Hello All,
Please allow me to explain. During my 5 yrs. in the hobby, more often than not I have experienced algae problems of a greater or lesser degree, more often the former than the latter. Most recently I have been battling a months long case of GDA, which can be quite frustrating, as some of you know. Several times I have tried a 4 day blackout, preceeded and followed by massive water changes. Each time results have been the same: pristine water and glass for a day, followed by a compete green mess several days later. That is, until recently.
Knowing that something had to change, I decided to stop dosing K, and cut in half my previous dosing of traces, P, and N. Previous values for Fe (as a measure of traces), P, and N had been 1.0, 3.0, and 30-40 respectively. Values now are 0.2, 0.5, and 8; lights and pressurized C02 remainin unchanged. Drop checker has always been green, and ph usually drops 0.5 during photoperiod.
The difference has been dramatic. After one week there is still not a trace of algae on the glass, and the water could not be any clearer! The tank has never looked so clean. Plants are not growing as vigourously as before, but they are still growing, and do look healthy. This brings up my main question.
Having been an active follower of this forum and Aquaria Central, I have always followed the maxim that abundant dosing and adequate C02 would minimize algae through the mechanism of healthy plants that would outcompete algae for nutrients. I had the faith, but could not quite understand how a nutrient level above and beyond what the plants were using could somehow mean that less was left over for potential algae growth. Although my recent experience goes against the grain, I am not prepared to discount the knowledge of those with years and in some instances decades of experience with aquarium plants, some of it professional, as with Mr. Barr. Therefore, I am convinced that I must be missing or completely misunderstanding something. Would very much appreciate whatever instruction the advanced members might care to offer. Thanks.
Please allow me to explain. During my 5 yrs. in the hobby, more often than not I have experienced algae problems of a greater or lesser degree, more often the former than the latter. Most recently I have been battling a months long case of GDA, which can be quite frustrating, as some of you know. Several times I have tried a 4 day blackout, preceeded and followed by massive water changes. Each time results have been the same: pristine water and glass for a day, followed by a compete green mess several days later. That is, until recently.
Knowing that something had to change, I decided to stop dosing K, and cut in half my previous dosing of traces, P, and N. Previous values for Fe (as a measure of traces), P, and N had been 1.0, 3.0, and 30-40 respectively. Values now are 0.2, 0.5, and 8; lights and pressurized C02 remainin unchanged. Drop checker has always been green, and ph usually drops 0.5 during photoperiod.
The difference has been dramatic. After one week there is still not a trace of algae on the glass, and the water could not be any clearer! The tank has never looked so clean. Plants are not growing as vigourously as before, but they are still growing, and do look healthy. This brings up my main question.
Having been an active follower of this forum and Aquaria Central, I have always followed the maxim that abundant dosing and adequate C02 would minimize algae through the mechanism of healthy plants that would outcompete algae for nutrients. I had the faith, but could not quite understand how a nutrient level above and beyond what the plants were using could somehow mean that less was left over for potential algae growth. Although my recent experience goes against the grain, I am not prepared to discount the knowledge of those with years and in some instances decades of experience with aquarium plants, some of it professional, as with Mr. Barr. Therefore, I am convinced that I must be missing or completely misunderstanding something. Would very much appreciate whatever instruction the advanced members might care to offer. Thanks.