Re: NANFA-- [Fwd: The Algae Wars] Corrected Links

hy finkelstein (hfinkelstein_at_Cerritos.edu)
Tue, 04 Mar 2003 14:21:37 -0800

I have unfortunately seen the same algae develop in my planted tanks, even
the onews with lots of hornwort floating at the top. I have seen it take
over everything but wolffia. No matter what I tried, I could not stop it
from taking over. Had to break down the affected tanks and start them over
again. It even happened in my outdoor pools. The one factor I did notice
is that this started after my city changed over to a different water
supplier, importing water, and no longer using local well water. Sorry I do
not have a solution.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sajjad Lateef" <sajjadlateef_at_yahoo.com>
To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2003 7:26 AM
Subject: Re: NANFA-- [Fwd: The Algae Wars] Corrected Links

> On usenet rec.aquaria newsgroups, there are
> several techniques suggested for algae suppression:
>
> 1. Physical removal (i.e. pull it out, cut off leaves etc)
> 2. Starve algae of nutrients and light (i.e. reduce Phosphate
> levels in the water, reduce or stop fertilizers, shut off
> all light to the tank for a few days, add more plants)
> 3. Get fish that eat algae (eg: J. floridae, Ameca splendens,
> Mollies, siamese algae eaters, farowella catfish)
>
> I am TOTALLY AGAINST chemical treatment with algaecides (herbicides).
> But, that's also an option, if you so choose.
>
> Your algae looked like fine cottony clumps to me. I have seen that
> with high-intensity lights near the top of the tank. I suggest
> adding some fast growing plants (Hornworth, Najas, Riccia) to
> the top of the tank to reduce some of the light and soak up some
> nutrients. Also, dig in and remove some algae by hand. Your water
> supply sometimes has an increase in the Phosphate content and
> that will result in algae growth spurts.
>
> So, try a few different things and soon you'll find out what works.
>
> Sajjad
> --- Todd Crail <farmertodd_at_buckeye-express.com> wrote:
> > I've been thinking about this a bit John....
> >
> > I have no idea what the algae is... I've seen it before when I let
> > hornwort
> > or anacharis get too thick, and food and detritus gets kinda stuck
> > inbetween, and even more so in the hairs. It seems to fertilize
> > itself that
> > way and only gets worse as it goes along. Perhaps it would be best
> > to do a
> > heavy duty trim? When I see that type of algae show up, I do a trim,
> > significant water change, and then refertilize like it was brand new
> > with
> > Florena or Flourish... whatever. Seems to get the system back in
> > the right
> > general direction.
> >
> > The other thought I've had is... Perhaps all the ions and
> > nitrification
> > products are unmeasurable because they're getting converted so
> > quickly by
> > the plants and algae? A lot of people who, as an example, use tap
> > water in
> > their marine tanks, have hair algae as thick as a fine maidens head,
> > and
> > swear up and down they can't measure any PO4 until they actually test
> > it
> > *before* it goes into the tank :) You've *obviously* removed it with
> > the DI
> > (might also want to check the conductivity of your output water to
> > see if
> > the DI is getting old)...
> >
> > However, if there's that much detritus rotting down inbetween the
> > plants...
> > That's a great source of PO4. Something to chew on.
> >
> > Todd
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "John Bongiovanni" <bongi_at_cox-internet.com>
> > To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
> > Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2003 6:01 PM
> > Subject: NANFA-- [Fwd: The Algae Wars] Corrected Links
> >
> >
> > > Today begins my second battle of the Algae War. Approximately a
> > year
> > > ago I fought a battle against a similar opponent soundly defeating
> > it.
> > > But today, I begin the second great battle of the Algae wars.
> > >
> > > A little backround: Back during Christmas, on my trip up to Ohio to
> > > visit the folks, I left the care of my native planted tank in the
> > hands
> > > of a trusted neighbor. She fed the fish and they survived without
> > > issue. The plants were another story. In the space of 12 days I
> > came
> > > back to an absolute jungle; Rotalla, Riccia, Bacopa, Ludwigia were
> > > entwined in a network that confounded all my attempts to untangle.
> > I
> > > also fixed a bank of flourescents (the rear pair of 40Ws) that had
> > had
> > > not been starting with the fronts. It was a grounding issue which
> > was
> > > fixed. My madtoms had tunneled underneath the java moss thus
> > dislodging
> > > the strands causing half the bundle of moss to float towards the
> > surface
> > > of the tank resembling a huge green wall. I removed the driftwood
> > that
> > > the java moss was attached wrap a hairnet around it and rearrange
> > it it
> > > the tank. This of course unsettled alot of organic matter that had
> > > settled on the bottom. I did a 20% water change with DI.
> > >
> > > The madtoms were not finished. Seeing the driftwood java moss
> > secured
> > > they moved to the moss on a rock and did the same. I repeated my
> > > efforts on the rock to get control. Almost immediately a nasty
> > looking
> > > green algae took over the tank.. Fine 1cm hairs are drifting all
> > over
> > > tank like snow, attaching themselves to the plants like persistant
> > green
> > > cobwebs. Photos are
> > >
> >
>
<http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/maxx8/lst?.dir=/Aquarium+Photos/Algae&.src=ph&.o
> > rder=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/>here
> > >
> >
>
<http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/maxx8/lst?.dir=/Aquarium+Photos/Algae&.src=ph&.o
> > rder=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/>.
> > >
> >
>
<http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/maxx8/lst?.dir=/Aquarium+Photos/Algae&.src=ph&.o
> > rder=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/>
> > >
> > > I checked the nutrient levels in the tank. Phosphate, Nitrate, Fe,
> > > ammonia, nitite is not detectable chelated and non; pH is 6.8, GH
> > is
> > > 20dGH and KH is 70dKH. All the time I had been injecting CO2 to
> > > maintain ph and plants. Seeing no measurable nutrients i began
> > adding
> > > fertilizer (flourish micronutrient suppliment). Thing just got
> > worse.
> > > Now it is early Feb and my folks are coming to visit Texas from
> > Ohioand
> > > I wanted to make sure that the tank looked presentable. I reduced
> > the
> > > light to 8-hours and just one bank of lights and stopped CO2
> > injection.
> > > The algae nearly disappeared just as my folks arrived but now the
> > stems
> > > are stretching with the innernode length getting long making the
> > plants
> > > look somewhat stringy. I cut them back increased the light and
> > whamo,
> > > the algae takes off again.
> > >
> > > So now I've decided to turn on the lights on fullblast, CO2 inject,
> > > fertilize like crazy and just sit back and watch the battle and see
> > who
> > > comes out on top.
> > >
> > > Anyone know what kind of algae that I'm battling?
> > >
> > >
> > > John
> > /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not
> > necessarily
> > / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
> > / Association"
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> > Association
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>
>
> =====
> --
> Sajjad Lateef
> sajjad_at_acm.org

--
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