fordayzbro Posted May 24, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2010 Just move the lily closer to the surface, it will create a small vortex that will draw in the surface scum. I moved the lily higher and leant it backwards a little when I changed the water.... it moves the water around better but not sure if it will be enough at this stage :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordayzbro Posted May 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 Update Water movement is better, no more clear film on surface. A little melt on the Java fern, everything else is looking o.k. The moss stones are growing new green strands... Will do a WC tomorrow and dose with comprehensive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordayzbro Posted May 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2010 Stringy Algae - Just done another WC will do another tomorrow, reduce the light and Co2. Might have to pull some plants and wash in a bleach solution. Some leaves on the java fern are turning black..... :-? Hopefully reducing the light may solve this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted May 27, 2010 Report Share Posted May 27, 2010 Try daily water changes to keep the filamentous algae in check. After months of dealing with it in two small tanks I think I finally have it sorted doing small daily water changes and believe me, I tried everything else (I think it was from excess iron in the substrate). The black spots on the java fern will go away and be replaced by lush growth if you dose with Flourish Comprehensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mac Posted May 27, 2010 Report Share Posted May 27, 2010 Tank is coming along nice. Looking good. mac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordayzbro Posted May 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2010 Try daily water changes to keep the filamentous algae in check. After months of dealing with it in two small tanks I think I finally have it sorted doing small daily water changes and believe me, I tried everything else (I think it was from excess iron in the substrate). The black spots on the java fern will go away and be replaced by lush growth if you dose with Flourish Comprehensive. I'm doing 20% WC every 2 days at the moment, should I increase to daily? The substate I'm using is nutrient rich which might be adding to the problem. Should I trim the black from the java fern? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted May 27, 2010 Report Share Posted May 27, 2010 I would say leave the CO2 and decrease light. I killed mine by using hydrogen peroxide. then i made the tank black water and the algae hasn't been back since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted May 27, 2010 Report Share Posted May 27, 2010 You could try daily water changes. I can't promise it will help but it is one of the few things that really helped for me even after reducing photoperiod, increasing CO2, balancing nutrients, adding floating plants and tearing it down and sterilising everything twice in 6 months... all to no avail, it just kept coming back. No need to trim the java fern, the leaves will continue to support the plant until new leaves form. The new leaves will be green with a clear tip. Once they get going the plant can double in size within a month. They really like the Flourish Comprehensive but you may struggle to get it to them with the daily water changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordayzbro Posted May 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2010 Thanks, I'll reduce the light for a few days and increase the WC to daily. Also continue to dose with Comprehensive, increase circulation and Co2. Mwah ha ha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordayzbro Posted May 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Update Added a couple oto's and 5 emerald eye's today. Will see how they react and pick up another 10 emerald's next week. Still some thread algae about mostly on the moss, which I've tried to clean off very carefully with a toothbrush. WC today and reduced lighting to 4 hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mac Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Wooo it is getting nice. I can see that Java moss is great. Nice tank. mac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordayzbro Posted May 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 Tanks looking better today... Another wc and the algae seems to be under control for now, still signs of thread algae but not as bad as 3 days ago. Maybe the oto's are doing the job.... Light is down to 4 hours in the evening, 2 hour burst around midday and a daily dose of comprehensive. The stones are annoying me everytime I look at them :roll: They look bare and unnatural... Pushing moss into the holes (thanks Morcs!) and maybe attaching some anubias nana petite could be the answer or give up the sand foreground for a glosso rug Decisions, decisions... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted May 29, 2010 Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 The 2 big holey stones look great. Don't forget they will not stand out as much as the plants surrounding them grow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordayzbro Posted May 31, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2010 Update Thread algae is still hanging about... crikey it is really stubborn stuff. I've reduced the light down to 3 hours and a burst at lunchtime and I'm still doing a WC daily. Here is the latest photo, the algae is growing all over the glosso and hairgrass making a big ugly mess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mac Posted May 31, 2010 Report Share Posted May 31, 2010 What about cutting down on your Co2? mac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordayzbro Posted May 31, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2010 I currently have the Co2 turning on a little after the lights come on and off a little before the lights go out. Not sure if that's the right way around.... :-? So at the moment it's running for about 3 hours per day at 1bps. Maybe I should turn it off for the night and see if there are any improvements Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted May 31, 2010 Report Share Posted May 31, 2010 You should be increasing the amount of CO2 so the plants out compete the algae. algae doesn't tend to like CO2. I'm sure JenH and I said something about that.... must have been another thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted May 31, 2010 Report Share Posted May 31, 2010 I'm sure JenH and I said something about that.... must have been another thread. Likely in the 108 litre disaster thread :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted May 31, 2010 Report Share Posted May 31, 2010 We say it all the time :lol: I should just add it to my sig. line. no space though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted May 31, 2010 Report Share Posted May 31, 2010 Try adding some fast growing floating or stem plants. They will block the light from the algae while increasing the plant biomass and thus reduce available nutrients in the water column (outcompeting the algae). Keep up the CO2 and water changes and try to reduce the overall wattage of the lights (if you have two tubes, only turn on one). This type of algae won't dissapear but it will hopefully stop growing. You will then need to manually remove what you can see, nasty stuff. It may take 2 weeks to show improvement and when you do gradually increase the photo period over two weeks and then increase the wattage. Alternatively, you can lower the water level and get the plants established emersed before you raise the water level. That will definitely eliminate your algae problems! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordayzbro Posted June 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 I think one of my oto's has been laying eggs. Just did a WC and I noticed these on the glass Don't think they are tetra eggs... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted June 1, 2010 Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 they look like cory eggs. ottos could be possible too! so could snails if they are jelly like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordayzbro Posted June 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 they look like cory eggs. ottos could be possible too! so could snails if they are jelly like. I noticed more around the tank! I haven't seen any snails in the tank since I planted it but I guess that doesn't mean they're not there. The eggs don't look like the jelly snail eggs... I currently have 2 Oto's and 10 Emerald eyes in the tank, whose been getting their groove on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted June 1, 2010 Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 ottos? some people have all the luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordayzbro Posted June 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 ottos? some people have all the luck. Not sure what I should do with them, just leave them be? :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.