1. Welcome to Aquarium Space! We are a friendly online community for aquarium owners all over the world who love their tanks including their fish, reefs, corals, invertebrates and their aquatic livestock. If you haven't joined yet, we invite you to register and join our community!

Green Spot Algae & High Nitrate Reading in Planted tank

Discussion in 'Aquatic Plants & Planted Tanks' started by MOD_Dawn, Mar 6, 2009.

Page 2 of 7
  1. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

    Messages:
    3,588
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    Re: Green Spot Algae & High Nitrate Reading

    I also 2nd you MTS

    I dont think the PH means anything with the Algae, BUT she did have some dead fish... that is the thing
     
    LemonDiscus, Mar 6, 2009
    #21
  2. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Re: Green Spot Algae & High Nitrate Reading

    Okay, so I re-tested the tank today and once again the Nitrates are soaring at 80ppm. Everything else is testing okay?
    I put a call in to the plant specialist at my lfs and we can't figure out what is causing the soaring of the Nitrates..and why it's skipping the nitrites.
    He recommended using Allgone pads that remove/lower the nitrates and suggested playing with the flourish/flourish excel dosages (meaning lowering them and alternating them). Ugh!
    Looks like I'll be making a run for these pads...anyone else have any ideas on the nitrates besides 50% water changes which have already been done?
     
    MOD_Dawn, Mar 7, 2009
    #22
  3. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

    Messages:
    5,728
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Re: Green Spot Algae & High Nitrate Reading

    Okay... First of all let me say that as far as I know the Flourish and Excel will not cause nitrates to rise. The nitrates are the final stage when ammonia/nitrites are processed. For them to go up that high so quickly I would say maybe you're feeding too much and/or there's a buildup of organic material in the substrate (food, something dead). Is that possible ?
     
    Anthony, Mar 7, 2009
    #23
  4. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Re: Green Spot Algae & High Nitrate Reading

    Nope, weren't fed since yesterday evening..I was waiting till after the testing.
    Nothing dead. Bascially removed everything when the plants came in yesterday and searched the entire tank..leaves(all good)..even did away with bottom ones on the new ones to make sure. Today I came across maybe 2 blades of microsword (that stuff is evil) and 2 leaves of the peruensis (sp) and removed them as I always do. I typically check the tank a minimum of 2 times a day for plant debris and inhabitant health.

    I am soo freakin clueless as to what is causing these nitrates to surge. This is a well established tank, with superb filtration, Steady consistent heating, and very good maint. ((Any fish that even looked slighty off from the last rise were immediately removed...as none were overly expensive)).

    I'm defin gonna try the all gone pads since he claims they worked wonders in his saltwater for nitrates. Any other ideas of what to do/try/change???
     
    MOD_Dawn, Mar 7, 2009
    #24
  5. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Re: Green Spot Algae & High Nitrate Reading

    The only other thing that was added relatively recent was the Nutrafin Plant Gro Fertilizer Sticks? But they say no negative impact on water????????????
    Nutrafin Plant Gro Fertilizer Sticks supply complete nutrition to aquatic plants for a period of one year. Once activated, they slowly release a well balanced feeding formula that maximizes the size, color and health of all aquatic plants with optimum amounts of phosphorus and no copper. Nutrafin Plant Gro Fertilizer Sticks will have no negative impact on water quality. Six sticks per package.
     
    MOD_Dawn, Mar 7, 2009
    #25
  6. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

    Messages:
    5,728
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Re: Green Spot Algae & High Nitrate Reading

    I'm not 100% sure on this but I THINK the root sticks do release nitrates since the plants do use them.
     
    Anthony, Mar 7, 2009
    #26
  7. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Re: Green Spot Algae & High Nitrate Reading

    hmm, but according to the package (nothing harmful to water)??
    Only a guess, but have used them in the past with no ill effect...Okay, I'm about to bounce into walls as I am clueless of what it is from and what to do.
    I mean other things can be controlled. But I'm not about to do 45gallon water changes every single day! Ugh! Is their any single product that would lower ONLY nitrates and not have an effect on any other parameter within the tank?
     
    MOD_Dawn, Mar 7, 2009
    #27
  8. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

    Messages:
    5,728
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Re: Green Spot Algae & High Nitrate Reading

    Is it possible to vacuum the substrate and see if a lot of waste comes out ?

    Prime is supposed to lower it.
     
    Anthony, Mar 7, 2009
    #28
  9. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Re: Green Spot Algae & High Nitrate Reading

    I do vacuum lightly over the top of the substrate....I did "test" a spot and went to the bottom...nothing as far as waste or food came out...the substrate was really clean. Everything lays on TOP of the eco because it's soo fine for the majority of it.
     
    MOD_Dawn, Mar 7, 2009
    #29
  10. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

    Messages:
    5,728
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Re: Green Spot Algae & High Nitrate Reading

    Okay so it seems to me that it's something that's being added to the tank that's causing it. These are the only things you add to the tank, besides food ?

     
    Anthony, Mar 7, 2009
    #30
  11. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Re: Green Spot Algae & High Nitrate Reading

    yup. That's it.
     
    MOD_Dawn, Mar 7, 2009
    #31
  12. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

    Messages:
    5,728
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Re: Green Spot Algae & High Nitrate Reading

    How many fish do you have in there total ?
     
    Anthony, Mar 7, 2009
    #32
  13. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Re: Green Spot Algae & High Nitrate Reading

    including plecos and corys I'd say 25, 30 max
     
    MOD_Dawn, Mar 7, 2009
    #33
  14. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

    Messages:
    5,728
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Re: Green Spot Algae & High Nitrate Reading

    I think at this point the cause is either something you're adding to the tank (the root spikes) or your bioload is pretty high. Yeah ?

    If it's not the root spikes then it has to be the amount of fish in the tank, IMO.

    When the nitrates get up to are 100 the fish will start to have problems, especially if it happens often.

    I would add something like Seachem De*Nitrate or what that guy was telling you about. I would also increase the Excel dosage to try and perk up the plants into using the excess nitrates in the tank.
     
    Anthony, Mar 7, 2009
    #34
  15. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Re: Green Spot Algae & High Nitrate Reading

    Okay, I didn't think that many fish would be considered high bio load in a 90g...specially with the high filtration?

    I'm going to try using the all-gone filter pad and started with excel last night thinking the same thing. I also swapped out that 50/50 bulb and tossed in 6700k all the way across.

    Right now I'm thinking this is the route:
    Flourish excel every other day
    >Flourish once a week
    >Flourish Iron only if it seems to need it (yellowing)
    >Prime doubled any time water is added
    >Partials increased to 25% once a week
    >Lighting all 4 being 65w 6700K bulbs increased to 12 hours daily
    >Carbon removed, all gone pad added to floss, purigen, foam pads, ceramic rings, and cocoa puff balls
    >Air pump on timer to come on only at night

    Would de-nitrate have any negative effect?
     
    MOD_Dawn, Mar 7, 2009
    #35
  16. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

    Messages:
    5,728
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Re: Green Spot Algae & High Nitrate Reading

    Yeah, I don't normally think that's a high load but at this point I would consider is a possibility.

    Based on that I would say no, it shouldn't have any negative effect.
     
    Anthony, Mar 7, 2009
    #36
  17. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Re: Green Spot Algae & High Nitrate Reading

    Okay, I went to the lfs and came home with ALGONE (teabag like product that you place inside your filter-Produces Crystal Clear Water,Removes Nitrates, Clears Cloudy and Green Water)...here's a link to the product information/instruction sheet AND [url]http://www.algone.com/pdf/instructions_large.pdf and Seachems de*nitrate...product link to manufactures website http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/denitrate.html.

    The ALGONE was dropped into the back of my hob (emperor 400) and the de-nitrate is placed in Seachems "The Bag" and tied a few inches above my intake tube (intake of the emperor 400) per the directions of one of the lfs workers that I've come to know.

    Hopefully the plants will start taking off with the swapping of the 50/50's for two 6700k's...and if the problem still continues (high nitrates) then I will putz with the chemical plant additives dosages. Also, with the increase amount of water change..I think AND hope the problem will go away.

    I'll keep this updated on how the progress is coming along with the Nitrate Nightmare.
     
    MOD_Dawn, Mar 8, 2009
    #37
  18. James0816

    James0816 New Member

    Messages:
    1,199
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Re: Green Spot Algae & High Nitrate Reading

    It appears that you haven't addressed your green spot problem. I didn't see where phosphates were added to your routine.
     
    James0816, Mar 8, 2009
    #38
  19. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

    Messages:
    5,728
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Re: Green Spot Algae & High Nitrate Reading

    I would think after about 24 hours you should know if they're helping.
     
    Anthony, Mar 8, 2009
    #39
  20. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Re: Green Spot Algae & High Nitrate Reading

    24 hours and no green Spot algae! I cut back on feeding significantly and witnessed the bristlenoses and Siamese Algae Eaters actively grazing along the glass. The two leaves that were affected on my sword were removed and the areas I could reach were scraped clean with the tom 3-in-1 cleaning tool razor blade like attachment.

    Whether it was a combination of the above, or the addition of Algone...I'm not truly sure. I am just glad to see it all gone! Woot! Woot!

    I tested for Nitrates just now while the lights were on and I'm getting a reading of 40ppm..Much Much Better ;)
     
    MOD_Dawn, Mar 8, 2009
    #40
Page 2 of 7