Nuff

Planted tank with a sudden and rapid overgrowth of a black/dark green hairy algae. This cannot be removed manually, easily and is growing on all plants and some equipment and decorations. Have used API leaf zone in the recent past, but quit when the plants began to grow after adding the new lighting system. Will be getting a phosphate test kit today. Have also cut back on the lighting cycle as well in an attempt to control this stuff.
Did have lighting configuration of 4x65w PC-2 daylight, 2 actinic. Suspected actinic so switched them out for 2 more daylights.
Light cycle was moonlights on from 6am - 12am, actinics 8am- 10pm, daylights 9am - 8pm.
Current light cycle is manual-moonlights 6am-10pm,daylights 8am-9pm. Don't turn off daylights at the same time, turn one set off about an hour or so before the second set. Moonlights stay on about an hour or so after that.


Tank conditions are:
nitrate 10
nitrite 0
ammonia 0
pH 6.5-7.0
GH 180
KH 0-40

Inhabitants are:
Pleco ~~14" length and yes I am looking for a new home for him but difficult to part. Had him for ~~13 years
3 Platinum/Silver Mollies
3 Black Mollies
5 Neon/Cardinal Tetras
1 Tiger Barb-calm and does not bother other fish
2 Gold Angels
2 Dragon Gobies-1~6", 1~4"
1 Black Knife fish ~5"

Planted tank with laeterite layered between gravel
2- artificial driftwood
1 real driftwood

Filtration:
Rena (don't remember model) has three inserts that I replace as regularly as possible and contains material for increasing the bio filter surface area (don't remember name but the long donut shape), each insert contains 16 of the donut material inside the carbon pouches. Top Fin 60 that contains the same bio material in large amount, plus ammosorb. Both filters have sponge prefilters. Also use a small fountain pump to deal with a dead spot in the circulation pattern.

Lighting:
4x65w power compacts w/LED moonllights x6in sets of 2

I know that with the Pleco, the tank is grossly overstocked and I am working on finding a new home for him. The plants have not done well until I added the new lighting system and then responded immediately with new growth, so much so that I have begun tossing pieces.
Snails were accidentally introduced with some plants but are not numerous.
Water changes are weekly, ~40-50%
Use tap water which was tested before beginning and showed nothing untoward.

Attached Images

	Algae_1_320x240.JPG (81.0 KB, 46 views)
	Algae_2_320x240.JPG (62.8 KB, 45 views)
	Algae_FireG_320x240.JPG (81.8 KB, 44 views)
	Two Weeks Ago_320x240.JPG (66.8 KB, 43 views)

Butterfly

Some of it looks like brush Algae. here's a link for more pics of algae.
http://www.plantgeek.net/article_viewer.php?id=9
Once in a while when I start to get algae I use Flourish Excel. FE is a good carbon source with out using CO2. It helps the plants use the nutrients in the tank better and the Algae starves
Carol

MissMTS

If it is the brush algae that I had in my tank, it is very hard to remove from plants. I got a few Siamese Algae Eaters though, and they ate it right off. I cut down on the amount of liquid ferts that I was dosing the tank with and my plants are now algae free. Hope this helps

MPrudent

The goal here is to make sure the algae doesn't get the nutrients before your plants do. First, like Carol said you need to dose with Flourish Excel since adding CO2 is the best way to limit the growth of brush and black beard algae. Second, I believe your photo period (lights on) is way too long. Try cutting that back to 7-8 hours per day. Third, manually remove as much of the stuff as you can, even if this means cutting off leaves (they will grow back). Also, if this algae is on any rock or wood it is easy to kill it with Excel. I take a syringe and tubing and spray the Excel directly on those items. The BBA will turn red, purple, and then gray to let you know it is dead. DO NOT do this to your plants as it will likely burn most of them. Brush and black beard algae is almost always caused by lack of CO2 so if you have any way of adding that to your setup I would recommend it. Hope this helps...let me know if you have any questions.

Edit: After reading that you have 260W over a 55G tank I would STRONGLY suggest a co2 system. Your are over 5wpg and your plants are most likely starving for nutrients which is allowing the algae to take over.

In the meantime I would remove 2 of the bulbs and run it at 130W with that 7-8 photo period and I am sure you will see a reduction in the amount of algae in the tank.

Nuff

Thanks, have already shortened the light cycle again and will try the Flourish Excel and removing as much as I can. Would it make a difference to put the actinics back in, in place of the second set of daylights? I liked the color enhancement of the actinics. Also will look into co2 set up.

Thanks

MPrudent

I would leave them out until you get the algae under control.

Nuff

Thanks.