Hi.
Just seeking some view on my strategy for dealing with my algae issues. I've described my circumstances and steps below and would value your opinions. I suppose the strategy is working but I just want to know if I am doing something inadvisable which is going to cause issues for me in the longer term and just lead to another problem.
I have converted a 6'x2'x2' (180g) tank to an emergent planted scheme with a couple of cascades at one end to add interest (I've only half filled it so its about 120g including a 20g sump). I know this is a mistake, from CO2 retention perspective but I didn't know much about C02 then and I'll explain how I'm dealing with it shortly. and a 800g/hr main pump.
It was a reef tank so I have the original reef lighting system (Arcadia 3x 250w MH). I have fitted C02 (I had most of the CO2 stuff from my calcium reactor - so buying the Co2 reactor was a minor additional expense) and I've upped the bubble count (2-3/sec) to compensate for the sump and cascades.
I have a wide range of plants (crypts, swords, lotus, bolbitis, spadderdock etc) and some fish (6-7 small rainbows, 4-5 catfish and a clown loach or two) just to add some movement for my kids.
Current stats are pH 7.1, KH 10, GH 80, PO4=0.5ppm, NH3=0.
I've had it for about 3 months and going through the usual algae battle (hair algae, fuzz and a little BBA). I suspect much of this is from the excess nutrients (Fe particularly) leaching from the laterite but I think I'm getting on top of it due to the stuff I've read in these forums which have been really helpful (increasing C02 for example - which is having an effect already on the BBA).
I've also reduced the lighting by taking out one of the 250w lamps from the MH light housing as I think this is contributing to the problem (still leaves me with the other two and 4-5 watts/g which is OK I think). I also turn off the lights for a couple of hours in the middle of the day as I read that this also significnatly impedes algal development (something about algae being simple plants that take time tor ramp up their photosynthesis and switching off the lights interrupts this substantially).
I've also read alot about the Excel stuff in these forums so I followed that advice and I have quite an immediate pleasing result. I'll continue this treatment for another couple weeks.
I'm also thinking of reducing my circulation rate (my current pump is about 800g/hr) and getting a smaller pump) as I'm conscious that the cascades I have, sump filter etc are not helping my CO2 retention.
Cheers
Just seeking some view on my strategy for dealing with my algae issues. I've described my circumstances and steps below and would value your opinions. I suppose the strategy is working but I just want to know if I am doing something inadvisable which is going to cause issues for me in the longer term and just lead to another problem.
I have converted a 6'x2'x2' (180g) tank to an emergent planted scheme with a couple of cascades at one end to add interest (I've only half filled it so its about 120g including a 20g sump). I know this is a mistake, from CO2 retention perspective but I didn't know much about C02 then and I'll explain how I'm dealing with it shortly. and a 800g/hr main pump.
It was a reef tank so I have the original reef lighting system (Arcadia 3x 250w MH). I have fitted C02 (I had most of the CO2 stuff from my calcium reactor - so buying the Co2 reactor was a minor additional expense) and I've upped the bubble count (2-3/sec) to compensate for the sump and cascades.
I have a wide range of plants (crypts, swords, lotus, bolbitis, spadderdock etc) and some fish (6-7 small rainbows, 4-5 catfish and a clown loach or two) just to add some movement for my kids.
Current stats are pH 7.1, KH 10, GH 80, PO4=0.5ppm, NH3=0.
I've had it for about 3 months and going through the usual algae battle (hair algae, fuzz and a little BBA). I suspect much of this is from the excess nutrients (Fe particularly) leaching from the laterite but I think I'm getting on top of it due to the stuff I've read in these forums which have been really helpful (increasing C02 for example - which is having an effect already on the BBA).
I've also reduced the lighting by taking out one of the 250w lamps from the MH light housing as I think this is contributing to the problem (still leaves me with the other two and 4-5 watts/g which is OK I think). I also turn off the lights for a couple of hours in the middle of the day as I read that this also significnatly impedes algal development (something about algae being simple plants that take time tor ramp up their photosynthesis and switching off the lights interrupts this substantially).
I've also read alot about the Excel stuff in these forums so I followed that advice and I have quite an immediate pleasing result. I'll continue this treatment for another couple weeks.
I'm also thinking of reducing my circulation rate (my current pump is about 800g/hr) and getting a smaller pump) as I'm conscious that the cascades I have, sump filter etc are not helping my CO2 retention.
Cheers