240G planted tank and algae problems. Please help!

[dannsafly]

Im polish and my English suck as You will see. But i understands pretty much everything

Hello there. I have this old tank running for the past 4 months. Im tired of removing/cutting infected leafs on all my plants. I am just another noob looking for help I need to figure out why im getting all kinds of algae on my plants just week after i plant them.

Here is what i have:

Tank 240G (8x2x2)
40g wet/dry, Mag 18, FX5 ,Fluval 405 and one small powerhead to help with the flow
10Lbs CO2 - Drop checker are green-yellow after 1-2hours. 10lbs last 3-4weeks.
3x 150W MH (2x10000K and 1x67000K) for 8 hours a day , 32inch from the substrate (i reduced some of the light by placing directly under them four window screens that i purchased at Lowes)
Substrate is Eco Complete with 150 root tabs (rootmedic and Aguariumfertilizer).

Dry Ferts
Im doing EI
50% TAP water change-weekly
5 Tsp-KN03 3x a week - originally was 3tsp but i read that yellow leafs = KNO3 deficiency.
1 Tsp-KH2P04 3x a week
1.5Tsp-Trace 3x a week

I am adding my dry ferts at 6am before i leave for work. Lights are ON 7 hours after (12:00PM) Maybe that's the cause of my problem? How do i know if my tank is in balance? will this algae goes away on it's own - like it will fall off of plants leafs and front glass?

Fish:
25 Otos
4 Nerite snails
4 batik snails
6 SAE
6 ancistrus Catfish
20 AMANOS
60 rummynose soon to come


Here You can view my Tap water report: http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/water/supp_info/water_quality_resultsandreports/comprehensive_chemicalanalysis.html

Water Parameters:
PH 8.2 (7.0 when CO2 are ON)
Amonnia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10-20
KH 8
GH 8
Temp: 74F and 76F soon after photoperiod

Plants are from other members from Plantedtank. They were in perfect condition when i first get them. After week or two they are cowered with hair algae i guees. Please, if You see something way OFF LMK.

Pictures and video:

[video=youtube;f23CsYTXh2s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f23CsYTXh2s&feature=youtu.be[/video]


[video=youtube;_D1nifn9w_s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D1nifn9w_s&context=C30f9a5aADOEgsToPDskKwIYEIT0QXGp_dMGbmN93f[/video]

Btw: You can notice in the video that some of the plants are in perfect condition, they are growing fast. This "aqua-scape" is just to see if i can grow something besides algae as im waiting for wood from Tom Barr If i miss something LMK.

Thanks for any help!

 

[Gerryd]

Hi,

I would review your c02 and flow....

Some folks with larger tanks use two diffusion methods to supply c02.. A good color on a drop checker doesn't really say that much unfortunately....

How do you introduce c02 to the aquarium?

 

[dannsafly]

I have an hard time explaining it so i hope You will understand this:

CO2->Mag18 impaller->22inch, 2inch diameter Rex reactor->Split into two lines and into tank at the top. If i crank UP CO2 then my fish are swimming at the top. I have lots of microbobbles (7up) that i don't like

Here is better video:

[video=youtube;g-pP7rihh6I]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-pP7rihh6I&feature=youtu.be[/video]

Hope that helps

 

[Gerryd]

Hi,

Thanks for the videos..

Please know your English is fine and I understand you with no problems

If your fish are gasping when turning c02 higher, then let's look at distribution... The video show the outlets with the c02 mist towards the surface (correct?) and perhaps turning them downward or using more loc-line will help. You want the c02 to go from the bottom and through the tank and must get to all plants...

Your algae and poor growth (on some species but not all) are signs that c02 is not yet either sufficient and/or stable...

I have been in your shoes before and that is what I would look at...

Manual cleaning, more frequent water changes, increasing EI, cleaning filters, etc will also all help.

I would introduce more surface ripple/agitation while c02 is on to help with fish stress...you can have a small powerhead come on with the c02 and simply agitate the surface...

C02 can be tricky at any time, larger tanks bring additional issues...

Also, you need to seal the air portion of the sump as c02 will degas here...if you are using a trickle filter, there are 02 factories and can drive a lot of c02 out...do you have internal wiers with overflows? Any waterfall effect of the water splashing will also degas c02...

Are you using surface skimming at all?

 

[dannsafly]

Thanks for help Gerryd. I will use more loc-line and point my return line from 405 upwards to create more surface agitation. I will crank up CO2 a bit every two hours. I will write results in a week
Im not sure what You have in mind by "increasing EI" ? Can You elaborate on that?

Can You fill in:

70% TAP water change-weekly
** Tsp-KN03 3x a week
** Tsp-KH2P04 3x a week
** Tsp-Trace 3x a week

 

[Gerryd]

Thanks for help Gerryd. I will use more loc-line and point my return line from 405 upwards to create more surface agitation. I will crank up CO2 a bit every two hours. I will write results in a week
Im not sure what You have in mind by "increasing EI" ? Can You elaborate on that?

Can You fill in:

70% TAP water change-weekly
** Tsp-KN03 3x a week
** Tsp-KH2P04 3x a week
** Tsp-Trace 3x a week

Hi,

Please increase c02 only ONCE every 2-3 days and watch fish and plants in between...

I only advocate changing the FLOW of the c02 and trying to keep it in the tank longer, and to get it to ALL AREAS of the tank...

If you have a small powerhead, put this behind the c02 flow to help push it around...Ensure your c02 mist is everywhere...

*****

EI increasing. Simply add another tsp or so to your dosing is all for a few weeks. You do a 70% water change which is a lot. I do the same and find that I need to dose higher 2-3 times the normal EI for my size tank. Perhaps you are running a deficiency by the end of the week.

Your plant growth and algae issues tell you something is amiss. Review everything and remember that it may not be one single thing that fixes it.

However, as a root cause, I would look to c02, c02, c02, and c02

I have some experience with large tanks and c02 issues and I have seen the same pics on my tank as I see on yours. Been there is all.

Hope this helps...

 

[dannsafly]

It helps a lot I will try my best and get back to You in a week or two. Thanks

 

[dannsafly]

Also, you need to seal the air portion of the sump as c02 will degas here...if you are using a trickle filter, there are 02 factories and can drive a lot of c02 out...do you have internal wiers with overflows? Any waterfall effect of the water splashing will also degas c02...

Are you using surface skimming at all?

I did not see those questions earlier. I have center/back overflow, durso style. Water level in overflow is 3/4of an inch below tank water level. There is no waterfall there. Will ordinary tape do the trick? (sealing sump). Do i need to seal that part of the sump where i have mag18? By surface skimming do You meant if i use overflow? Yes I use overflow. That's too oblivious, im afraid i don't understand that question correctly

Thanks Gerryd once again. I cleaned the tank, filters today, removed/cut leafs covered with algae, removed upper portion of the sump (bioballs area),changed 70% water and added 1tsp of KH2P04. Tomorrow i will add 6tsp KNO3 and 2 1/2tsp of KH2P04.

 

[jerrybforl]

I would look at the flow of your tank as well as the CO2. Becareful with the amount of CO2 as your fish will die...I've had that happen and it's not fun.

You seem to have plenty of light. You also have to remember that it's still farely recent setup. I would stock more plants and let them try to out compete the algae.

I think you have too few plants and a lot of ferts in it coupled with CO2 and very bright light. I would cut back on the lights a bit and get some more plants in there. That should help.

 

[dannsafly]

jerrybforl this tank was fully planted 3 month ago. It looks empty because i cut or removed more then half leafs/sterns/plants. Example: in the beginning i have 50+ leafs on my anabias nana - now there is less then 20 I cut more then 50% of the light by placing 4 fly screens underneath. Two month ago i had lots of BBA. Now BBA is almost gone and in it's place this thing starts growing like crazy.. It even growing on substrate

I have a spare quiet one 6000 pump. Any Ideas?

Btw. I have full 10g tank with plants covered with this algae. Should i clean them and plant them back?

Thanks for help

 

[dutchy]

I think your problem is too much light. 450 Watts of MH just 32 inch from the substrate is really too much. I'm not sure how much light is dimmed by the sun screen.

The problem is that you're not able to provide sufficient CO2 for this amount of light, even if your fish get too much at certain moments. The only way to go is reduce the light. I remember that gerryd's MH's were almost at the ceiling before having satisfying results.

 

[jerrybforl]

I think your problem is too much light. 450 Watts of MH just 32 inch from the substrate is really too much. I'm not sure how much light is dimmed by the sun screen. The problem is that you're not able to provide sufficient CO2 for this amount of light, even if your fish get too much at certain moments. The only way to go is reduce the light. I remember that gerryd's MH's were almost at the ceiling before having satisfying results.

This is the same thing that I said in my previous post and now Herman has seconded the opinion. I would reduce the light, get more CO2 in (without harming fish), add more plants, and get more flow in your tank!

All of this should help. Keep doing large WC 2-3 times a week. That should also help.

 

[Gerryd]

I think your problem is too much light. I remember that gerryd's MH's were almost at the ceiling before having satisfying results.

Hi,

If I remember correctly, I had 3x150 6500k suspended 39" ABOVE the SURFACE on a 24" tall tank. This was a 180 of 72x24x24.

This still gave me PAR of 90-110 on the SUBSTRATE. That was very high light.

I would for sure think about raising the fixture some... or adding more cloth

 

[dannsafly]

Well i added 3 additional screens, i have 7 now So far this algae seems to keep growing only on Glosso. I have reduced intensity of light up to 70%. Tomorrow I will take a couple pictures with screens and without using the same setting/distance with my Nikon

Btw Is there any T5 fixture 84" long? It seems i can't find any online.

Thanks guys for all the help!

 

[Tom Barr]

No T5 fixture that length, best to use 2x 36" and space them 4" apart and 4" from each end.

 

[kiddjam]

Nice tank bro!! My problem with algae is to scrap it off, change water, add UV sterilizer, strong UV! better off regular water change!!

 

[scottward]

I may have missed it, but I'm pretty sure you didn't mention anything about plants rotting or leaves drooping etc. In my experience, this is a sure sign of a CO2 stability issue (most likely flow related). So, assuming you're plants weren't rotting etc, I'd say your CO2 flow is probably ok?

Co2 level? Might help by raising it some, but the algae problem looks very chronic from your photos so I'd agree with the advice above about reducing light AND I would also give some thought to how dissolved organics are being managed - good flow throught the bio media in your filters, sufficient bio-media, how you are cleaning the media (perhaps over cleaning it?), and of course the good old water change.

I think if you get rid of as much DOC as you can and reduce the light, you'll start to see some good results, but the manual clean up is going to keep you busy initially...!

My tank looked worse than yours once, looks pretty good now mainly since boosting filtration and better water changes etc.

 

[dannsafly]

Well after just few days i see good progress. Algae seems to slowly disappear. I see a lot of new leafs . I have some kind of deficiency, please see the picture

I have never clean bio media, I only cleaning sponges, prefilters, "mechanical" parts of filters once a month using tank water.

Btw. Can i plumb my returns from sump at the bottom using one way gate valves? That way i can introduce CO2 from the button-up. I don't want to drain 240g of water in case of power outage Is this doable? Do i need something else besides one way gate valves? I already have 1inch bulkheads, drills, endmills... I asking because i have most of CO2 micro bubbles at the surface, only a little at the substrate. I will try to illustrate that in my next video

[IMGhttp://s14.postimage.org/w1zfesh0x/Picture_022a.jpg][/IMG]

[video=youtube;Vxxak39tnZw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxxak39tnZw&feature=youtu.be[/video]

[video=youtube;tOKhAgPzTPw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOKhAgPzTPw&feature=youtu.be[/video]

Thanks!

 

[dannsafly]

I have another question for You guys Lets just say i want to purchase rimless, starphire front display tank for 1000-1500$. What size can i get for that price? Where to look? I don't want anything with ADA sticker I'm tired of those small openings on my current tank and starts to hate center overflow as well :/

Looks like i will settle at rimless, starphire front and sides - 72"x30"x22" for less then 1300$ shipped. - I decided to wait until i find my own place

 

[dannsafly]

Well it seems like Glosso in the middle stopped growing. (to little lights?) SAE started to eat my plants. Otherwise everything is perfect. I don't see any new algae, actually i see plenty of new leafs on all anubias
I planted 2 kind of HC (bigger and smaller), waiting for teh plant package from Gordon and I am working on splitting my CO2

My amanos are dying fast - 1 or 2 everyday. What can be wrong? Ammonia 0/Nitrates 20/Nitrites 0/Gh,Kh - 8

Im adding 5tsp KNO3, 2tsp KH2P04 and 2tsp Trace.

Thanks.