[Algae SOS! Diatom explosion, I think???]

On 6/17/2022 at 8:11 AM, Ken Burke said:

I think we have a candidate for Reverse Respiration

 

Whoah!  Thanks Ken!  This will be good info to read as im settling in tonight!

On 6/17/2022 at 7:50 AM, Fish Folk said:

I think this is some sort of beard or hair algae. 

I was sort of afraid of that

[Algae SOS! Diatom explosion, I think???]

On 6/17/2022 at 7:44 AM, Camryn Lawrence said:

Yes, I think you are approaching this the right way: turn down your lights and scrub the hardscape. I think the main problem was your light. You said you had it on for 24 hours each day and that is way too much, because too much light = algae. So I think your solution is a good one, but I would make sure to turn down the light slowly over time (Not have it on for so long each day). 

Thanks Camryn.  I'm going to clean after coffee in the morning.  I was gonna do it after work, but as these things go, i just got in🙂 I should probably specify,  the light has a ramp up, ramp downcycle that its on.  I don't  have it max power for 24 hrs, but it is still a pretty intense light.  The pics are at max power, but i only turned it on just then for photo purpose

On 6/17/2022 at 8:02 AM, JettsPapa said:

Hello,

You said "I set the light back to its factory 27/7 cycle".  I assume you meant 24/7, and that means it's set to imitate natural daylight patterns, and not that it's on 24 hours per day?

Also, you might try using Seachem Excel, following the label directions for a large initial dose followed by smaller daily doses for a while.

Thanks! Yes, it is a light with a ramp up/ ramp down cycle.  I'll  take a look at excel.  Ive necer hward of it, but i do use seachemnproducts currently (fluorish, potassium,  root tabs, prime, etc)

[Algae SOS! Diatom explosion, I think???]

Hello, Forum!

I’m hoping to get some tips and insight here, or at least reassurance or caution about the direction I’m taking:).  Below, I will post some pics of what I have going on in my aquarium, what I believe it is, what I’ve done so far, and what I plan to do in the upcoming weeks.  My apologies in advance for being very long-winded.  Just trying to put as much info in that I remember in one go.
So, what I believe I have going on is an overabundance of diatom.  I am hoping I haven't gone down a slippery slope towards beard algae, but the usual brownish look of diatom seems to be turning black and furry in my aquarium (see pics).  The growth in the photos is after one week.  
I have had this aquarium set up since the beginning of March.  I used a seeded sponge rated for 75G (its a 30G tank), and this is so far the only filtration I use, powered by a whisper 40 air pump.  I have a Finnex 24/7 planted light, which I usually leave on the auto full-day setting.I have a heater set to 78 degrees.  We’ve had a bit of a heat spike the past week here in Chicago, so the temp jumped a bit to 82, but trying to keep my tiny a/c unit in a job:D . Until about 3 weeks ago, I was using Fluorish once a week, after a water change, and at that point, I put about 4 fluorish root tabs in the tank.  I haven't fertilized since.  I usually feed the fish twice a day, but this week, I’m starting to ramp back to once in the morning.
Diatom has always been a thing, as I understand it is in most new setups.  I typically do a 40% water change every week, and the diatom has ebbed and flowed throughout. Recently, I decided to try to go a little harder at it.  I did a 30% water change every day for a week.  The first day, I sponge cleaned a lot of the diatom from the plants, rocks, and wood, employing a toothbrush as needed.  I cut the light back to zero for 2 days, then slowly brought it back the rest of the week to an overcast setting.  The following week-which was last Saturday-I set the light back to its factory 27/7 cycle and did my usual water change, and the diatom growth, as you can see in the pics, has exploded everywhere!  It doesnt seem to be bothering the fish, and I have also seen some new plant growth this week, but it is definitely unsightly, and I don’t want it to start choking out everything.
My initial thought is, to do another water change into a large bucket, then scrub the rocks and wood in the bucket.  Also, gently wipe the debris off of all the plants while slurping out the old water.  From there, next week is payday, and I thought it would be a good idea to buy some more plants-to hopefully eat up more of what the diatom is eating-and possibly buy some Easy Carbon, and start applying that until I notice some dropoff, while still maintaining weekly water changes.  From there, possibly cut my lights back more?  Additionally, I am picking up an old SunSun canister filter from my storage space, and thought it might not hurt to load it with bio, and have an extra filter system that adds a bit of flow rate to the tank.
As to whether or not I’m getting beard algae-my concern is the slightly different, furry carpet like look of this recent bloom.  That said, it still seems to lift off pretty easily, much like diatom.  

Well, thats what I got, and what I can remember right now.  Thank you in advance, if you were able to make it to the end of this, and for any feedback you might have.  Thanks!  

ps-I’m also having some algae issues in my 10G tank, but more on that later…

[Hello from Chicago! Thanks for having me]

On 6/15/2022 at 6:52 PM, ChargerstoLA said:

Welcome, those are some amazing photos. Someone must not use a cell phone. I love the photo of your red ear slider, looks like he is free falling. 

Thank you!  Ha, yeah, my cell camera is just not fast enough.  I'd never be able to catch the fish at all with the cellphone, but turtle, on the other hand, is pretty photogenic, until he escapes and hides under the middle of the couch:D:D:D

On 6/15/2022 at 8:30 AM, FishPlanet said:

Welcome to the forum! Glad to have you here! 

PS. You take gorgeous pics!

Thank you!  Getting slowly better at the fish end of photography.  They just don't wanna sit still ever:D

On 6/15/2022 at 5:56 PM, sankaz said:

Hi JM Photo. Your photo of your red earred slider makes him(?) look like he's flying!! Great photo. Welcome to the group. I'm a newbie and having a ton of fun with my two tanks.

Thank you!  Yep, that is a he,  who often thinks he is flying:D:D

[Hello from Chicago! Thanks for having me]

Hello Co-op community!

My name is Jay, and I live in Chicago, Illinois.  I currently live in a studio apartment surrounded by 3 aquariums-2 planted tanks, and one 75G tank which is home to my red eared slider.  I’ll list out what’s where below, and add a few intro pics.  I briefly worked at a local aquarium shop out here before moving on to my career job in the cycling industry.  My duties were shop aquarium maintenance, as well as assisting the service lead on large reef and planted tank jobs.  I found Aquarium Co-Op through my contacts at the fish store, and have greatly enjoyed the informative youtube videos and podcasts, which I will often play in the morning on my days off, learning about plants, algae, and how to take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy the hobby:)  Looking forward to being around here for a while, and learning a lot from everyone.  Thanks for having me!

Jay.

MY TANKS:

75G:
1-Red Eared slider

30G:
2-Keyhole Cichlids
1-Electric Blue Acara
5-Pristella Tetras
4-Salt & Pepper Corys
Amazon sword
Spiralis
Water sprite
Various Crypts

10G:
2-Dwarf Honey Gouramis
5-Ember Tetras
2-Amano Shrimp
1 assassin snail(became many)
Anubias, Java Fern, and Java Moss

All still works in progress