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So I recently upgraded to a bigger tank (46 gallon bowfront) and a pressurized CO2 system. My previous attempts at high light tanks had been hampered by algae since I was using yeast CO2. Plants just didn't grow well, or grew well one week and then sat stagnant for the next two weeks. I had black beard and green dust algae issues. I fertilized regularly to no avail.
I thought adding pressurized CO2 would solve all that...but it seems it hasn't. I have a 2x96W CF light on the 46 gallon tank, and I only ran 1 bulb for the first two weeks. CO2 was at about 3 bubbles per second. Everything went well. Some brown algae growth, but the ottos took care of that. Then I decided to try adding the second bulb. I put it on for only 3 hours during mid-day. The algae rolled in. Within days my anubias were coated with black brush algae. Within a week my glass was coated with green dust algae and the brown algae returned with a vengeance. Up until I turned the lights on, I had been fertilizing lightly, and then upped the ferts a bit with the second light. I also started adding Excel. I do a weekly 30% water change following the EI method. All my macro ferts are within normal levels (according to test kits).
What am I doing wrong?
I thought adding pressurized CO2 would solve all that...but it seems it hasn't. I have a 2x96W CF light on the 46 gallon tank, and I only ran 1 bulb for the first two weeks. CO2 was at about 3 bubbles per second. Everything went well. Some brown algae growth, but the ottos took care of that. Then I decided to try adding the second bulb. I put it on for only 3 hours during mid-day. The algae rolled in. Within days my anubias were coated with black brush algae. Within a week my glass was coated with green dust algae and the brown algae returned with a vengeance. Up until I turned the lights on, I had been fertilizing lightly, and then upped the ferts a bit with the second light. I also started adding Excel. I do a weekly 30% water change following the EI method. All my macro ferts are within normal levels (according to test kits).
What am I doing wrong?