Fuzzy Algae on edges of leaves of plants

"Ron Hagley" wrote in message .. .
Hi everyone, I wonder if you may be able to hepl me ? I have a heavily
planted aquarium 48 x 15 x18 inches. community fish . 24 C temperature. CO 2
system from yeast sugar reactor, Phosphates almost zero, Nitrates again
almost zero, but i get fuzzy algal growth on the edges of plant leaves. It
is more apparent on slow growing plants as the leaves are older I guess. The
growth was almost black or very dark green initially but after correcting
the previously fairly high phosphates and allowing things to stabilise it is
now much lighter in colour but still growing. Light is from twin
flourescents which are on for about14 hours per day.

Cheers

Ron

Ron, right off, suspect the CO2 system here.
Take care of that. SAE's are good at leaf edge algae.
Slow growing plants will get these types of algae easier.
Reduce the lighting to 10-12hrs day.

Take care of the CO2(add more!!), then if things do not clear up, we
will work on the nutrients with you.

CO2, some words: make sure you can measure the KH and pH(to within
about .1-.2pH units) and then compare it against the pH/KH chart.

Take your pH measurments in the AM and the PM, see if it's too low in
the PM, shoot for 20-30ppm during the ENTIRE light cycle.
If not, don't blame the nutrients.

When you correct this, prune off the old leaves, algae etc, dip them
in bleach if you cannot trim them off(they will grow back, don't
worry), then new algae growth will not occur.

But you have to remove what's there first, then correct the conditions
and keep them in good shape thereafter.

You'll see an increase in NO3 and PO4 uptake and these will need to be
added perhaps weekly if your fish load is low for this tank.

Regards,
Tom Barr