Hi all, I'm thinking of giving up the hobby possibly. I'm thoroughly depressed trying to have a planted community tank as I continually have algae problems. I've upgraded the gravel and lighting, keep the tank covered during the day to avoid any sunlight, bought countless new plants and tried ferts also. My plants never seem to last as they get covered in a dark algae on the leaves.
As my wife and I are adopting a boy soon, we will be losing an income and can't afford to keep buying plants. I did think about changing to a cichlid tank but not sure how easy that is. We'd love to have a tank for our new child but not sure we can afford to.
I've read loads of different things about algae but nothing so far has worked. If anyone has any advice regarding algae or switching to a cichlid tank I'd very much appreciate before I make my decision.
Thanks

It's worth testing the phosphate and nitrate levels in your tap water and in the tank in case they are high. How often are your water changes at the moment? Another possible factor is water flow - if there are dead spots where there's little flow this can be a factor.

EDIT: Posted in haste previously due to 'phone ringing, just popping back to say congratulations on the impending adoption

Algae . The bane of many a fishkeeper I'm afraid. Have you already tried the usual treatments such as light siestas, phosphate reduction, replacing slow growing plants with fast stem growers and perhaps the addition of liquid carbon (a small amount daily)?

Lack of co2 (do you run air stones?) can be a trigger. Often it's a multi pronged approach that ends up working to a degree

Most of us here have to contend and try to limit it. I had a nightmare with staghorn on vallis until dosed daily with Seachem Flourish Excell and put airstones on a timer too. Fab news on the adoption though, you must be absolutely thrilled

www.fishkeeping.co.uk/articles ... -types-and-treatments.htm

Hi, I have tried light siestas and phosphate reduction. I run an airstone on a timer for 12 hours. I have tried stem plants but with no success. Crypt Wendtii and vallis spiralis grow ok but get covered in the dark algae on the leaves. I dose with Seachem Flourish at the mo also. Water changes are 20% weekly religiously. I'm just out of ideas now.

When I started I initially had plants - mainly dead ones with algae. Whati did was to give up on them and use silk ones which I could scrub and clean. I think my problem was over feeding and having to much substrate. Now a year down the line with a very mature tank and armed with an army of algae scraper I am trying again - and it seems to be working so do not give up hope yet. My silk plants looked more real than the real ones.

+1 for flourish excel, Its a great product and does work wonders. If you have the space I would also recommend nerite snails. They are very good algae eaters and come in lots of attractive shapes and colours.

Gratz on your little boy

I know that buying another animal as a biological control is frowned upon, but I have found Amino Shrimp effective At least as a maintainence once the core problem is resolved.

JON

I know that buying another animal as a biological control is frowned upon, but I have found Amino Shrimp effective At least as a maintainence once the core problem is resolved.

JON

I forgot to add I also added shrimps work very well

Congratulation on the adoption,

What lights are you running and for how long,
As it's about a balance of nutrients, light n C02.

Overfeeding fish can be a problem also.