ari, i need help on 4ft rescape...buy u kopi can ah?

Wahh please help with my algae... it is a nightmare algae man.

Staghorn algae
Looks like individual strands of hair algae but tends to grow in single branching strands like a deer antler and is grey-green. Seems to grow mostly on tank equipment near the surface. Difficult to remove mechanically. Soak affected equipment in a 25% solution of household bleach and water to remove it.

Bleach only can... if I pull it off my plants, those plants like glosso usually get uprooted, then they get weakened and then even MORE of these algae grow on them. OMG..... this algae is just no fun to deal with. Right now i'm just leaving it alone, hopefully my plants grow stable and strong so can fight them off. They won't grow on healthy plants.. but it grow on dead leaves and stuff like a parasite.

I took the algae out and felt them.. they're thick and very tough...

Thanks for the advice Ari. I understand what you say. Yes, I'm using PL lights. What to do? Invest already. Can use it later when I set up my 3 feet tank. And it's got a 2 feet height.

The thing about small tank is, my wife's 1 footer shrimp tank is totally algae free! Using a hang on filter and 2 x 9watt 6500K PLS. I guess mainly because the lux is not that high and shrimps have far less poo. Her plants generate a steady flow of bubbles too.

She always cha me - 'wah, hi-tech tank some more got algae one...'

Apart from switching back to FL lights (max 24watts available I think), what else should I do to try and correct what I have?

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The nose runs and the feet smell - go figure
Steven

drinking KOPI is against my religion la....but kopi o with foam type can....hahaha anytime la.

your tank already nice wat ...why rescape???

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How to remedy when the problem is already deep rooted...thats why la...must be carefull next time u set up a tank....to get rid of algae is a not simply task...most people just give up....and buy new plants...and actually theres some logic in this. the money u spend on trying to cure this could be higher than actually buying new plants...and the worst part is ...sleep time also think about how to cure algae problem...wa lau ..can siao one hor....sex life also can get interuppted one hor...........

"where were u ?"...
>>huh im right here...why?
"dont lie ok...i gurantee u outside got another girl"
>> no la ,i think about "Algae"
"waai, u dare mention her name ah:

what i usually do is ...i mean if u are broke as i am and only buy cheap emerge plants. i always buy 2...one for the tank and the other for the garden.
works sort like spare part...and also to learn how they actually growm both emerge and submerge....with moss...u almost can inherit a moss farm 6 months after u palnt that little patch

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PL light are bery hot one ler....keep it for your new tank lo. well, try your best to salvage your plants.switch back to FL...for your setup two 20w is enough...dont be greddy with lights...they would only bring u more problem.
just leave them alone for a while and spend more time planning on your new tank. hai lor...88 cheap sale . got JBL long term fert ...5 kg rm36. than this Nutrafin NPK fert ..rm7.50. wa...siau liao or quote wrongly.

anyway ..hope u plan your new tank properly this time....CHA BACK your other half...hahahaha.

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Ok. Once I get a plan. Just help me check if I'm on the right track. But will happen later. Need to get a stand made first.

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The nose runs and the feet smell - go figure
Steven

Hi ari...
i still haven't found any solution to counter it...
please help

Regards,
John

huh...did i overlooked this post of yours??...well sori brader.

ok ...i ask u this.... the spot algae is the hairy type or just the flat green algae in spots here and there?

well, i doubt the hairy type would grow on glass...so i suppose its the spoty type. just leave it ...flat spot algae wont bother your plants if they grow just on the glass. infact your water is in top condition or else this type of algae will not grow.
just clean it with one of those magnetic two way glass cleaner. if i were u ...i would only clean the front glass and leave the side glass alone.
if your plants are healthy..this algae wont grow on them.
Get a pair of local flying foxes to control them....the thai variant tends to clean everything up within a day or two...super vacum cleaners.
if u have trouble in indentifying the two ...the thai variant has the black vertical bar right up and thru the caudal fin, while the local one the black bar stops at the begining on the caudal fin.

infact according to some kakis , this type of algae do help in purifying the water further.

but if that algae is the hairy or browish red type....then check your lightings, could be too bright on lumen if u are using PL lights.

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So far the main problem....most of u guys had ask me is algae!

Not to say im Cocky....but i laugh at algae...for me algae is a long time defeated enemy ...they are history!

when people ask me about algae.....i was wondering why people never learn...since the basic facts are there...but still the problem keep coming back....or is it they are getting the wrong information....or some smart alec forum guru had spread tons of second hand information on hear say basis.

in my life time ..i have set up hundreds of planted tanks, tested hundreds of different plant species... for my clients....but for my own personnel tank i would go back to the basic, planting the way i know best..using cheap diy equipment, cheap fine gravel, cheap ferts etc etc....in this way my skills are tested.....whats the point of having ADA soil...since we learn nothing....poke your plants in ADA soil...guarantee they will grow....u attain the GURU statues with your lovely plants....but take away ADA ...u cant even grow peanuts!!!....thats the gospel truth.

When i judge a Tank ...the first thing i would look at is the substrate....only then i look at the plants and its age. and if u have fine gravel substrate and your plants are rooting nicely and happens to spell exotic species...i would say...brader your tank is A1...top class. tell me your story.
but if the substrate is ADA or any other expensive soil...your tank will not receive a closer inspection from me no matter what exotic plants u have....simply because 75% of your battle is being won by purchasing with hard cash! very little skill by yourself.

The point of this story is ....u have very little skill ...and because of that..Algae keeps knocking on your door!
So once and for all....i will help u sharpen your skill starting with the basic ...u need to have a foundation before u build your house. i want u to be as cocky as i am when the question of algae is been pop to u....aaaah kacang la!
Just like in a video arcade game u progress from level to level...if u play Counter Strike...im sure u will be easy meat if u play level 6 without mastering level one....get the point.

lets breakdown this topic on how to counter algae to several parts.
1) lightings
2) ferts
3) filterations and water movements
4) yourself to blame.

aaah...my gf just called...man .. its sunday, i skip church this morning and my gf was determine i wont skip her ..hahaha

gotta run ....TO be continue!

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Everyone Has a Photographic Memory..........some just dont have film!