Hello
So i've been having some algea problems (hair algea, spot algea on glass, and fuzz or brush algea) in my tank .... the only problem i seem to have is the CO2 diffussion into the tank... but i *think* i have it figured.
am following EI dosing strategy, dosing half the recommended amount in a 90 gallon... water measurments are all safe, but ph is still ranging between 8-7. 50% water change every sunday.
Anyways my questions is this. I have christmas moss that was doing fine and covers a wide area on an XL piece of driftwood ... bueatiful piece ... lately, it got covered with algea (brush and hair algea). am wondering, would it cure later on or do i have to remove the leaves that are affected ?
I have 100-200 cherry shrimps, and 6 otos, but the algea is not under control yet.
Thank you
Increase the CO2 (slowly) - the pH should drop below 7 in a tank with sufficient CO2. Shrimp will only eat softer green or dead algae and diatoms; Otos only go for diatoms.
Hey ... well i have a feeling that even if i increased the CO2 it wont help i'll be wasting the CO2 ... like 1 time i was at 60bpm and the ph declined to 7.0 .. then it went back to 7.5 increased it to 67bpm ..... now it backs at 8.0ph and am at 74bpm, which i think is alot !!.. its probably the way the CO2 is released into the tank...... for instance, i had two bars of oxygen for the hillstreams... i removed one and left the other.
but what should i do with the moss, leave the leaves and till the problem is gone or take out the damaged leaves ?!
You can try using a toothbrush to twirl the hair algae out of the moss but it is a very painstaking process. I ended up losing a battle with it and sacrificed my triangle moss as it turned into a hair factory before I could get my other conditions under control.
I've been reading the following thread regarding the use of hydrogen peroxide as an algae killer:
http://www.guppies.com/forums/showthread.php/bba-thread-hair-21075.html (http://www.guppies.com/forums/showthread.php/bba-thread-hair-21075.html)
People seemed to be having very good results. I tried it but was also adjusting CO2, lighting and other factors so I can't say I gave it a true test.
NOT SURE what it would do to your shrimp though.
Quote from: cichlidicted on December 01, 2009, 09:36:09 PM
... at 74bpm, which i think is alot !!..
Nope, I have a tank that runs at 4bps, that would make 240bpm, and let me add that it is a 15/20gal tank ... :D
Increase the CO2 ... but do it slowly ...
:)
haha ... hello !!
if thats the case then i shall increase it ... but how would i know that enough is enough and that there is something wrong with the diffusion ??
@Bees thanks for the link ... I will be reading it, just finished the first page .... i would like to know bout your experiment.
Quote from: cichlidicted on December 01, 2009, 11:05:25 PM
but how would i know that enough is enough
back it off if the fish becomes sluggish ;D
Or take a cup of water out of the tank and measure the pH. Let it sit for 24h and then measure again. You have enough CO2 if the pH has risen by at least 1.
Definitely don't worry about your current CO2 levels. As fischkopp said his CO2 is 4 bps and so is my 90 gallon with no problems for the fish. One thing I noticed in one of your post is you mentioned an oxygen bar for your hillstream loaches. Do you mean an airstone? If you are running an airstone while dosing CO2 this will really mess with your CO2 levels. Running the airstone would really be counter-productive to running CO2.
Jeff
yeah ... i actually have two .... should i turn them off ?
Yes, turn them off. Your water surface should be calm or very close. You'll be getting gas exchange from your plants so you do not need an air-stone.
AFAIK - The reason is that if you disrupt the surface the CO2 will leave the water, somewhat analogous to the way that shaking pop causes the CO2 to leave.
Alright, will do that. .. thanks to everyone ....
Also, I think you are running a cannister filter which is good.
If using an AC, then its best if the water level is close to the lip to prevent surface agitation.
If you have the patient, leave them alone for now. concentrate on fixing other parameter so the algae stop growing. When you have achieved the balance state, your moss will recover by itself with the help of your shrimp army ;)