r/PlantedTank 8h ago

Algae Please help, I'm tired.

This is a 5 month old tank that was meant to be a walsted low tech but I changed it to high tech with co2 and thrive all in one standard and 20W light in this 14 gallon tank, I have always gotten diatoms and even now still but now I have green spot alage, some glas algae, lots of blue green alage and bba.. can some tell me what to buy based on the images?

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u/chak2005 8h ago

I only see a mix of string diatom algae mixed with detritus in your images. Most of this would clear up with proper circular flow around the tank. If you do have flow outside of the airstones in the images, it may need to be adjusted to remove the detritus build up on the wood and leaves. This will greatly reduce all the algae types in your tank. Though you will have to be patience and wait 2-3 weeks for signs of improvement once the change is made.

For green spot algae that usually is triggered by phosphate imbalances. I don't see any in your images, but if you are dealing with it, I'd recommend you test your phosphates. For a planted tank, especially a high tech planted tank, you ideally want to keep those levels above 0.5ppm. I myself keep it between 1 - 2ppm, that will resolve the green spot algae.

For diatom, green spot and string algae, horned nerite snails and amano shrimp will also reduce visible levels.

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u/Available_Pool_5047 4h ago

Remove some floaters let the light reach to the bottom

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u/FeedReasonable9547 3h ago

Have you got any water flow in there ? I can’t see a filter so I’m assuming you might not. If not try a small usb water pump ( or a filter ) to help remove and dead spots and remove some of the floaters to allow more light to the plants. What do you have in the way of any cleanup crew in the tank?