Grey Slime Algae ????

Re: Grey Slime Algae ????

Start by dumping the PMDD solution! Then start dosing KNO3, KH2PO4 and a trace element mix three times a week, with the traces on alternate days to the others. You need nitrates and phosphates for the plants to grow and use the CO2 you have provided. Read up here about the EI method of fertilizing, really the best way for relatively inexperienced aquatic plant gardeners, such as me, to succeed at growing more plants than algae.

 

Re: Grey Slime Algae ????

I agree with vaughnH - dump the premixed solution -- its ratios are nuts. You need more KNO3, which will also sub for some of the K2SO4 which can drop some. You must have Phosphates which could well be your algae problem, assuming you have enough CO2.

Assuming your 160g is about 150g of real water, here is a suggested combination of nutrients, to be dosed in the amounts shown 3x per week, always dosing the trace on alternate days with the macros since they don't do well together:

1 1/2 tsp KNO3
1/2 tsp K2SO4 (much of your K will come from the 1.5 tsp KNO3)
3/8 tsp KH2PO4 (for the phosphates, and provides a bit of K)
2 tsp MgSO4 (assuming your source water has none, mine has 8ppm which reduces that to 3/4 tsp)
Trace using CSM+B 1/2 tsp
Trace using TMG 30ml

(Trace you will use one or the other, not both!)

Remember that those numbers should be dosed 3x a week, say Sat/Mon/Wed for the macros, and Sun/Tue/Thu for the Traces -- You get a rest on Friday

All of the above assume none or almost none in your source water.

Note the ratio of N (KNO3) to K (K2SO4) compared to the premix you are using. That premix does not give you enough N at all, and it gives you no Phosphates which in a tank with CO2 is bound to give you some GSA (Green Spot Algae), if nothing else.

If your source water starts out with significant N,P,K or Mg -- (if you are in a city you can ask for a report), then you may need to lower some of these. If you find out, post it and I will run the figures through my EI calculator.

 

Re: Grey Slime Algae ????

Re EI calculations. First, you can use it yourself if you like, its available as a Windows install here (has only been tested in Win-XP, but should be fine on just about any recent windows -- sorry its a 5Mb download).

If you want me to do it, need to know your base ppms. I would not trust a nitrate test kit unfortunately, mine shows about 80ppm, which would likely kill off my fish -- given my starting water (0ppm, according to the city and to my tests with 2 different kits), my Nitrate should be about 20ppm, not off-scale.

Tom Barr suggested I ignore the test kit -- that creates a bit of a problem for you since you are in a small town. Will the town run a test for you? I remember when we moved from Toronto into "the country", we had a well and the municipality would test our water if we took a sample -- I was about 6 years old, so its just a vague memory).

Anyway, here is the calculator -- its my own, but its based on comparisons to a couple of other calculators, and then its biased towards Tom's recommendations, so it takes into account reasonable uptake (if you set the EI-Dosing flag).

http://www.cherniaksoftware.com/homepage/Data/NutriCalc.exe

Its a simple windows installer. Feel free to use it, or pass it on to friends. I prefer it NOT be posted on other forums. It is posted here now, and on www.aquafacts.net.

 

Re: Grey Slime Algae ????

Plants will grow at a pace that matches the limiting nutrient or the light level, which ever is the most limiting. So, if you aren't dosing phosphate all the phosphate that is available has to come from the fish, the fish food and the tap water. And, that isn't usually enough. That leaves the tank with a surplus of nitrate and traces and a shortage of phosphate. If you can get Fleets enema that is a good source of phosphate. If not, check the ingredients of the enema preparations you can get and find one that is all phosphates. People have used that successfully.

 

Re: Grey Slime Algae ????

Hi Ari,

Quenton's dosing schedule includes a 50% water change once a week.

I'm fairly sure you knew this already but thought I would mention it to be on the safe side as it is very important :gw

This is as per the 'EI method' that Tom developed - I recommend printing and reading the article through at least 3 times!

Also, don't underestimate the power of algae eating fish and shrimp in your battle - Otocinclus and Siamese ALgae eaters do a wonderful job in my tank

 

Re: Grey Slime Algae ????

What else would one be doing
I will add that as a visible note on the window -- thanks for mentioning it!