Frustrated to the point of wanting to give up :(

blamejames · 10-20-2009, 10:16 AM

this is true but when you already have an algae bloom then algae is going to out compete the plants and absorb all the nutrients! you didnt read exactly what i wrote i think.

MrParker · 10-20-2009, 09:53 PM

well, point is...you should never give up, especially because of algae. There is always a solution. And the last possible solution is...start over....which could be fun and a good oportunity to try some new creative aquascape or something right?

OrangeCones · 10-20-2009, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blamejames

this is true but when you already have an algae bloom then algae is going to out compete the plants and absorb all the nutrients! you didnt read exactly what i wrote i think.

Not necessarily. I've completely eliminated hair algae, black beard algae, green water, etc. over the years by just adding some floating plants. I use the plants to 'out compete' the algae.

Any algae outbreak I've had has been eliminated without turning the lights off, cutting back on ferts, or CO2, just by adding some floaters (wisteria is great for this). Usually outbreaks happen when I've had guests over and they keep turning the lights on after the timer turns them out and feeding my fish 'extra' for me, how helpful is that

?

blamejames · 10-20-2009, 10:31 PM

good to know i had green water and turned the lights out for 4 days not going to hurt a thing and cleared up afterwards!

emmanuelchavez · 10-21-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seastaar88

...I was using DIY CO2 and dosing ferts. ...

This probably added to your algae problems. DIY CO2 has a reputation for not being a very constant source of carbon, which can cause bad algae outbreaks, IMO. The cyano is probably due to low nitrates, that's been my case each time.

Do you have a picture of the "fuzzy diatoms"?

What plants do you have? Depending on the plants, you may not need to dose very many ferts as well.

FroggyFox · 10-21-2009, 11:09 AM

Sorry to hear about the bluegill Jan

I am no help when you get into fertilizers and plants...sorry...you should ask Avalon and see if he has any suggestions. Have any updates?

JLW · 10-21-2009, 05:00 PM

I had Green water a little over a year ago, Its best to do big water changes if you are going to shut your lights off, because the algae (cyno) will suck the oxygen out of the water when the lights are turned off, I got rid of mine by doing 50% water changes every few days.

cchase85 · 11-04-2009, 02:12 PM

I have been battling cyano in one of my tanks for about 6 months now. I dose erythromycin, it goes away, I stop, it comes back. I know how you feel...

10-20-2009, 10:16 AM	#11
blamejames Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 51	this is true but when you already have an algae bloom then algae is going to out compete the plants and absorb all the nutrients! you didnt read exactly what i wrote i think. __________________ _______________________________________________ 90 Gallon 4ft Glo balast 6 jumbo neon tetras 6 glolite tetras 3 lamp eye tetras 5 algae shrimp 4 cherry shrimp Plants Amazon Swords, Java Fern, Lace Java Fern, Dwarf Pygmy Micro Swords, Anubias Nana, Crypt. Spiralis. _______________________________________________

10-20-2009, 09:53 PM	#12
MrParker Medium Fish Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: So Cal Posts: 419	well, point is...you should never give up, especially because of algae. There is always a solution. And the last possible solution is...start over....which could be fun and a good oportunity to try some new creative aquascape or something right? __________________ Current - 45 Gallon :: 3 otos :: 1 Chinese Algae eater :: 16 neon tetras :: 1M & 3F Fancy Guppies :: 5 Ghost Shrimp :: 2x32WATT T8 6500K :: DIY CO2 :: Substrate From SandDunes :: Wisteria :: 4 Melon Sword :: Microsword 3 10 Gallon Tanks Empty 2004 - 10 Gallon ::9guppy fry(4 weeks old)::5Ghost shrimp, 1 amano::2 SAE::3 otos::4 neon tetras:: 2 Redwag Platies :: DIY CO2::My own Substrate:: ::anacharis::Wisteria::Ovalis::Lilaeopsis brasiliensis(Microsword)::Limnophila indica(ambulia)::

10-20-2009, 10:31 PM	#14
blamejames Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 51	good to know i had green water and turned the lights out for 4 days not going to hurt a thing and cleared up afterwards! __________________ _______________________________________________ 90 Gallon 4ft Glo balast 6 jumbo neon tetras 6 glolite tetras 3 lamp eye tetras 5 algae shrimp 4 cherry shrimp Plants Amazon Swords, Java Fern, Lace Java Fern, Dwarf Pygmy Micro Swords, Anubias Nana, Crypt. Spiralis. _______________________________________________

10-21-2009, 11:09 AM	#16
FroggyFox Forum Manager Join Date: May 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 8,479	Sorry to hear about the bluegill Jan I am no help when you get into fertilizers and plants...sorry...you should ask Avalon and see if he has any suggestions. Have any updates? __________________ 29, 46 & 55FW 29 SW + dog + horse + catYou can view info & photos of my critters here...

10-21-2009, 05:00 PM	#17
JLW Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Washington State Posts: 22	I had Green water a little over a year ago, Its best to do big water changes if you are going to shut your lights off, because the algae (cyno) will suck the oxygen out of the water when the lights are turned off, I got rid of mine by doing 50% water changes every few days.

11-04-2009, 02:12 PM	#18
cchase85 Medium Fish Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New England Posts: 444	I have been battling cyano in one of my tanks for about 6 months now. I dose erythromycin, it goes away, I stop, it comes back. I know how you feel...