 13, 2010 I would compost the plant with the staghorn as it needs more light than you have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted January 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 hi Alan I chucked out the zealandia as suggested but I also have a vigorous anubias nana with a flower all furry too - I thought they appreciated less light?? The staghorn is also now trying to grow on various pebbles. I don't mind it on my driftwood as I can just scrape it off but it really is starting to permeate. Thats the stuff. I pour the recommended dose directly on the algae, and then the next week a bit more etc etc etc. Here is another thread that may be usefull, and a long link in that one. excel-staghorn-algae thanks I'll go have a squizz in that thread too here's a link to my tank at present, minus the zealandia next to the log - haven't planted yours yet Alan, nice job for the weekend. viewtopic.php?f=2&t=43354 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 I don't know a lot about staghorn but flourish excel takes a while to work usually. There are algae cures available for ponds that may work as well. I also understand that lowering the pH will help. Any of these things need to be done slowly or the fish may not like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted January 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 Thats the stuff. I pour the recommended dose directly on the algae, and then the next week a bit more etc etc etc. Here is another thread that may be usefull, and a long link in that one. excel-staghorn-algae Read that and got through about 5 pages of the link within the link. The common thread is to cut away infected stuff and/or to do the overdosing. I can straight away boil the urn and kill off the algae (the oto love cooked algae ) and that just leaves my multi-algae driftwood as the main host. Also now I see some very fine fuzzy green hairs on the anubias. I will try the Excel method and boiling the urn and then if no joy the wood goes. edit... and I meant to say that the threads say ammonia causes staghorn but mine is zero as well as no nitrite. Nitrate still 10ppm and under. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted January 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 Update .... Have done approx a 40% water change, algae scrape and siphon. Trimmed all my plants, removed some and have rescaped with my new plants from Alan Looks a little bare at present but should bush up well. Val trimmed back to non-staghorn leaves and redistributed at back. New sagittaria in the front with some short stargrass in the corner of the divider. Razored log with most algae removed, with heavily trimmed anubias nana. This is where I’ve spot injected the first dose of Flourish Excel to annihiliate the staghorn. Alan you can see I've put some longer bits of stargrass at the back to see how they cope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcase Posted January 16, 2010 Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 maybe a siamese algae eater or 2 would help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted January 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2010 thought I was rid of the direct sunlight on the tank.... turns out that strip over the urn, gravel and edge of wall does still get some! Interesting what you find out about your house when you are on holiday! garrrrrggggggghhhhhhh :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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