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Tophat665 · 11-10-2008, 07:29 AM

Good tank. Couple of things that will fix your algae problem.
- Lose the actinics and replace with 10000K or 6700Ks. Algae uses actinics more efficiently than vascular plants for some reason.
- More plants. Get something like Anachris or Wisteria (Hygrophilia difformis) that grows like mad and which you won't feel bad about ditching when that cabomba starts taking off for you. There aren't enough plants in there to make a good dent in the nutrients, and that's what's giving the algae an opening to get busy with.
- Siamese Algae eater. Now, this is one you may or may not want to do. They will take care of staghorn and black beard algae, given some time. OTOH they get up over 4" easily, and they get snotty when they get large unless they have company (I have 3 adults in a 75 who pal around pretty good and mostly limit their aggression to each other, but the one juvenile in my 50 is a bit persnickety and territorial - likes to move my monkey loaches along if they decide to get near him.) But over time they will solve any BBA problems.
- Flourish Excel. If you have a lot of plants in there, but you still have algae problems, then maybe your plants need a source of carbon, usually CO2. This stuff adds carbon in a form the plants can use but that won't outgas if you roil the surface.

Hope that helps you out.

11-10-2008, 07:29 AM	#85 (permalink)
Tophat665 Minion of the scaléd ones Location: Northeast Jesusland	Good tank. Couple of things that will fix your algae problem. - Lose the actinics and replace with 10000K or 6700Ks. Algae uses actinics more efficiently than vascular plants for some reason. - More plants. Get something like Anachris or Wisteria (Hygrophilia difformis) that grows like mad and which you won't feel bad about ditching when that cabomba starts taking off for you. There aren't enough plants in there to make a good dent in the nutrients, and that's what's giving the algae an opening to get busy with. - Siamese Algae eater. Now, this is one you may or may not want to do. They will take care of staghorn and black beard algae, given some time. OTOH they get up over 4" easily, and they get snotty when they get large unless they have company (I have 3 adults in a 75 who pal around pretty good and mostly limit their aggression to each other, but the one juvenile in my 50 is a bit persnickety and territorial - likes to move my monkey loaches along if they decide to get near him.) But over time they will solve any BBA problems. - Flourish Excel. If you have a lot of plants in there, but you still have algae problems, then maybe your plants need a source of carbon, usually CO2. This stuff adds carbon in a form the plants can use but that won't outgas if you roil the surface. Hope that helps you out. __________________ Light a man a fire, and he will be warm while it burns. Set a man on fire, and he will be warm for the rest of his life.