Journal Ed’s 120p
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Ed Wiser
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- #23
Every thing slowly getting better. The green tint gone. But still some hair algae. Cut plants some removing the upper stems with algae. UV unit doing its job.
Fixed my issue with the skimmer return. Because the ADA 1500es has a really strong pump. It was making the upper skimmer to bounce up and down causing air to enter the filter and the. Causing cavitation of the pump. All it required was a plastic wire tie so that the skimmer would not be pulled down. The skimmer is now at the proper level and is working like it should.
I always use an ATO on any tank I set up so that there is always a constant level.
Stem plants put out so much bio film as you can see in this image.
Fixed my issue with the skimmer return. Because the ADA 1500es has a really strong pump. It was making the upper skimmer to bounce up and down causing air to enter the filter and the. Causing cavitation of the pump. All it required was a plastic wire tie so that the skimmer would not be pulled down. The skimmer is now at the proper level and is working like it should.
I always use an ATO on any tank I set up so that there is always a constant level.
Stem plants put out so much bio film as you can see in this image.
Hmmm that biofilm isnt exactly normal once a tank matures. Even without a skimmer the surface should be clear if everything is right
I dont think the stems are entirely happy. Struggling plants get algae, and what they put off feeds it elsewhere
Whats the reason you mentioned keeping the water column lean? I suspect you'd benefit with richer macros in the water. Root tabs aint gonna cut it for stems in an inert sub
I dont think the stems are entirely happy. Struggling plants get algae, and what they put off feeds it elsewhere
Whats the reason you mentioned keeping the water column lean? I suspect you'd benefit with richer macros in the water. Root tabs aint gonna cut it for stems in an inert sub
Its hard to tell in the pic but the algae looks like it could be pretty bad. Plants have it and maybe on the substrate too
Its not related to nutrient levels (saltwater is different) its there because the plants arent happy. And since its there now you have to do two things: Remove the algae and get the plants happy
What I would do
Manually remove all you can, including vacuuming it off the sub, even if some sub goes with it. Remove any crappy older growth that is deteriorating and replant the best part of the tops
After doing that Id probably use peroxide or excel. Turn the current off and spray the crap out of everything under water. Let things sit for about 30 minutes, then do a big water change. With peroxide you can use up to about 3 oz. With excel 1.5-2 ML per gallon. Thats with the tank full of water. Dont use excel if you have Vals, it'll kill them
Couple days later any leftover hair algae will turn white and disintegrate. Ive used this method many times
You may not need the chemicals, like I said cant tell how bad it really is. An aggressive clean and prune may do the trick
Next thing is get the plants happy
With inert sub for macros I'd dose 15-20 NO3, 4-5 PO4, 25-30 K per week with 50-60% water changes. With bigger water changes Id raise it 25% or so
Micros at .4-.5 ppm Fe per week regardless of wc volume, split 3x
Its not related to nutrient levels (saltwater is different) its there because the plants arent happy. And since its there now you have to do two things: Remove the algae and get the plants happy
What I would do
Manually remove all you can, including vacuuming it off the sub, even if some sub goes with it. Remove any crappy older growth that is deteriorating and replant the best part of the tops
After doing that Id probably use peroxide or excel. Turn the current off and spray the crap out of everything under water. Let things sit for about 30 minutes, then do a big water change. With peroxide you can use up to about 3 oz. With excel 1.5-2 ML per gallon. Thats with the tank full of water. Dont use excel if you have Vals, it'll kill them
Couple days later any leftover hair algae will turn white and disintegrate. Ive used this method many times
You may not need the chemicals, like I said cant tell how bad it really is. An aggressive clean and prune may do the trick
Next thing is get the plants happy
With inert sub for macros I'd dose 15-20 NO3, 4-5 PO4, 25-30 K per week with 50-60% water changes. With bigger water changes Id raise it 25% or so
Micros at .4-.5 ppm Fe per week regardless of wc volume, split 3x
Last edited:
Ed Wiser
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- #27
I have been using excel and hydrogen peroxide to clean the plants. I have been doing cleaning of the substrate during water changes. I am in a learning curve 
. I trimmed the plants that had algae during g the water change.
When you say 20 of a fertilizer what is that in ml or grams?
. I trimmed the plants that had algae during g the water change. When you say 20 of a fertilizer what is that in ml or grams?
Plant health looks pretty good, nothing is stunted which would be a bigger problem
I see some crappy older leaves (rugosa) Myrio and L cuba look a bit gimpy. Could probably do with a little more macros
To get over the algae hump you'll need to get rid of a lot of that thick, algae infested lower growth in the stem groups. Toss all that and replant all the best clean tops. Then a little spot treating will knock out the rest of it
Moving forward be sure to get any old crappy leaves out when you see them, any old growth thats in poor shape. Degradation of that kind of stuff is what feeds algae
I see some crappy older leaves (rugosa) Myrio and L cuba look a bit gimpy. Could probably do with a little more macros
To get over the algae hump you'll need to get rid of a lot of that thick, algae infested lower growth in the stem groups. Toss all that and replant all the best clean tops. Then a little spot treating will knock out the rest of it
Moving forward be sure to get any old crappy leaves out when you see them, any old growth thats in poor shape. Degradation of that kind of stuff is what feeds algae
Unexpected
Well-known Member
How many species are you getting?
BenB
Active Member
I just read through your whole journal. I really enjoyed it, especially when it was obvious from the pictures that your plants were turning around. I've been having algae problems too. Like you, I've been doing this a long time, as well, except that I have always done freshwater. It is very different now though from when I was more active in the hobby, and I'm trying to re-figure some things out. Good luck. I hope we are both about to break out of our problems. 
