Aquatic Plant Central - View Single Post - Green Dust Algae: What is it and how to control it?

cS · 08-13-2004, 02:10 PM

Thank you for your inputs guys. Giancarlo, I'll perform a 90% water change and exclude the Sequestrene 330 dosage in the upcoming week(s) to see if that'll help.

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Cavan, I do not test for any parameters, but employ clues from the tank for guidance.

CO2: Pearling occurs w/i 4 hours after lights are on. Coupled with the absence of BBA and other algae, I believe that there's sufficient dissolved CO2.

Nitrogen: I use Micranthemum umbrosum to gauge how much KNO3 to add because it is the first plant to exhibit low N symptoms with puny leaves. Eusteralis stellata, another plant in the tank, is the 2nd plant to respond to low N with stunted tips. If anything, low nitrogen may be the cause for my green dust algae bout because 32.57 ppm NO3 is the minimum amount I have to add weekly to keep the aforementioned plants from stunting.

Ca/Mg: I do not believe these to be the problems because I have yet to experience any of the problems typically associated with low Ca/Mg, aside from the stunted tips of E. stellata which I ruled out by upping CaCO3/MgSO4.7H2O while keeping [NO3] the same --> same stunted tips until KNO3 dosings are increased.

Phosphorus: I don't know what to make of this parameter. I've played with up to 4ppm PO4 for a while and aside from algae-free Anubias sp., I didn't observe any reduction/aggravation of GDA either. I've had GDA in this tank for a while now. >_<

Micronutrients: I also don't know what to make of this parameter either. The amount I add is just out of convenience because of my tiny dosing spoons.

That and I'll adjust dosages to get some colors out of the 'red' plants.

So, that boils down to Nitrogen and Micronutrients being the two most likely culprits (aside from my high light of course) for my GDA problem...unless I missed something in the analysis?

Maybe I should just start testing to be sure.

08-13-2004, 02:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
cS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 426 iTrader Ratings: 0 Plant Points: 3600	Thank you for your inputs guys. Giancarlo, I'll perform a 90% water change and exclude the Sequestrene 330 dosage in the upcoming week(s) to see if that'll help. --- Cavan, I do not test for any parameters, but employ clues from the tank for guidance. CO2: Pearling occurs w/i 4 hours after lights are on. Coupled with the absence of BBA and other algae, I believe that there's sufficient dissolved CO2. Nitrogen: I use Micranthemum umbrosum to gauge how much KNO3 to add because it is the first plant to exhibit low N symptoms with puny leaves. Eusteralis stellata, another plant in the tank, is the 2nd plant to respond to low N with stunted tips. If anything, low nitrogen may be the cause for my green dust algae bout because 32.57 ppm NO3 is the minimum amount I have to add weekly to keep the aforementioned plants from stunting. Ca/Mg: I do not believe these to be the problems because I have yet to experience any of the problems typically associated with low Ca/Mg, aside from the stunted tips of E. stellata which I ruled out by upping CaCO3/MgSO4.7H2O while keeping [NO3] the same --> same stunted tips until KNO3 dosings are increased. Phosphorus: I don't know what to make of this parameter. I've played with up to 4ppm PO4 for a while and aside from algae-free Anubias sp., I didn't observe any reduction/aggravation of GDA either. I've had GDA in this tank for a while now. >_< Micronutrients: I also don't know what to make of this parameter either. The amount I add is just out of convenience because of my tiny dosing spoons. That and I'll adjust dosages to get some colors out of the 'red' plants. So, that boils down to Nitrogen and Micronutrients being the two most likely culprits (aside from my high light of course) for my GDA problem...unless I missed something in the analysis? Maybe I should just start testing to be sure.