What kind of algae do I have?

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itsybelle	What kind of algae do I have?	Lead	[-]
Posts: 3774 (07/04/09 12:06:55) Gone Goldfishing! Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Tags : None Let me start out by saying that I don't mind the algae....unless it takes over all of creation. This is the only fake plant in this tank. JBOT knows this tank because he was giving me lighting tips I took some photos, but can take more clear ones if needed. The algae on these plastic plants used to be a brown color. I was getting the brown algae on some live plants as well... but got some otos who made it through a QT and then were placed in this tank who ate it all right away! The brown algae went away (I was also adding more live plants at this time) and now I'm getting this very pretty green algae on the fake plants. I don't think it comes across as well in the photos, but in parts where the green is more clustered, a beard grows, making me wonder if this is the start of a hair algae? Here are the pics:
capturedbyrobots		#1	[-]
Posts: 3391 (07/04/09 17:12:02) Administrator The Heavy Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	It looks like there's a few types. I see spots, which could be green spot algae, I see fuzz algae I think, it's really hard to say. Could even be the beginnings of BGA. The question I have for you is why do you still have plastic plants? lol.
itsybelle		#2	[-]
Posts: 3782 (07/04/09 19:10:07) Gone Goldfishing! Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	The tank is so dang tall that I couldn't think of plants that were as tall as this fake plant are.... Should I remove the fake plant? This could cause me more algae issues? On a side note, my center anubias is flowering.... the yellow scraggle leaf in there is a piece of java fern that got stuck, which has since been removed.
Mattsmommy2		#3	[-]
Posts: 12899 (07/04/09 19:30:23) Administrator Fond of Fins Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Oh Annie... I'm soooo jealous of your anubias!! Gosh... it's gorgeous!!! And you got it to flower! I'm not an algae expert... but some of it looks like the beginnings of BGA (sorry!!) Michele
itsybelle		#4	[-]
Posts: 3785 (07/04/09 19:37:05) Gone Goldfishing! Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	I wouldn't understand if it was BGA. I do SO many water changes in this tank.... and I not only have filtration, but a powerhead. I do keep the lights on for a really long time, though. Hmm. I have them on from around 8:30am to 11pm.....
itsybelle		#5	[-]
Posts: 3786 (07/04/09 19:45:20) Gone Goldfishing! Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	...I have an order coming in of guppy grass (naja grass), which I plan on adding to this tank in some way shape or form. I should add some more plants, I suppose.
Mattsmommy2		#6	[-]
Posts: 12904 (07/05/09 07:46:07) Administrator Fond of Fins Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Funny enough...I have heard that one of the downfalls (probably the only downfall) of frequent water changes and keeping the water pristine is that it may actually cause BGA b/c of little to no nitrAtes. Having more plants, from what I understand, helps the algae (including BGA). Your lighting period may be too long too. JBOT recommends around 8-10 hours, I believe. I'm not an expert in this field... but I found that less hours of light does seem to help... and keeping on top of BGA by getting off as much as you can helps to keep it at bay. It's stubborn stuff! Michele
itsybelle		#7	[-]
Posts: 3787 (07/05/09 08:57:04) Gone Goldfishing! Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Thanks for your help, Michele. I think I'm going to remove this fake plant from the tank. The leaves of it are very close to the surface...right under the lights. The only downside is that the tank will look more empty. I need a tall easy growing plant..... I also may have to put some terra cotta pots in there to plant it with some proper substrate for them. I have TMS in this tank and don't plan on changing it because it's gentle on the loaches....
capturedbyrobots		#8	[-]
Posts: 3392 (07/05/09 09:24:46) Administrator The Heavy Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	I love your anubias. That's a nice looking plant you've got there. I love when they flower, mine has a few times. As for a plant, just get some sort of floating plant for that tank, like anubias, watersprite/wisteria, lilies, etc..... That will do the same thing, but if it develops algae, you can pull some out. Right under the lights is a hard place for plants with deep tanks. The light is so intense at the surface to penetrate the depth, algae wants to colonize hard there. I have one tank which has this problem bad, but it's with BBA. I've fixed the lighting, but now need to dip all the plants. Once Black beard algae is around, it only needs a minimum of light to keep it growing and spreading. Having more plants, from what I understand, helps the algae (including BGA). Huh? More plants is always more better. No plant helps BGA. Low to nil nitrates and too much intense light on for too long and bad filtration is the key to getting a healthy tank full of BGA.
itsybelle		#9	[-]
Posts: 3788 (07/05/09 10:51:12) Gone Goldfishing! Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	So I should be doing LESS water changes? lol
itsybelle		#10	[-]
Posts: 3789 (07/05/09 11:06:38) Gone Goldfishing! Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	...and thanks for the compliments on the anubias. I didn't really do much but pick out the nicest plants in the store.... My other concern with not doing enough water changes are tannins. The largest driftwood in the tank is red in color and turns the water brown. While the color doesn't bother me all that much, I thought that tannins would change the ph of my water? Any insight into that?
itsybelle		#11	[-]
Posts: 3790 (07/05/09 11:32:06) Gone Goldfishing! Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	So I'm flooding my own post.... but I want to make sure I'm doing the right thing.... I'm looking through Aquabid and am going to get some watersprite. I've seen it growing in the pet stores and I like the way it looks and it seems easy. I also ran across this: Bolbitis heudelotii (African Water Fern). It looks like it grows like Java Fern? It's got a rhizome. Any opinions about this plant?
pLaurent2007		#12	[-]
Posts: 3679 (07/07/09 13:16:21) Blue Eyed Beauty Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	The African Water fern you treat basically the same as Java fern - don't bury the rhizome - and it's tolerant of most lighting conditions. The tannins leaching from driftwood will, IME, soften the water a bit.
itsybelle		#13	[-]
Posts: 3803 (07/09/09 19:14:08) Gone Goldfishing! Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	I took the fake plant out. My Naja Grass came in. I LOVE THE STUFF....but it's all over the place. I'll have to figure out a way to weave it into some fishing line so it stays stable. I should take a photo...
Mattsmommy2		#14	[-]
Posts: 12965 (07/12/09 08:53:40) Administrator Fond of Fins Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Would love to see pics, Annie! Michele
pLaurent2007		#15	[-]
Posts: 3694 (07/12/09 10:04:11) Blue Eyed Beauty Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Do you mean you want to attach the rhizome unto something like a rock or wood? The easiest way is with elastic bands. After you wrap the band around the item, it's simple to tuck the rhizome under it. I've found that using string, thread or fishing line is rather difficult. Once the plant grabs on to the item, you can just the elastic and slip it off.
itsybelle		#16	[-]
Posts: 3807 (07/12/09 11:25:45) Gone Goldfishing! Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Naw, the Naja Grass, PL. It's very messy... I just took some photos to show you guys where I'm at thus far.... Here's the tank: In the top left corner in the breeders box is a male black betta. He's being temporarily housed in here while his filter gets seeded. That filter is in the top right of the tank (it's that little black box). He'll probably be moved today or tomorrow as the filter has been in the tank for quite some time now. I'll show you a photo of the betta in the bottom of this post. Next to his breeders net is a little floating plastic breeders box where one of my favorite female guppies has given me babies. That giant piece of wood is tied with some Java Moss on one of it's arms. Strung up next to the betta tank is an acrylic grated panel with more Java Moss tied to it, until I can figure out where I want to tie that Java Moss to permanently. Floating all around the tank, under the betta container, on the filter, on the heater is the Naja Grass. It too should be tied down to something, but I don't mind it floating for now. On the bottom, in three of their own pieces of driftwood are my Anubias. Toward the middle left back is a plant that is floating as well (but has a sinker attached to it). I don't know what it's called. Maybe some sort of wort? I wasn't sure if I was going to leave it in there because I think the otos may be eating holes in it. It's still growing, though..... The plants in the front were labeled "Sword" at the store. I liked how green they were and how the roots looked nice. I have them tied in there with a rock and a rubber band. The plant guy at the store said they would do better if I buried them, but if I'm going to do that, I'll need to get more substrate in there. I don't have enough TMS. I was thinking of getting some of the flourite black sand, but wouldn't get it if I thought it would bother my loaches. Here are some more photos! Why can't I eat these delicious wiggly things?! Are there any wigglies in here?? My beautiful black halfmoon fellow.....
itsybelle		#17	[-]
Posts: 3807 (07/12/09 11:30:44) Gone Goldfishing! Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Ack, I didn't think the first post went through so I hit refresh. Could one of you guys delete the content of my second post so that the photos don't take up so much space? Thanky
Mattsmommy2		#18	[-]
Posts: 12979 (07/13/09 10:54:48) Administrator Fond of Fins Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Oh Annie... simply lovely tank and beautiful fish (especially your angels and the black halfmoon betta - would love to see more pics of him one day!) I can't help you too much with the plants... I'm still growing my green aquatic (and terrestrial) thumb, myself! Michele
itsybelle		#19	[-]
Posts: 3867 (07/19/09 13:44:58) Gone Goldfishing! Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	I have more questions! I have begun doing weekly water changes instead of such frequent changes. I tested my nitrAtes to be 10 before the last water change. I have one of those yeast co2 thingies, but it's rated for a 20g tank and this is a 45g tank. Is it worth it to set it up for these plants? I also added in 1/4 of the recommended dose of a liquid plant fertilizer. I'm nervous about adding anything to bother the fish, so I added in a small amount to see how they reacted. Should I not bother with the ferts or the co2 at this point? I want to make sure the plants grow, grow, grow! TIA!
capturedbyrobots		#20	[-]
Posts: 3447 (08/11/09 11:26:08) Administrator The Heavy Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Do the co2. It won't hurt anything. I'm not a big fan of ferts for anything under very HIGH light tanks. Your low/med light tank should do ok without them for now.

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