[問題] backdrop algae

sundance · **註冊時間:** 2005-08-26 21:50 **文章:** 81

Hello Experts,

My backdrop (decorative foam piece at the back)grows a lot of algae on it and the whole piece becomes green. This makes the water look green from outside although the water is not green at all. Can you show me how to get rid of the algae when plants and fish are inside.

Many thanks,
Sundance

TigerM · **發表於 :** 2006-09-13 14:47

you can not get rid of it, you may only improve the situation.

Suggestion: 1, don't use it 2, install UV lamp and change water once a week can help.

sundance · **註冊時間:** 2005-08-26 21:50 **文章:** 81

thank you tigerM, actually, I did change water 2 times per week, those algae is just disgusting....those flying foxes have been eating it but there is too much anyway for them to finish.

Andy Kong · **發表於 :** 2006-09-15 03:06

SAE are worker, they HELP to keep the tank clean, but when the algae problem is there already, they can't solve the problem immediately, unless you have A LOT OF SAE in your tank suddenly. I suggest you try to remove as much as possible manually, you can use a bucket to keep the water first, lower the water level as much as possible, and start removing the algae yourself, and then let the SAE or other working fish to finish the last 10% for you.

After that you should find out the cause of the algae, and then start to to handle the root problem. If you can't rectify the situation, even you manage to clean them all, it will come back eventually.

There is nothing we can tell on this part, since we have no idea on the detail of your aquarium, so no way we can tell where and what caused the algae to grow wild on your backdrop, but in most case, the problem probalby relate to (1) too strong lighting, or too long hours per day, (2) over feeding (3) insufficient water flow or filtering (4) too much fishes (5) insufficient plant, or plant is not growing healthy, so leave room for the algae to grow (6) all of the above.

sundance · **註冊時間:** 2005-08-26 21:50 **文章:** 81

Thank you Andy,

I believe it is the problem of 1), 5) and probably 3) as well.

My aquarium setting is as follows:
Size: 36" x 18.5 x 18.5" approx 150L of water;
Plants: only Sun, 'cow hair', and one other;
Filter system: Fluval 304;
Light sys: AcadiaT5HO with Philips 865, 39W x 4;
Lighting period: around 7 hours per day;
Water changing interval: 2 times a week;
Fertilizer: Fe, N, TMG;
Soil bed: ADA Black;
Fish species: Flying fox-4, Pencil-5, Tetra-1

I do not even understand howcome the 'red butterfly' did not grow good as it is so healthy and good before. I was away for 2 weeks and when I replant some new butterflies, they are not as good as previous ones.

Do you think those UV lights work in terms of killing the disgusting algae? I really wanna take the backdrop off and replace it with the Blue paper in the back. But what about the glue I used for attaching the foam piece before? Does it leave any marks after taking the foam off? Really headache!!

Thanks,
Sundance

Andy Kong · **發表於 :** 2006-09-16 10:17

sundance 寫:

Thank you Andy,

I believe it is the problem of 1), 5) and probably 3) as well.

My aquarium setting is as follows:
Size: 36" x 18.5 x 18.5" approx 150L of water;
Plants: only Sun, 'cow hair', and one other;
Filter system: Fluval 304;
Light sys: AcadiaT5HO with Philips 865, 39W x 4;
Lighting period: around 7 hours per day;
Water changing interval: 2 times a week;
Fertilizer: Fe, N, TMG;
Soil bed: ADA Black;
Fish species: Flying fox-4, Pencil-5, Tetra-1

I do not even understand howcome the 'red butterfly' did not grow good as it is so healthy and good before. I was away for 2 weeks and when I replant some new butterflies, they are not as good as previous ones.

Do you think those UV lights work in terms of killing the disgusting algae? I really wanna take the backdrop off and replace it with the Blue paper in the back. But what about the glue I used for attaching the foam piece before? Does it leave any marks after taking the foam off? Really headache!!

Thanks,
Sundance

I would say the filtering part need to be improved immediately, a F304 is hardly adequate for a 150L aquarium. 4x39W T5HO probalby is enough for your plant, but then you have an aquarium that is 18" wide, and if you have one set of 4 tube lighting, quite often you can't take care of the front and the back at the same time, end up with shadow areas, you won't have this problem if you have two sets of 2 tube lighting. 7 Hours is hardly too much, maybe you can extend that a bit by using two-slot lighting, say 3 hours in one session, black out for at least 2 hours, and then 5-6 hours for secon session. The black out period will make life difficult for algae, and yet the plant can get used to that.

You didn't mention Co2, you do have that, right?

sundance · **註冊時間:** 2005-08-26 21:50 **文章:** 81

Thanks Andy,
I would also like to add 1 more tube of T5HO but I have to find some space to accomodate it. You are rite, I did turn on the lights in interval before and the algae is not a problem at all, and the lighting duration is much longer. But then again, I have more plants before. I have just rechecked the width of the aquarium, it is only 16.5 (approx) wide not 18", sorry about that.
For the Fluval 304, it runs like 1000L/? and some of the people used it with my size of tank indicated it was quite enough. But do u think I should add a little power pump near the bed of the tank to increase the flow?

Many thanks, Andy,
Sundance

Andy Kong · **發表於 :** 2006-09-16 13:45

Don't trust the rated figure of filter as-is, I did write some explanation on this but that is in chinese, if you can't read that, I'll do that in English:
http://www2.aqugrass.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=67319

引言回覆:

選買濾桶最重要唔漏唔死泵和耐用，個桶行 7x24，尤其是中小型缸只用一個濾桶，一有事停泵的話，可能個缸一日都捱唔到！換濾桶也定大廢周章的事情，可免則免。一個 $1500 桶用十年，同五個 $300桶每個用兩年，前者一定係我的首選。如 budget 容許，用兩個中型濾桶比用一個大濾桶更安全，壞左一個都仲有另一個吊住命，洗濾桶時又不用擔心洗得太乾淨因另一個仲有箘種，剛洗完的濾桶好快便復完。

第二要注意濾材量，濾桶有大買大，容納越多濾材越好！如開設較大型的混養缸, 不妨考慮滴濾方案，雖然不是密封式過濾系統，故有 Co2 流失的可能，但實際長期使用下，可能每月只多用十元八塊的 Co2，實在無傷大雅。若對接駁水喉和常用的灰喉配件有認識，可考慮密封式壓力箱，當超大型濾桶用其實十分好用。

買濾桶其實最後才注意流量，理論是每小時 5-8 cycle, 我認為真的做到 5 cycle 巳非常好，即 100L 的缸選用 500L/hr 的濾桶。濾材量，濾材梳水性能，出水總揚程和抽水摩打的扭力等都影响出水量。跌幾快就係關鍵所在，經驗所見係有Ｄ跌得快，有Ｄ又 keep 得好好。

要留意濾桶流量的廠方 rating 多是以空桶和零揚程計算，所以當你塞滿濾材然後將水谷上離濾桶一米高的缸頂，實際濾桶流量可能一半都無。行了幾個月後，濾桶內積聚大量污物，進一步減 D 流量，到時可能連 1/3 的廠方 rating 都 keep 唔到。另摩打好力與否同摩打的 capacity 是兩樣不同的特性。我們形容摩打好力通常是指高扭力。所以1000L/hr 同 1200L/hr 無乜分別，但 Eheim 1000L/hr 一定好力過大陸 1200L/hr！要留意揚程等數據和你實際使用時所需揚程的流量。高揚程多數係高扭力，亦即所謂較好力的摩打。若因流量過大出現打大風一Ｄ都唔難處理，將雨淋管的孔改大，或將出水口向上或缸邊或甚至加出水口分流也可。

基本上玩混養缸 overkill套過濾系統都無乜錯，所以太小型的過瀘如 Eden 501 便不適合了。過濾系統其實可分為物理過濾，生物過濾和化學過濾，前兩組多以生物棉，生物環和較密和不易壓縮變形的白濾棉為主要素材，可以說是必須有的；後者最常見的是活性炭，可以說是 optional。

Eheim 1250 (1200L/hr) 和 1260 (2400 L/hr) 的揚程流量圖。
以 Eheim 1250 計揚程 1米流量都減 4 成，濾材密度因素倘未計算在內，D無乜力的大陸濾桶實際流量有幾多大家心中有數。

36" x 16" x 18" will be 170L already, so I think the F304 is your weak link. I would suggest you go back to interval lighting strategy, that is a good practise if you have algae problem.

Observe the water movement, especially immediately after you change water as you can see the particle moving by the current, if there is area that water didn't move or too slow, adding a small pump to resolve that is always recommended.

sundance · **註冊時間:** 2005-08-26 21:50 **文章:** 81

Again, thanks very much Andy! Your very helpful indeed. I will try again with the same old lighting practise and hope it will improve it. Also, I will also add the little pump down the bed for the flow.

Many thanks,
Sundance

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[問題] backdrop algae

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