Algae in Shrimp only Tank

[Ningning]

I'm using a 36w for my 2 feet tank.

the height is 36cm = 36w.

I'm using PL light.

[ymmij]

i guess thats the difference. i am using 55watts plant light... for my 2 feet tank.

[tanhann]

Originally Posted by zadrian

Bro...get 1 bumblebee or a.ka. horn snail.....$1 or $2 (max) will solve ur probs....

I have the same algae issue like ymmij and I also have 2 bumblebee snails, but the algae that are growing on the soil is not depleting. I do agree that they are good cleaners for green or brown algae on the tank wall. However, I don't think that they will help to reduce the algae.

[globalcookie]

I'm not in office to check some details of my tank but roughly it goes like this:
- 2ft tank
- 9hrs lighting
- Chilled at about 23-24 degrees
- Substantially lots of plants (Spiky, US Fissidens, moss ball)
- PL light
- Tank about 1yr 7mths old

My otto died about 2-3mths back and I have not bought any new ottos since then. I think algae problem can be due to excessive lights. Since your lighting is 55w, you may want to reduce the duration.

When I forgot to off my lights over CNY last year (2008), the lights ran for 3 days and I had green hair algae boom and green algae on walls. Since then, I am using timer to control the lighting duration.

If you want to continue using CO2 and 7hrs lighting, maybe you want to increase your Otto. I do not intend to use snails at home. They tends to climb out of tank sometimes. For myself, I find Otto a good choice as they are hard working algae eaters and doesn't move too fast.

[ymmij]

thank you all for the advice and comments.

i have decided to redo my tank setup as i was advised that using used (more than 1 year) ada amazon soil may not be suitable for crs as it may not be able to control the ph well.

as such, i have went to buy 5.4kg of Azoo soil for shrimps. i will measure the ph tomorrow. as for lighting, i am thinking of getting t5 light or maybe a 36watt pl instead. alternatively i would on the 55watts pl for a much shorter hours.

i am still deciding what to put in the tank besides the moss ball as my bod wood tree tied with taiwan moss has vertical branches and the moss could not be grown there, only on the horizontal branches.

[globalcookie]

Before you redo your tank. I'm just thinking out loud, could the algae boom be due to high nitrate levels or other cause? It may not be fully due to stronger lighting.

[ymmij]

Originally Posted by globalcookie

Before you redo your tank. I'm just thinking out loud, could the algae boom be due to high nitrate levels or other cause? It may not be fully due to stronger lighting.

i have 2 ottos and 5 cherry shrimps only. bioload should be finel i did not put in fertilizer and temp is at 25 degrees.

Originally Posted by ymmij

i have 2 ottos and 5 cherry shrimps only. bioload should be finel i did not put in fertilizer and temp is at 25 degrees.

I can be sure that its your lighting that is causing the trouble . I do once have the similar set up as you and i experience the same problem as you

Change to a 24 or 36 watt light . I did change to a 24 watt light T5 and i on the light 8 hrs a day on timer .Running for 2 months already, looks good and no algae discovered. Remember 1 cm in height = to 1 watt penertration. Yours in 30 cm in height ,55 watt is over already

[ymmij]

so i guess lighting is my main problem as discussed. maybe i will go and get a t5 light instead.

thank you all for the replies...

Originally Posted by ymmij

so i guess lighting is my main problem as discussed. maybe i will go and get a t5 light instead.

thank you all for the replies...

T5 is just that it is better and newer and it doesnt produce much heat as the rest. PL is also good but just remember PL dont have 24watt or 36watt. Correct me if i am wrong thanks