algae-minicycle

Question
QUESTION: HI,

I have a 30gallon tank with 48watts of t5HO lighting. I do weekly 30%water changes, and the water is all sucked out through the gravel, i am extreamly thorough and remove all the junk in the gravel, the tank is moderatly planted, and i do not add fertilizer or co2. i have had outbreaks of diatoms, green spot algae, and hair or staghorn algae. my bubbler is  running 24/7.

according to my regular cleaning scedual, i would be doing a water change today. my readings were .3 ammonia, 0 nitrate, and 3 nitrate. i do not overfeed, reomve excess food, treat tap water with amquel+, and rinse filter media in old tank water. why do i have ammonia and algae?

my current theory is that i am too vigorus with my vacuuming, and consequently causing minicycles, which are causing ammonia and algae. people have suggested that i do not do such thurogh vacuums because decomposeing waste will supply both fertilizer and co2 to the plants and help them compeate with the algae.

i have been triple doseing with flourish excel this week to help rid myself of the hair/staghorn algae.

why am i minicycling, why do i have ammonia, and should i clean the gravel less?

thanks,
mike

ANSWER: Hi,
The water changes actually should help you get rid of algae unless you have phosphates or something like that in you water. What I do to lower algae is get lots of live plants. Many of the plants use the natural "fertilizers" faster than algae. For example, I have a high tech 10 gallon heavily plant tank, and I have no visible algae. I'd give you an example of tanks that dont have plants, but I make sure to have a ton of plants in all of my tanks, even the ones at the pet store. Heavy plants play a very important role in nature and the aquarium.

As for the ammonia, I only do water changes when the tank needs it. I believe that the ecosystem in an aquarium is a very sensitive thing. Taking 25% or 50% or however much water you change is way to drastic a shock on the system unless it is necessary. I know this may be the opposite of what you have heard before, but trust me on this.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the reply.The tank is moderately planted, but i only have 48 t5 HO watts in it, and it is 29 gallons, 18" high. I would love to heavily planted tank, bit is that possible without adding co2? i dont plan on buying another bottle of flourish excel unless i have to.

My ammonia cleared up, i think it was either a false positive from the triple dose of flourish excel, or i messed up my test.

the diatoms got super bad, then disappeared. i think my bristle nosed le them get bad, then went to town on them. the excel has also seemed to kill the hair algae, which was originally black, then turned pinkish brown and is now clearing grey.

I have Kent marine pro plant liquid freshwater fertilizer, but i am scared of using it and causing an algae explosion. would root tabs be safer?

My tank is too full for a siemese algae eater, so i plan to add 3 ottos to eat diatoms off plant leaves my bristlenosed pleco ignores

And is it possible to have a heavily planted tank without upping my lighting or adding co2?

Answer
Hi,
That sounds good, but I try to use as few chemicals as possible, that includes fertilizer. If you have fish, you really don't need any.

Your tank sounds good. Certain types of substrate are better than other, I use quarts sand. Do a little research on specific plants before you buy them, may will thrive in you lighting conditions.