I've decided to do a journal on my plan to combat algae in my planted 6 footer
this is what the tank currently looks like:
and a close up of a BBA infested anubias:
When I had the 1 x 5 foot LED light on this tank, all the plants were doing fine. I decided to add a second 5 foot LED light, so it would eliminate and dark spots in the tank, since the tank is 1 foot longer than the light unit. The problem with increased lighting is it (in this case) has created a lot of algae in this tank. The inside of the glass needs a scrub every coupe of weeks, and half the plants are covered in BBA.
I decided to take steps to try and control (and hopefully eliminate) the unsightly algae. Here are the steps I have taken so far:
1. reduced the time the lighting is on
2. added a large bristlenose catfish to the tank. Hopefully this will help keep the glass clean
3. use No More Black Beard by Aqua Pics when I do my next water change
4. Added co2 from Aquotix
The No More Black Beard by Aqua Pics is from Tech Den. I hope that helps. Label states to add 5ml to 50 litres of well aerated water.
and contains Polyglutaraldahyde (say that 3 times fast... I dare ya!)
the co2 system that I got is the Ista 3L co2 bottle with Ista dual guage regulator (see pic above), Ista ph controller (a must for a co2 system IMO), as well as co2 tubing (not the cheap airline, but the co2 line), Ista stainess steel check valve, and up-aqua inline diffuser. I had a couple of these diffusers, but decided to only use one and give the other away.
I've got the Ista co2 controller set at 6.80 PH, and its sitting up the back of the cupboard like so:
Inline diffuser is on the outlet hose of one of my Astro 2212 canister filters:
Hopefully this will help control the algae, and I will post updates as I go
I'm also hoping that the co2 helps the plants start to thrive. It will be interesting to see how long the 3 litre co2 bottle lasts as well