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Topic says it all. I'm in a life or death struggle with algae in my
big tank. The two twentys are in fine shape. The cork tank is newly set up, the honeymoon suite, now nursery, is also clean and brite. The 55g, now that's another story. It's been going the longest, has the highest fish load, the most plants, the most light, and the most fuzzy hair algae I've ever seen. All the plants are (were) covered with it now. Also, to add to the ugliness and unkempt look, I've got a nice crop of blue green bacteria trying it's best to cover up my new dwarf marsh grass. I took two steps yesterday to combat both. On the one front, I re-positioned my power head to provide more circluation. It had been pointing down an UGF lift tube hole for RUGF. Now it pushes water accross the entire front wall of the tank, providing a circular flow. To take on the fuzz, I tried the bleach dip approach. I have java fern, Amazon swords and Crypts that are afflicted. The newer plants I've added show minimal signs. So, out come half the swords, the larger cruyts and all the java fern. Into a bucket of 19:1 water to bleach for 4 minutes. The algae was visibly affected, turning white and quite dead looking. The plants seemed no worse for wear. After the rinse, they are back in the tank and pearling O2. Now a question: How to keep the stuff at bay? Here's the set up: 55g tank, 48L 20H 12W pH 6.7 with C02 injection at 20ppm KH 3deg temp 79f Nitrates between 5 and 20, fluctuate with the amount of KNO3 I add. Potassium and Phosphorus added minimally per the dosing pages. I shoot for the optimun amount. There are a couple of plant spikes (trace elements) deep under the large plants. I've got 5 ottos in there, and just added a couple of large amano shrimp, but those critters aren't going to touch this fuzz stuff if it comes back strong like this past week. thanks for any hints, suggestions, steve |
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