Grindhouse

New Member
Jul 11, 2019
6
1
1
39
Denmark
Hello everyone, I am new to the forum, but a long time lurker.

I recently got bitten by the aquarium bug and have been so happy starting out with this hobby.
Throughout my 3-4 months in the hobby I've encountered a few problems on the way, but nothing too serious.

Currently, I have a small algae outbreak. Its not much, but I like to stay on top of things and ensure it does not get out of hand.

My setup is as follows:
Juwel 125 aquarium
Eheim Pro 4+ 350 filter (1050 l/h)
Standard MultiLux lighting (3200 lumen) soon to be upgraded to the HeliaLux Spectrum.
I do not run pressured CO2, but I dose 4ml of EasyCarbo each day. Also considered pressurized CO2.
I run Tropica root tabs and I am also tweaking the Tropica specialized and premium fertilizer dosing right now (1 pump each every 2 days).

EDIT:
Water Parameters:
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate ~20 ppm

I recently added quite a few fast growing stem plants in an attempt to fight algae, as I want to avoid any chemicals I can, beside Easy Carbo, until I get pressurized CO2 and better light. Everything seems to be growing well, except Cardamine Lyrata, but I suspect it is because it stands directly in the highest flow area of the tank, and I am considering swapping it out for something hardier, maybe Echinodorus 'Bleherae'. All plants in the tank are from Tropica.

I have attached a few images showcasing the algae growing on my Crinum Calamistratum, as I cannot figure out whether it is a fuzz algae or a sort of red algae?

Any and all help is greatly appreciated, thank you!

1.jpg


2.jpg


3.jpg
 

Brandon Kidd

Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Feb 28, 2019
6
3
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35
Northeast ohio
hard to say what's causing it. looks like staghorn. could be too much light, dosing too much iron, lack of co2/light relationship. spot treat all the algae with peroxide. remove heavily damaged plants. clean your filter. and consider dialing down the intensity of lighting. if it's not adjustable raise the light. or add pressurized co2. hope this helps
 

Grindhouse

New Member
Jul 11, 2019
6
1
1
39
Denmark
hard to say what's causing it. looks like staghorn. could be too much light, dosing too much iron, lack of co2/light relationship. spot treat all the algae with peroxide. remove heavily damaged plants. clean your filter. and consider dialing down the intensity of lighting. if it's not adjustable raise the light. or add pressurized co2. hope this helps

Some others have said it could be BBA.
The photoperiod is 8 hours and I am still tweaking the fertilizer. No CO2 as of yet except liquid CO2.
The filter is over a week old, should the cleaning be done because of possible algae spores or?
Cannot raise light, nor adjust them until I get new lights unfortunately.

I have also noticed some of my new plants, specifically Bacopa Caroliniana is starting to get a slight browning on the leaves, going from edges of the leaves inwards. I am not entirely sure what that is, will upload a picture tomorrow.
 

Grindhouse

New Member
Jul 11, 2019
6
1
1
39
Denmark
Staghorn, definitely. I’ve had it..


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Any idea how to battle it?

Also, I got some weird browning on my plants, and I have no idea what it is. Or rather, I am uncertain. Is it Diatoms or perhaps Cyanobacteria?
Pictures attached.

4.jpg


5.jpg


6.jpg
 

.Se.

New Member
Dec 4, 2017
4
0
1
Chicago
Any idea how to battle it?

It’s an excess of nutrients. It might be uneaten food (that’s how I learned that it’s important to turn off the filter when feeding [emoji51]), it might be the poor cleaning of the substrate/filter or poor water changes.

Just clean everything; gravel and filter, feed the minimum (filter off, if you’re not doing it), bigger water changes, and I would stay in the lean side of your fertilization routine for a couple months.

It takes time to see the results though, just be patient.



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Grindhouse

New Member
Jul 11, 2019
6
1
1
39
Denmark
It’s an excess of nutrients. It might be uneaten food (that’s how I learned that it’s important to turn off the filter when feeding [emoji51]), it might be the poor cleaning of the substrate/filter or poor water changes.

Just clean everything; gravel and filter, feed the minimum (filter off, if you’re not doing it), bigger water changes, and I would stay in the lean side of your fertilization routine for a couple months.

It takes time to see the results though, just be patient.



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There is no uneaten food. I feed sparingly and focused. I turn off the filter each time I feed. The filter is new and I clean the substrate every week, sometimes twice a week. Water changes twice a week at ~30%.
What do you mean by "lean side" of fertilization? I dose 2ml of macro and 2ml of micro using Tropica's fertilizers each day, one pump each basically.

I am not in a rush, I just want to get it under control, or at least try to go in the right direction. I do not mind it taking time, I just want to avoid using any chemicals I can and achieve equilibrium and balance within the aquarium.
 

.Se.

New Member
Dec 4, 2017
4
0
1
Chicago
There is no uneaten food. I feed sparingly and focused. I turn off the filter each time I feed. The filter is new and I clean the substrate every week, sometimes twice a week. Water changes twice a week at ~30%.
What do you mean by "lean side" of fertilization? I dose 2ml of macro and 2ml of micro using Tropica's fertilizers each day, one pump each basically.

Less than the recommendations. I’ll do half of that.
With the fish food, the fertilization and the root tabs it’s probably being too much..


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Grindhouse

New Member
Jul 11, 2019
6
1
1
39
Denmark
Less than the recommendations. I’ll do half of that.
With the fish food, the fertilization and the root tabs it’s probably being too much..


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Thanks, I will try to cut down and see what happens.
 

Grindhouse

New Member
Jul 11, 2019
6
1
1
39
Denmark
I’ve had it twice already. It’s a pretty easy algae to get rid of in my opinion.
Good luck..


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First time for me, first everything for me in regards to aquariums, but this hobby is taking me by storm.
And the best way to battle them is to control light and nutrients? I am considering pressurized Co2, but if I can avoid it, I will. I am not ready for Co2 just yet I think.

Thanks!
 
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