Aquascaping – Waging a War Against Algae
That’s only 5 hours in total so I will increase that gradually as I get on top of the algae, but hopefully it’ll be enough to stop it in its tracks without affecting the health of the plants
Well, I did predict a war against algae and the war has started. The reduction in photoperiod that I mentioned in my last Aquascaping update doesn’t seem to have worked. It may have slowed the algal growth, but it is still getting worse. The algae seems to be coating the rock and pebbles, but there is also now some longer filamentous strands coming off some of the rocks, and worse still some coating the Eleocharis which can’t be doing it much good. There is also a strange brownish fuzzy substance coating the tops of some of the rocks. I’m not sure if this is coming off the substrate or if it’s something else.
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- Brown Fuzz
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- Algae Filaments
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- Algae Sludge
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- Smothering Algae
I do have a dimmer switch attached to the light so I might try dimming them a little for now. I’ve also introduced a couple of Amano Shrimp to the tank. They won’t be able to cope with the algae on their own, but I wasn’t sure if the water was cycled and ready for them so I didn’t want to add too many just in case. They went in last night and seem quite happy this morning, so if they survive OK I’ll add some more so that they can start the clean up process.
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- Amano Shrimp Clean Up Crew
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- On Algae Clean Up Duty
It’s going to be a bit of a war against algae for a while I think, but hopefully I’ll be able to get on top of it somehow. This Dry Start method is all new to me though so it will take some experimenting and some time to get to grips with what works best for this new aquascape. Overall things are still looking nice if you don’t look too closely though.
Full Tank View
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I should also note that the funny looking orange ‘eyes’ on the large rock to the right are simply bits of terracotta that have some fishing line tied to them. They are there to weight down the moss that I’m trying to grow on top of the rock. It just needs weighing down to hold it in place for a while until it gets established and roots itself to the rock.
That’s the plan anyway – the rocks eye’s will hopefully be removed at some point!
Al.