Some kind of algae problem, Need Help !

[csk]

Hi, can anyone help me to identify what is the cause of this algae ? The algae doesnt scrap off easily like BGA.
My tank is 4'x1 1/2' H x 1'W, 46 gallon, JBL Base Fert with sand covered,
Light : 2x T5,54W, 6500K - 10 hours daily, 1xPLL 55W - 5 hours daily,
Filter : 2217 Eheim Filter,
CO2 injection - 3bps,
Fert : Dosing PMDD - Trace 2.5ml x 3/week, KNO3x5ml daily, K2SO4x5ml, MGSO4 x 5ml Daily,(Mixing 2 spoons of each powder into individual 500ml bottle of water), No PO4 ( do i need dosing PO4 ? ).
PH - 6.4, KH - 2 degree, GH - 14 degree
Neon tetra and other small fishes around x 40 fishes

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[Biollante]

Rhodophyta, Greek for Red Plant

Hi,

It is a Red Algae.

Biollante

 

[Tug]

That's One Deep Tank.

There also appears to be what looks like GSA along the glass in one photo.

PO4 and CO2 do seem to have a clear relationship with GSA as well as a preference for bright light. I have sean this relationship when I dosed low levels of PO4. As I upped my dose, more inline with EI, it went away. This has been reported as a low/inconsistent CO2 related issue as well.

In your case reducing the amount of light and adding 0.6ppm of PO4 everyday should improve things. More then 0.6 might be recommended if your tap water is very low in PO4, say less then 2ppm. I certainly wouldn't add less then what I suggested.

Why raise the light and/or remove the PLL?
Raising the light will improve the light spread while reducing the PAR and the CO2 levels will be more sufficient.
From the pictures, you have what seams like a considerable amount of light.

Is your tank 49.5 inches deep?

My tank is 4'x1 1/2' H x 1'W, 46 gallon

If I knew you were using poppa bear or baby bear spoons, to mix your salts, it would be helpful.

Mixing 2 spoons of each powder into individual 500ml bottle of water

 

[Florin Ilia]

Are you really trying to say that your tank is 49.5 inches deep,

1.5 foot = 45.72 cm = 18 in
These pesky imperial measurements confuse me too

 

[Tug]

Crazy, thanks Florin.
Then raising the light 15 to 20 centimeters (about 64 centimeters above the substrate) should help improve things.

CSK,
There are EI daily doses that support more plant growth. PMDD might be a better routine for low light, non-CO2 supplemented tanks.

1. In one 500 mL bottle add 89 g (17 US teaspoons) of KNO3 and 19 g (3 US teaspoons) of KH2PO4 (these two should provide enough potassium).
   Fill with distilled water to 500 mL. - 5 mL of this solution when added to 45 US gal., rounding up, 0.6 ppm PO4 and 3.2 ppm NO3.
   Nice, one 5 mL dose out of one bottle.
   
2. PO4 and MgSO4 might not play well together, but you can add Mg directly to the tank 2 or 3 times a week.
   
3. For trace, if your interested in going with EI daily doses, you will need to let us know what trace you use. Generally, Fe levels in traces are only a proxy for all trace levels and ruffly 0.2 ppm iron + trace proxy dosed everyday or 0.5 ppm 3 x week. If you use CSM+B, 52 g (~12 US teaspoons) of CSM+B (if that's what you have) is mixed with 500 mL distilled water. Dosing 5 mL daily would provide 0.2 ppm of Fe proxy. Or three 12 mL doses a week if you prefer.

Edit - It might not be possible to get more then 6 teaspoons (US) CSM+B into a 500 mL solution of distilled water. I know nothing.
If there are any solubility numbers for CSM+B out there wet can't find them. If you have a problem getting that much CSM+B to stay in solution then mix 26 g (6 US tsp.) CSM+B/500mL and dose 10mL daily. Your accuracy is not what's critical here, dilution is.

 

[ShadowMac]

I agree with losing the PLL

 

[csk]

Thanks Tug ! My tank is 45cm deep n 45 gallon,
Now i removed the PLL and only using the 54wT5 x 2 (with reflector), work out to be 2.4wpg, do i still have to raise the light ? and by how high u recommend ? currently the T5 tube is 2 inches above water, 16 inches above substrate.
About the PO4 dosing, if i were to dose from using Seachem phosphorus, then how many ml daily to dose in order to reach 0.6ppm ?
And regarding the spoon, i am using my baby powder spoon , dont know the measurement. Or can you provide me the gramage instead ? how many gram into 500ml ?

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[Tug]

Editing the OP and including grams.

Are teaspoons created equal?

My bad.

For PO4, 38 mL Flourish phosphorus will provide 45 gal. (US) w/0.6 ppm PO4.
I use wet's calc. - figure out doses. Wet's calc for grams, etc.
And, reference. http://calc.petalphile.com/non-mobile

61 cm above the substrate should be plenty of light. You can adjust it from there, up or up.

 

[csk]

How about the MGSO4 and K2SO4 solution mix, how many g into 500ml water ? is the MGSO4 important to plant growth ?

 

[Tug]

There are limits.

Adding 19 g. K2SO4 would provide an additional 1 ppm K but there are limits on how much of a salt can be dissolved in water. For K2SO4 it is 11.1g per 100ml of water.

Warning: I am experiencing difficulties when dissolving all three salts (NPK) into 500 mL of water. At 700 mL it becomes much easier to dissolve and into 1 liter it is easier still. Double the amount of water from 500 mL to 1000 and dose twice as much. I just tried making a solution using the amounts I gave earlier, including the 19 g. of K2SO4, only to see some slight solubility problems. I can successfully get those same amounts to dissolve into 1liter of distilled water or by adding half the amounts given to 500 mL - dose 10 mL of the stock solution, not 5.

Yes, Ca and Mg are very important to both plants and animals. Generally, 5-9-dGH is recommended. With 14 dGH, look at a water quality report and find out what levels of Ca and Mg are in your tap water and proceed from there. Start a new thread concerning your GH with your water report information.

 

[csk]

Thanks Tug ! i will follow your advice and see how thing goes, you have been very informative :encouragement: