Algae! UNCLE!

OK.. I give up.. I've been fighting major algae problems for MONTHS.. I'm
about to tear down my tank and get out of the hobby. NOTHING is working for
me....

Are they're ANY chemical solutions that are live plant friendly??

Troy

On 2005-04-26, Shagster wrote:
OK.. I give up.. I've been fighting major algae problems for MONTHS.. I'm
about to tear down my tank and get out of the hobby. NOTHING is working for
me....

Are they're ANY chemical solutions that are live plant friendly??


Yeah, it's called fertilizer. The nutrients in your tank are off.

http://plantgeek.net/article_viewer.php?id=9
http://www.aquariaplants.com/alqaeproblems.htm
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_algae.htm

More links about dosing your tank:

http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~jr...ry%20pmdd.html
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/articles.htm

Without knowing the details of your tank, one possible start would be
to have as the only inhabitants of your tank some SAE and other algae
eating fish. Don't feed the tank at all, and let the algae eaters eat
the algae. And, try to get your nutrient levels under control.
--
"I have to decide between two equally frightening options.
If I wanted to do that, I'd vote." --Duckman

Shagster wrote:
OK.. I give up.. I've been fighting major algae problems for MONTHS.. I'm
about to tear down my tank and get out of the hobby. NOTHING is working for
me....

Are they're ANY chemical solutions that are live plant friendly??

Troy


Algaefix is supposed to be friendly to most plants and kill most algae.
YMMV. Avoid Algae Destroyer and other products containing simazine
because simazine is not friendly to bunch plants and grasses like
valisneria. http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Algae/simazine.html

A UV unit is good for unicellular suspended algae if your water is green.

If you want other alternatives from a bunch of other algae experts (I
think I've grown and fixed all but staghorn at some time or another),
you could post more about your tank and what you've tried. i.e. Tank
size, lighting, plants, kinds of algae, fish population, filtration,
nitrate and phosphate levels, water change schedule... Most algae
problems can be fixed without chemicals.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

I WAS adding fert. to the tank, but I've stopped all of that.. Obviously,
something is off... But I'm not sure how to tell exactly WHAT that is...
I'm going to start daily 95% water changes (and stop all fert.) and see how
it goes..

Overfeeding is NOT a problem... Plus I have two flying foxes, one algae
eater, and an otto...




"js1" wrote in message
...
On 2005-04-26, Shagster wrote:
OK.. I give up.. I've been fighting major algae problems for MONTHS..
I'm
about to tear down my tank and get out of the hobby. NOTHING is working
for
me....

Are they're ANY chemical solutions that are live plant friendly??


Yeah, it's called fertilizer. The nutrients in your tank are off.

http://plantgeek.net/article_viewer.php?id=9
http://www.aquariaplants.com/alqaeproblems.htm
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_algae.htm

More links about dosing your tank:


http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~jr...ry%20pmdd.html
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/articles.htm

Without knowing the details of your tank, one possible start would be
to have as the only inhabitants of your tank some SAE and other algae
eating fish. Don't feed the tank at all, and let the algae eaters eat
the algae. And, try to get your nutrient levels under control.
--
"I have to decide between two equally frightening options.
If I wanted to do that, I'd vote." --Duckman

I'm running a UV sterilizer... That hasn't done much.. Water is still
turning green within 3 days of a water change!

"Elaine T" wrote in message
m...
Shagster wrote:
OK.. I give up.. I've been fighting major algae problems for MONTHS..
I'm about to tear down my tank and get out of the hobby. NOTHING is
working for me....

Are they're ANY chemical solutions that are live plant friendly??

Troy


Algaefix is supposed to be friendly to most plants and kill most algae.
YMMV. Avoid Algae Destroyer and other products containing simazine
because simazine is not friendly to bunch plants and grasses like
valisneria. http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Algae/simazine.html

A UV unit is good for unicellular suspended algae if your water is green.

If you want other alternatives from a bunch of other algae experts (I
think I've grown and fixed all but staghorn at some time or another), you
could post more about your tank and what you've tried. i.e. Tank size,
lighting, plants, kinds of algae, fish population, filtration, nitrate and
phosphate levels, water change schedule... Most algae problems can be
fixed without chemicals.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

On 2005-04-26, Shagster wrote:
I'm running a UV sterilizer... That hasn't done much.. Water is still
turning green within 3 days of a water change!


That's strange... the UV should work pretty good... should...

What kind of plants do you have in there? It may be as simple as a
nitrate/phosphate imbalance. What's your nitrate levels?

You may want some nitrate sponges like Indian Fern or Anacharis.
http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide_viewer.php?id=52

You shouldn't dose unless you are measuring the levels. Plus,
what other fish do you have in there besides the algae eaters?

--
"I have to decide between two equally frightening options.
If I wanted to do that, I'd vote." --Duckman

On 2005-04-26, js1 wrote:

That's strange... the UV should work pretty good... should...


Let me clarify... the UV filter should work good for the green water.
Anything that passes through the UV light should get zapped. Worked
great on my 4W/gal tank.
--
"I have to decide between two equally frightening options.
If I wanted to do that, I'd vote." --Duckman

Shagster wrote:
I'm running a UV sterilizer... That hasn't done much.. Water is still
turning green within 3 days of a water change!

"Elaine T" wrote in message
m...

Shagster wrote:

OK.. I give up.. I've been fighting major algae problems for MONTHS..
I'm about to tear down my tank and get out of the hobby. NOTHING is
working for me....

Are they're ANY chemical solutions that are live plant friendly??

Troy



Algaefix is supposed to be friendly to most plants and kill most algae.
YMMV. Avoid Algae Destroyer and other products containing simazine
because simazine is not friendly to bunch plants and grasses like
valisneria. http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Algae/simazine.html

A UV unit is good for unicellular suspended algae if your water is green.

If you want other alternatives from a bunch of other algae experts (I
think I've grown and fixed all but staghorn at some time or another), you
could post more about your tank and what you've tried. i.e. Tank size,
lighting, plants, kinds of algae, fish population, filtration, nitrate and
phosphate levels, water change schedule... Most algae problems can be
fixed without chemicals.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com



Eek! That IS bad. I see why you're frustrated. BTW, your UV unit may
need a new bulb or slower flow rate. It really should keep the green
water at bay.

The 95% water changes are a good plan and will lower nutrients to
tapwater levels. Sort of a giant tank reset. Then you need to get
nitrate and phosphate test kits and start watching nitrates and
phosphates. Js1 gave you great links that will explain where to go from
there.

Come back and bug us for more info when you need it!

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

If he's getting green water within days of a wc then I would say the tank
has'nt built up enough nitrifying bacteria yet. Free floating ammonia in the
water column will always give you green water. Do a good gravel vacuum,
clean your filter and start again, this time cycle the tank first!
--
Kind Regards
Cameron

"Elaine T" wrote in message
. ..
Shagster wrote:
I'm running a UV sterilizer... That hasn't done much.. Water is
still
turning green within 3 days of a water change!

"Elaine T" wrote in message
m...

Shagster wrote:

OK.. I give up.. I've been fighting major algae problems for MONTHS..
I'm about to tear down my tank and get out of the hobby. NOTHING is
working for me....

Are they're ANY chemical solutions that are live plant friendly??

Troy



Algaefix is supposed to be friendly to most plants and kill most algae.
YMMV. Avoid Algae Destroyer and other products containing simazine
because simazine is not friendly to bunch plants and grasses like
valisneria. http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Algae/simazine.html

A UV unit is good for unicellular suspended algae if your water is
green.

If you want other alternatives from a bunch of other algae experts (I
think I've grown and fixed all but staghorn at some time or another),
you
could post more about your tank and what you've tried. i.e. Tank size,
lighting, plants, kinds of algae, fish population, filtration, nitrate
and
phosphate levels, water change schedule... Most algae problems can be
fixed without chemicals.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com



Eek! That IS bad. I see why you're frustrated. BTW, your UV unit may
need a new bulb or slower flow rate. It really should keep the green
water at bay.

The 95% water changes are a good plan and will lower nutrients to
tapwater levels. Sort of a giant tank reset. Then you need to get
nitrate and phosphate test kits and start watching nitrates and
phosphates. Js1 gave you great links that will explain where to go from
there.

Come back and bug us for more info when you need it!

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

Cycle the tank! It's been in operation for about 3 years now! The gravel
is terribly "dirty".. I'm not sure WHAT exactly all that "sludge" is... My
fish are only fed 2x per week.....but there seems to be no end to the
sludge.. I'll have to pull everything out and reset!

Also, what can I do to get the algea off the plants?? Is there some type of
water/bleach dip?


"Happy'Cam'per" wrote in message
...

If he's getting green water within days of a wc then I would say the tank
has'nt built up enough nitrifying bacteria yet. Free floating ammonia in
the
water column will always give you green water. Do a good gravel vacuum,
clean your filter and start again, this time cycle the tank first!
--
Kind Regards
Cameron

"Elaine T" wrote in message
. ..
Shagster wrote:
I'm running a UV sterilizer... That hasn't done much.. Water is
still
turning green within 3 days of a water change!

"Elaine T" wrote in message
m...

Shagster wrote:

OK.. I give up.. I've been fighting major algae problems for
MONTHS..
I'm about to tear down my tank and get out of the hobby. NOTHING is
working for me....

Are they're ANY chemical solutions that are live plant friendly??

Troy



Algaefix is supposed to be friendly to most plants and kill most algae.
YMMV. Avoid Algae Destroyer and other products containing simazine
because simazine is not friendly to bunch plants and grasses like
valisneria. http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Algae/simazine.html

A UV unit is good for unicellular suspended algae if your water is
green.

If you want other alternatives from a bunch of other algae experts (I
think I've grown and fixed all but staghorn at some time or another),
you
could post more about your tank and what you've tried. i.e. Tank size,
lighting, plants, kinds of algae, fish population, filtration, nitrate
and
phosphate levels, water change schedule... Most algae problems can be
fixed without chemicals.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com



Eek! That IS bad. I see why you're frustrated. BTW, your UV unit may
need a new bulb or slower flow rate. It really should keep the green
water at bay.

The 95% water changes are a good plan and will lower nutrients to
tapwater levels. Sort of a giant tank reset. Then you need to get
nitrate and phosphate test kits and start watching nitrates and
phosphates. Js1 gave you great links that will explain where to go from
there.

Come back and bug us for more info when you need it!

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com