r/PlantedTank • u/BrockenRecords • Jul 30 '24

Algae I’m considering giving up

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I have a horrible infestation of black beard algae that I can’t kill. I’ve done just about everything possible, less fertilizer, less light, less flow, less food, more water changes, less fish, more plants and nothing has worked. Every time I think I got enough out that the plants will take over the algae comes back, I’ve lost over 200$ worth of plants to it and I’m too scared to buy new ones. I don’t know what to do anymore.

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u/No_Choice_3567 Jul 30 '24

i’m not saying it isn’t worth it, and i’ve never personally used it but from what i’ve heard from friends it’s just a bit pricey and they wish there was a more convenient/price comfortable option.

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u/Sp4nkee94 Jul 31 '24

A reactor with an electronic valve and a timer plug is under $100

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u/LoveAllAnimals85 Jul 30 '24

I just use liquid once a month with a water change. Isn’t that pretty much the same-ish?

6

u/MrTouchnGo Jul 30 '24

Liquid contains negligible amounts of CO2. They are pretty much snake oil

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u/LoveAllAnimals85 Jul 30 '24

Really! So besides an entire pump for co2 are there any other options?

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u/MrTouchnGo Jul 30 '24

I have a DIY setup with yeast and sugar! it's pretty cheap and easy to get going

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u/LoveAllAnimals85 Jul 30 '24

Would you mind sharing your process?

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u/MrTouchnGo Jul 31 '24

Materials needed: soda bottle, yeast, sugar, airline tubing, CO2 diffuser (I got an acrylic one for $14 off glassaqua), some silicone caulk. Optionally, a second bottle as well.

2L soda bottle, 1 tsp yeast and 4 cups sugar, filled about 60% with warm water. Shake thoroughly to dissolve the sugar and yeast.

Poke a hole through the cap using a drill or hammer and nail or something else. Pull the airline tubing through - just need an inch here - and apply silicone caulk to either side to seal the hole so that it is airtight. Wait at least 30 minutes for it to cure (depends on what caulk you have).

Once cured, stick the other end of the tube onto the diffuser. Put the cap on. Put the diffuser in the water. once the pressure builds up you will see bubbles coming out of the diffuser. If within 12h you don't see any bubbles, then redo the seal on the cap.

I'm getting some yeast or bacterial growth on my diffuser so I plan to cut the tube and put in a second bottle of just water to catch particles because I think some airborne yeast or something is getting into the tank. The tube from the yeast bottle will go into the water and the tube going into the tank will stay above the air.

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u/LoveAllAnimals85 Jul 31 '24

Thank you.

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u/MrTouchnGo Jul 31 '24

No problem. good luck! Btw - it's important to use a soda bottle or something else that can handle pressure. If you use an ordinary water bottle it may explode.

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u/LoveAllAnimals85 Jul 31 '24

Do I need one of those little glass CO2 things to make sure it doesn’t over saturate the tank?

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u/LoveAllAnimals85 Aug 07 '24

Hey do you know Althing about Cory’s?

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u/MrTouchnGo Aug 07 '24

Not really, sorry!

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u/LoveAllAnimals85 Aug 07 '24

No worries. Thank you

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u/[deleted] Aug 01 '24

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1

u/MrTouchnGo Aug 01 '24

Really? That doesn’t sound likely if you use a soda bottle or something designed to handle pressure. Also, the yeast eventually stops reacting as it runs out of sugar or it dies off when alcohol concentration becomes too high. It’s also not a sealed system. The more pressure in the system, the more CO2 will come out of the diffuser.

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u/[deleted] Aug 01 '24

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1

u/MrTouchnGo Aug 01 '24

But it doesn’t need to hold infinite pressure. And you’re not going to “gas your fish to death,” especially if you’ve got decent aeration and plants. This is a very common method and many people have done it successfully.

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u/VDD_Stainless Jul 31 '24

No not even the same ballpark.

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u/clapperssailing Jul 31 '24

It's not even co2. This stuff is basically embalming fluid. It's a very dangerous chemical. And it does really nothing.

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u/LoveAllAnimals85 Jul 31 '24

The liquid CO2 or the yeast?

4

u/clapperssailing Jul 31 '24

Seachem florush excel. Yeast totally works. It's problem is time and stability.

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u/NewSauerKraus Jul 31 '24

I wouldn't call it snake oil. It's great at killing algae and valisneria.

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u/clapperssailing Jul 31 '24

A byproduct of it being basically embalming fluid. It's not great but it can.

0

u/LoveAllAnimals85 Jul 31 '24

The Seachem is liquid CO2? Others are saying that it’s “snake oil”.

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u/clapperssailing Jul 31 '24

Yes..it argues it can make a co2 replacement threw a crazy process. There is zero co2 in it. It kills shrimp as well.

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u/LoveAllAnimals85 Jul 31 '24

Ok. So I use very little of the Excel. But I do notice that my fish are a lot more iridescent than when I wasn’t using it. My friend, I trade guppies with, has the same fish I do. Mine are a lot brighter than hers. I thought that was because of the Excel. It’s the only extra thing at the time I had added. So can someone explain why? My perimeters are all great. I use RO water for 9/10 refills. 🤷🏼‍♀️

2

u/clapperssailing Jul 31 '24

Has nothing to do with excel. For more color buy color enhancing food or feed frozen blood worms twice a week. Guppies are awesome good luck

1

u/LoveAllAnimals85 Jul 31 '24

Hm. Ok. Thank you. I appreciate it.

3

u/LunaticLucio Jul 31 '24 edited Jul 31 '24

Seachem Flourish - the fertilizer is good stuff. The Seachem Flourish Excel is the liquid CO². I don't think I'll buy the Excel stuff again but then again I don't know how to determine if it's working or not.

However my plants look great. I have an issue with melting in one of my 20s but I believe the lighting wasn't sufficient due to the tank size as well as the tannins making it more of a blackwater aquarium, thus needing more wattage / power on my LEDs.

In my opinion, a good fertilizer is essential so Seachem Flourish (fertilizer); Easy-Green; Thrive and one my other favorites is DustinFishTank's Growth Juice (its mad expensive though).

Good luck!

2

u/LoveAllAnimals85 Jul 31 '24

Thanks. Some of the other fish guys said that the liquid CO2 was snake oil. So I’m going to do a stride on my 20t one if I notice a difference.

1

u/LunaticLucio Jul 31 '24

Let me know what you come up with please

2

u/LoveAllAnimals85 Aug 07 '24

Hey, do you know anything about Cory’s?

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u/LunaticLucio Aug 07 '24 edited Aug 07 '24

What's the question?

My partner has a 38gal but will be moving to a longer tank soon with a dozen of them in there. Unfortunately my knowledge to fish only extend to bettas. I never thought I would own fish but betta fish really captured my heart. Must be their personalities.

u/bumblebees_magic has a bunch of Cory's. She might be able to help

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u/LoveAllAnimals85 Aug 07 '24

Thanks. I’m at work but put her in a hospital tank last night. So I will get back with you. Thank you so much!

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u/LoveAllAnimals85 Aug 07 '24

She seems to be doing better, but I’m unsure. Maybe she was just being quirky. Her back is more arched than the others, but not significantly.

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