Frustrated to the point of wanting to give up :(

[seastaar88]

I'm extremely frustrated with my tank. I feel that I haven't been able to defeat algae and cyano and I'm at a loss.

Over the summer I decided to change my 20L-gallon tank over from low-light tank to a high-light tank (it was a high-light tank before). It had one bluegill sunfish in it. I was using DIY CO2 and dosing ferts. Plants are mostly val. I got hit with a bad wave of cyano and a wierd strain of 'fluffy' diatoms. I treated with erythromycin. The cyano went away for the most part but the diatoms remained.

Shortly after I stopped the erythromyacin dosing regiment, my fish unexpectedly died - after being in my tank for over 5 years. Ammonia, nitrate and nitrite were all 0ppm.

It's been a few weeks since the fish passed. I did a large water change after its death and continue to do regular water changes and fert dosing (which is generally 2mg/l of nitrogen EOD and 2 mg/l iron once per week). The diatoms never fully went away. I'm seeing cyano coming back and I'm seeing some hair algae starting and possibly some staghorn.

I'm not sure what to do at this point. I'm tired of battling cyano and diatoms and am to a point where I want to give up. Just very frustrating.

[Newman]

"algae require a specific situation to reproduce,
what we call a “bloom.” Generally, this bloom is triggered by some large or sudden
change in aquarium conditions. Such triggers can be an ammonium spike, carbon
variations, period of reduced oxygen, or a deficiency of some nutrient.
Algae is rarely the result of excess nutrients. Most algae outbreaks in a planted aquarium
are due to an imbalance between light, carbon, and macro and micro nutrients or poor
maintenance. It is these imbalances or nutrient deficiencies that lead to a reduction in
plant growth and oxygen production. When plant growth slows, ammonium (NH4) and
other organics that trigger algae to reproduce are no longer removed by the plants and an
algae outbreak occurs."

Will that help? idk, but its what i go by, and havent had a big problem yet. if i have algae on the glass or decor, i scrub it off. I suggest you follow the above advice and try to see whats wrong with your tank's balance. continue scrubbing that algae and fix any imbalances and youll be algae free

[Lotus]

Sorry to hear about your fish

Are you measuring nitrates? Sometimes, low nitrates (when you have high lighting) can cause cyanobacteria. Also, are you dosing any phosphate or potassium? Usually, you need to dose those in addition to the nitrates.

[unwritten law]

I got rid of my cyano with increasing the flow directly on it. I too have some fluffly looking brown algae that grows on my driftwood and anubias leaves but am not sure what it is or how to get rid of it.

[blamejames]

Algae basically thrives off of phosphates, nitrates, and lighting! To get rid of any algae you need to cut off lighting for up to a week possibly wrap the tank with a blanket leaving the top opened for O2. You might want to stop treating chemically as for that will promote algae growth. You might want to also invest in a UV filter or a RO/DI filter. The UV filter with kill any algae spores that float. The RO/DI filter will turn your hard water that is loaded with phosphates and other hard metals into soft optimal water for fish tanks!

[Newman]

I'm thinking that would have negative effects on your plants, unless you temporarily remove them from the infested tank.

[OrangeCones]

Interesting ideas...what chemicals promote algae growth?

[MrParker]

Originally Posted by Newman

I'm thinking that would have negative effects on your plants, unless you temporarily remove them from the infested tank.

What are you referring to having a negative effect on the plants?



I recently just had a green cloud bloom of algae, I just wrapped the tank in a dark blanked hours ago. I hope 2-3 days should do it. I didnt realize i was lighting my tank for 13 hours a day. and i have really hard water (phosphates) and iron rich sand substrate. So the plants are growing well with the co2, but so is the algae apparently. Everything is growing.

My next plan is get a group of clams...fun little algae filters

[blamejames]

there wont be any drastic effects if you wrap your tank and leave the lights off for a week i did it and believe it or not i had small growth lol! any fertilizers will promote algae growth algae is basically a plant! they compete with nutrients which is why algae is very bad to have in a planted tank.

[OrangeCones]

Originally Posted by blamejames

any fertilizers will promote algae growth

I disagree with this. With the proper balance of light and fertilizers, including a carbon source, you can have an algae-free planted tank. I use plenty of fertilizers and have no algae.