A Curious observation about Algae
This should go under the “strange but true” thread.
(I should also tell you that the first time I tried to post this it “disappeared” and I wrote it over — probably took too long to write the first time — so if it gets posted twice, my apologies. The fact that I write for a living accounts for the length of this post.)
First, a few facts. I have been a member of this fascinating site for a few months now, (my congrats to Tom Barr) and an avid aquatic gardener for about three years. In that time, like everyone else, my greatest frustration has been with algae.
I have 3 tanks. 65g, 30g, 10g.
I dose all with CO2 from a 20lb. tank with a gang valve.
All have 3-4 watts/g
I have a UV filter on the 65g
Out of laziness I stopped EI on the 10g. The plants I had there were from other tanks and all had at least GSA or thread algae, and perhaps other assorted types. Within a couple of weeks, (or less) I started noticing that the algae was disappearing and the new growth was algae free.
So, out of curiosity, I did the same to the 65g and 30g. Stopped all ferts except CO2, and cut back weekly H20 changes to 20% from 50%. (Figured I didn’t need to clear any ferts out, so why change so much.)
I should note too that I also lowered the CO2, changed it from mist to a ladder, so I could stop worrying about the fish in the evenings.
More facts before I reach my point: In each tank I have a light fish load and many snails. (I love snails) Dozens of red ramshorns, 100s of Malaysian trumpets, many pond snails, zebra snails, and 2 of what I call bumblee snails. (cannot find the true name) As far as the plants are concerned, the snails only feed on the decaying leaves, not good growth. I even have 2 apple snails in the 30 that only once in a while damage some leaves because I feed those algae wafers.
Here’s the kicker. To my amazement, once I stopped EI, lowered CO2, and went to 20% H2O changes, the same thing happened in the 65g and 30g that happened in the 10g. The algae began to disappear and the new growth is absolutely algae free. Even on the mini anubias! (What a wondrous sight)
I still have some algae on some old leaves in the 65g, but it’s so minor I’m not even bothering to trim it. I’m just going to wait and see if it also disappears, or just goes when the leaves decay. In the same tank I also have some velvety type of algae on top of the driftwood, which looks great and the SAE’s love. (have 4 SAE’s)
But I have absolutely no algae on any new growth, and only slight algae on the glass that even after a week, though I clean it, is practically invisible.
The plants are growing slightly slower than before, so now I’m taking out yards of greenery every 2-3 weeks instead of weekly.
The last algae problem I had was a slight bloom on the 30 which I solved by using 50 micron cloth on my hanging filter and changing the cloth 2 days in a row. Water’s now crystal clear.
So for now my tanks are just about algae free, and what is there is continuing to disappear. Again, no ferts, only moderate CO2, and 20% weekly H2O changes.
About the snails, the only tank with just a few snails is the 10g, where the algae disappeared first, so I don’t think it’s the snails.
Perhaps one day I’ll wake up to the worst algae outbreak ever, but for now I’m not changing a thing, I’m simply content to sit back in the evening with a brandy and the dog, and watch the plants pearl their hearts out.
Any thoughts?
This should go under the “strange but true” thread.
(I should also tell you that the first time I tried to post this it “disappeared” and I wrote it over — probably took too long to write the first time — so if it gets posted twice, my apologies. The fact that I write for a living accounts for the length of this post.)
First, a few facts. I have been a member of this fascinating site for a few months now, (my congrats to Tom Barr) and an avid aquatic gardener for about three years. In that time, like everyone else, my greatest frustration has been with algae.
I have 3 tanks. 65g, 30g, 10g.
I dose all with CO2 from a 20lb. tank with a gang valve.
All have 3-4 watts/g
I have a UV filter on the 65g
Out of laziness I stopped EI on the 10g. The plants I had there were from other tanks and all had at least GSA or thread algae, and perhaps other assorted types. Within a couple of weeks, (or less) I started noticing that the algae was disappearing and the new growth was algae free.
So, out of curiosity, I did the same to the 65g and 30g. Stopped all ferts except CO2, and cut back weekly H20 changes to 20% from 50%. (Figured I didn’t need to clear any ferts out, so why change so much.)
I should note too that I also lowered the CO2, changed it from mist to a ladder, so I could stop worrying about the fish in the evenings.
More facts before I reach my point: In each tank I have a light fish load and many snails. (I love snails) Dozens of red ramshorns, 100s of Malaysian trumpets, many pond snails, zebra snails, and 2 of what I call bumblee snails. (cannot find the true name) As far as the plants are concerned, the snails only feed on the decaying leaves, not good growth. I even have 2 apple snails in the 30 that only once in a while damage some leaves because I feed those algae wafers.
Here’s the kicker. To my amazement, once I stopped EI, lowered CO2, and went to 20% H2O changes, the same thing happened in the 65g and 30g that happened in the 10g. The algae began to disappear and the new growth is absolutely algae free. Even on the mini anubias! (What a wondrous sight)
I still have some algae on some old leaves in the 65g, but it’s so minor I’m not even bothering to trim it. I’m just going to wait and see if it also disappears, or just goes when the leaves decay. In the same tank I also have some velvety type of algae on top of the driftwood, which looks great and the SAE’s love. (have 4 SAE’s)
But I have absolutely no algae on any new growth, and only slight algae on the glass that even after a week, though I clean it, is practically invisible.
The plants are growing slightly slower than before, so now I’m taking out yards of greenery every 2-3 weeks instead of weekly.
The last algae problem I had was a slight bloom on the 30 which I solved by using 50 micron cloth on my hanging filter and changing the cloth 2 days in a row. Water’s now crystal clear.
So for now my tanks are just about algae free, and what is there is continuing to disappear. Again, no ferts, only moderate CO2, and 20% weekly H2O changes.
About the snails, the only tank with just a few snails is the 10g, where the algae disappeared first, so I don’t think it’s the snails.
Perhaps one day I’ll wake up to the worst algae outbreak ever, but for now I’m not changing a thing, I’m simply content to sit back in the evening with a brandy and the dog, and watch the plants pearl their hearts out.
Any thoughts?
