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Re: [GSAS-Member] Algae control



Paul,
Thank you for your response.
It is a 72 gallon with many plants, 8 baby daffodil Brichardi (from Susan), and one Leporinus fasciatus, about 10 inches long.
pH 7.4
KH 80
GH 80
Nitrite, Nitrate, and ammonia have always been very low, usually not even measurable.

I have added small amounts of epsom salt in the past, and still add a small amount of rock salt, about 1 tbsp with every water change (about 15-20 gallons). I have also added SSKI (Iodine) and Oregon Grape Root extract (a powerful natural antibiotic I make), but this was some time, and numerous water changes, ago. I added a multi vitamin (Kent Zoe), and buffered Vitamin C, and a very small amount of essential fatty acids (Kent Zoecon), but that was some time ago as well. After a water change 2 times ago, all the small snails mysteriously died. That might hold the key to the problem. I did not use any new sponges, soaps, or any cleaning materials. I've stopped using a small amount of Aquasafe that I had used in the past to remove the chlorine. I do not recall if I used Aquasafe at that water change two times ago, although I think I did use it. Months ago I used Ichstop in that tank, the only other medicine I have used up until now.

Lighting began as twin 48" bulbs. Then I turned them off for over one day. Then I switched to a new light containing 4 65 watt twin tubes. (My reading suggested changing lighting, either decreasing or increasing, could eliminate algae. It would probably require turning the lights off, or even covering the tank, for three days to make a difference.) None of the light changes helped.

Let me know if any other info would be useful to know.
Regards,
John


On Mar 16, 2005, at 10:13 PM, Paul M Wallace wrote:

John:

It has been several years since I had green water(result of a pH down product) and it seems that GW is aggravated by ammonia. With that said you probably have an imbalance of nutrients. The good news is that when balance is restored, the GW will go away.

So I am curious about your water parameters. How much light, are you adding carbon or nutrients?

-Paul

In the past few weeks, I've had an algae problem as well. Rather than coating any surfaces, it simply turns my water green. While it is a pretty color, I am unable to see anything more than about 4-5 inches from the glass. I've added two filters to the original filter. The pleated paper filter that came with the Magnum canister filter, and that I was told would turn water crystal clear, has not filtered out anything, so it must be only a few microns in size. Besides the magnum filter, I have a Magnum HOT, and a Marineland Emperor with Bio-wheel. At first I changed the water every day or two and added a bit of salt, thinking that would slow the growth of algae, but since that did not show much improvement, I decided to wait it out. Any recommendations would be helpful. Anita recommended getting tiny organisms that would eat the algae.

Fortunately, the fish seem to be doing alright.
Thank you,
John



It is the tank where I put most of the plants I got at the plant sale as well.




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Dr. John F. Ruhland
The Natural Health Medical Clinic
4002 - 25th Avenue S, Seattle, WA 98108
206-723-4891
www.drruhland.com

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