Green Dust - Is my dosing schedule OK?

[dizzo]

Hello,

I have been dosing my tank using the EI method for 5-6 weeks now. I started with a nasty case of hair and fuzz algae but things are a lot better now and that algae is virtually nonexistent.

Now there is green dust algae forming on plant leaves and tank walls. It is bright green in color and wipes off very easily. My tank information is below, would anything I'm doing be causing this?

26 gallon bowfront
55W PC
pressurized CO2 w/ homemade reactor
weekly water changes
My water temperature stays around 80-82F

Dosing:
KN03: 0.25 teaspoons (4x week)
K2SO4: 0.25 teaspoons (4x week)
KH2PO4: 0.03 teaspoons (4x week)
Flourish: 4ml (3x week)

-Dizzo

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: Green Dust - Is my dosing schedule OK?

I'd only add the K2SO4 once a week, 1/4 teaspoon.

Green dust is fairly common, but has never lasted particularly long for me.

It's grow with good nutrient conditions, generally add more CO2, do larger water changes, scrub off first and then follow by a quick large water change.
You can do one again if it starts to come in a day or two.

It'll swim around after you scrub it off and reattach.

So a few good attacks and water changes can do some damage.
I'm not sure if folks have tried Excel or H2O2, my thoughts seem to think those will not work.

Blackout might work combined with the water changes+scrub, like the BGA treatment.

You can add things 3x a week for nutrients and tad less, you do not have enough light to use them up and there's no sense in adding more nutrients than the plants need.

I'd add more KH2PO4 and little less KNO3.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[aquaverde]

Re: Green Dust - Is my dosing schedule OK?

I have a prodigious amount of dust on my injected tank glass by the end of each week. Can't tell you what gets rid of it yet, but can tell you Excel does not.

 

[dizzo]

Re: Green Dust - Is my dosing schedule OK?

Tom,

Thanks for the advice. I've modified my dosing regimen to:

K2SO4: 1/4 teaspoon (1x week)
KNO3: 3/16 teaspoon (3x week)
KH2PO4: 1/16 teaspoon (3x week)

How does that look?

I scrubbed the glass and changed the water a couple of days ago. The green dust appears to be returning when I didn't scrub that hard. I can clearly see 'brush strokes' left behind by my brush. I'll keep scrubbing and see what happens.

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: Green Dust - Is my dosing schedule OK?

You can try this also:
Back to back water changes and scrubs.

It's not hard to wipe off.
You need to wipe it off fast and hussle and drain the tank fast as much as you can.

Then the next day, repeat.

After a few days, the GD should be beaten way down.
You can do a blackout also after this as the plants should be doing very well after several water changes and dosings.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: Green Dust - Is my dosing schedule OK?

Diatom and UV may also help.

I have several other tricks if these do not work for you.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[bennyss]

Re: Green Dust - Is my dosing schedule OK?

Hi,
i'm also uffer from it.
Can I assume it is Cyano-bacteria?
How can I treat it with H2O2?
Regards,
Benny

 

[dizzo]

Re: Green Dust - Is my dosing schedule OK?

I was forced to black out the tank for a couple days since my CO2 was running low and I didn't have time to get a refill. The blackout definitely put a dent in the green dust. Some of the tank walls appear to have no algae at all on them. What is left is a duller color than the almost neon green that was originally there.

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: Green Dust - Is my dosing schedule OK?

Good! Now kill it off while it's on the ropes!!!
Scrub, big water change asap immediately afterwards!!

Give the plants a day or two, then you may try another blackout or another water change and scrub.

No, it's a green algae, not a BGA.
Akinoscendemus to be more precise.

Many folks might think I know plants, which I do, but I also know algae very well.

Know thy enemy and thy friend.


Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: Green Dust - Is my dosing schedule OK?

Hi,
i'm also uffer from it.
Can I assume it is Cyano-bacteria?
How can I treat it with H2O2?
Regards,
Benny

It's not BGA. See above post.
H202 may do a little damage to it.

I'd prefer Copper myself.
Hummm, well I need to be able to grow the algae well over time first and induce it to grow.

Something that I have no been able to do repeatedly.


Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[PK1]

Re: Green Dust - Is my dosing schedule OK?

Tom,

You mention there are a few other tricks. I am getting ready to try what you have already mentioned above, but would like to know what the other tricks are.

Can you enlighten?