RE: [GSAS-Member] Algae control

["Hess, Clay A" <clay.a.hess@boeing.com>]

Mark,

For me to keep rambling with something of interest you will have to
offer more than this last email.  You have done a great job of covering
the subject. I know many of us enjoy and appreciate gaining insight from
expert aquarium keepers such as yourself.  Keep sharing, this is the
best way to learn.....thanks again.

Clay

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Pearlscott [mailto:mark@pearlscott.com] 
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 12:05 PM
To: Greater Seattle Aquarium Society member chat
Subject: Re: [GSAS-Member] Algae control


Okay, here we are again, and I guess I missed a few points in my 
previous response... but you have done a great job in pointing those 
out.  Reiterated for others:

I assume a balanced tank to begin with.
I also am assuming the right quantity/quality of light (lumens) for your

tank.
I was specifically talking about length of light provided.

These back and forth ramblings will hopefully make it clear to anyone 
reading them.

Cheers,

Mark


Hess, Clay A wrote:

>Hmmmm, so, here is another one I could not resist.  Soooo,if we use the

>supposition that, less light does slow plant growth....one would expect

>that more light speeds plant growth.  If you look at algae as a plant, 
>then, light would have some impact on the growth rate of algae in 
>theory.  From my own tanks I have seen this.  Yes, plants grow slower 
>in a low light tank......and if that tank is prone to algae, the algae 
>will grow slower too....but, it still grows.  The problem comes about 
>when the slow growing algae still outgrows the slow growing plants. 
>Similarly, algae will grow faster in a higher light tank, as will your 
>desired plants.  So, which grows faster?
>
>The point being, I believe Mark is correct in stating that day length 
>does not matter so long as your tank is in balance to begin with (ie, 
>the desired plants are outgrowing the algae).  If your tank is out of 
>balance to start and the algae is outgrowing the plants, then, more 
>light will only make this effect worse in theory, and in my own playing

>around I have seen this too.
>
>Where is Eric in all of this.....he has loads of plant experience 
>too......more data please.
>
>Clay
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Mark Pearlscott [mailto:mark@pearlscott.com]
>Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 11:23 AM
>To: Greater Seattle Aquarium Society member chat
>Subject: Re: [GSAS-Member] Algae control
>
>
>I'm not sure that day length matters too much.  I have experimented in
>the past with short (8 hours) and long cycles (up to 16-18 hours)...
and
>
>I didn't notice any discernible difference in plant or algae growth 
>that
>
>I could attribute to a change in the light duration.  Now when I say
>discernible difference, I mean that I didn't see algae grow more/plants

>grow less, or vice versa.  Less light does equal less growth total.
>MTC.
>
>Mark P.
>
>A JACOBSON wrote:
>
>  
>
>>Just a thought.  How long do you leave your bulbs on each day?  I've
>>been told that algae likes longer "days", so my tanks are on a strict
>>    
>>
>11 hour timer.
>  
>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: John Ruhland<mailto:john@drruhland.com> 
>> To: Greater Seattle Aquarium Society member
>>    
>>
>chat<mailto:gsas-member@thekrib.com>
>  
>
>> Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2005 11:48 PM
>> Subject: 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.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > GSAS-Member mailing list
>> > GSAS-Member@thekrib.com<mailto:GSAS-Member@thekrib.com>
>> >
>>    
>>
>http://lists.thekrib.com/mailman/listinfo/gsas-member<http://lists.thek
r
>ib.com/mailman/listinfo/gsas-member>
>  
>
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> Dr. John F. Ruhland
>> The Natural Health Medical Clinic
>> 4002 - 25th Avenue S, Seattle, WA 98108
>> 206-723-4891
>> www.drruhland.com<http://www.drruhland.com/>
>>
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>>
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