Help eradicating algae.

[mathman]

My 5 gallon tank has BBA and hair Algae...i think.

I have a 5 gallon tank (L16W8H10 in) with Eco complete substrate. The light is a Catalina Light fixture with an 18W PC bulb that is approximately 8.5 inches above the substrate sitting just on top of the tank frame.

The filter is an aqua clear 20 rated for a tank between 5-20 gallons. There's only a sponge and a media bag with eheim substrat pro.

I am using pressurized co2 and the bubble counter is almost a lime color.

Nutrients

Macro: S-M-W

I make a 500ml solution and dose 60 ml three times a week.

KNO3 ( 3/8 tsp)
KH2PO4 (1/16 tsp)
K2SO4 (3/8 tsp)

Resulting in
K 12.25
NO3 7.58
PO4 1.55

Micro Sun-Tue-Th

I make a 500ml solution with 1/8tsp of plantex CSM+B and dose 60ml three times a week. This results in a .22 ppm of iron according to wets calculator.

I also added osmocote plus deep down in the gravel about 2 weeks ago. However, the issue persisted before this...so osmocote can't be the culprit.

I do a >50% water change every Saturday.

Plants:
CRYPTOCORYNE PARVA
BLYXA JAPONICA
RED TIGER LOTUS
Staurogyne Sp

Fish: it's crowded I know...but I already do large water changes. If I need to get a larger filter then so be it?

2 Panda Cory's
2 Otocinclus
4 celestial danios
2 amano shrimp
2 chocolate gourami
2 Assasin snails

Well, I thinks that all the information I can provide. Please let me know if there's any other info you need.

 

[mathman]

Here's how it looks...

 

[Wet]

How many of those leaves are ones you initially planted? Sometimes the old stuff -- and every time with emersed stuff -- a young tank will get algae on older leaves. This is okay: propagate the new growth and then use it to replant. After that planting fills in, you can trim/trade off the newest growth for a bushy tank.

You'll probably need about twice that plant mass before you grow an algae free garden, regardless. I like to propagate my way there, too. You'll pull it off and your stats and the arrangement are nice. Just words of encouragement through every tank's growing pains.

 

[Tom Barr]

CO2 and the HOB filter on a small tank.
HOB can degases a lot if the water level changes much.

 

[mathman]

The tank set-up is about a year old. The plants you see have been there for 1-2 months. The drop checker displays a lime green color. Is there a way to maintain a consistent level with an HOB filter?

The algae is on the gravel mostly. Thanks.

 

[Tom Barr]

you should be able to kill most of the algae with no flow and then H2O2 spot treatment.
Maintain the water level very closely.

Add a bit more CO2 slowly.......... do not trust drop checkers.
Some hair algae, might consider the algaefix method.

Excel will also work on the BBA.

Both algae are CO2 issues.

 

[mathman]

This is interesting Tom...I've read everywhere in this forum that good flow throughout the tank is beneficial to plants as the co2 gets around all places.

In my case, however, and correct me if I'm wrong, you suggest that my co2 fluctuates due to the decrease level of water in my tank throughout the week.

I have noticed that there's more co2 bubbles on, say Thursday, than Saturday when the level of the water is to the top.

So, I'll decrease the current so to minimize degassing and ill increase co2.

Thanks

 

[Tom Barr]

You can have good flow and still degas etc, those 2 are not correlated.
You can also have good flow and not degas.

I would keep the water level constant and add water daily, in the winter, the evaporation rates often go up for many.