Algae: How to Control if Light/Cleaning Are Not an Issue

@The8thChevron, @Nor_Cal_Kannabliss Alright, I've picked up Hydroguard and Orca and I've dosed with both. Question: I've looked around to see what others have said about this and found contradicting answers with no real info on either position. If I'm already dosing with Orca, do I need to dose with Hydroguard? it looks like Hydroguard's active bacteria, Bacillus Amyloliquefaciens (a minimum of 10,000 CFU’s / ml), is present in Orca as well at a rate of 24,960 CFU’s per mL. Considering the following, dosing both looks to just up the Bacillus Amyloliquefaciens by ~3x. - Recommended dosing for Hydroguard: 2ml/gal = 20,000 CFU's Bacillus Amyloliquefaciens - Recommended dosing for Orca: .5ml/gal = 12,480 CFU's Bacillus Amyloliquefaciens Does anyone know the benefits and/or risks of additional Bacillus Amyloliquefaciens in a wicking system (AutoPot) reservoir?

Hey folks, thanks for everyone's responses and your patience with my replies. For some reason, I'm not getting notified of responses via email like I thought. Most likely user error. @The8thChevron - I *love* this idea and I'm now looking at both Hydroguard and Orca Liquid Mycorrhizae. I already add Mycorrhizae to plenty of my house plants but it never occurred that I could foster a culture in the reservoir itself. Definitely going this direction here shortly since I've just come off of a very thorough res clean. @Nor_Cal_Kannabliss - Luckily, my tank's already blacked out. I'm using the (AutoPot 12.4 Gallon Reservoir)[https://www.autopot-usa.com/all-products/12-4-gallon-solid-reservoirs/12-4-gallon-solid-reservoir/] with a grommet on top for my dehumidifier to snuggly run a line into to drain into. No light /should/ be getting through but I'd have to stick my PPFD meter in there to really get a good idea. That being said, I'll be going full steam ahead of the embracing of some beneficial cultures in my res. @HarbingerofHarvests - My understanding is there are a few types of algae that do thrive without light in a nutrient solution and they do happen to be red (I know my father ran into this with his reef aquarium several years ago). I'm wondering if I somehow managed to cultivate some of that; however, considering the most likely answer is most often the correct one, I'll double check for light leaks in the res. My response to @Nor_Cal_Kannabliss has a link to the res I'm using and the think is basically a black trashcan with the whole in the lid covered. Chances of light are minimal but not impossible. You mentioned lots of air getting in, my understanding is the O2 in the water with several refills should be enough to maintain proper oxygen levels in the water but I know tons of people run air stones in their res's. What's your opinion on said air stones?

Instead of controling it embrace it. Check out a product called Hydroguard. I mean I'd still try to blackout your tank but beneficial algae is so cool. 🤘😤

your water has to be getting exposed to light somehow.. Dry to mitigate this if at all possibly.. Use strips of mylar, a bit expensive if you don't have any mylar on hand. But a roll of thick quality black and white should be more then enough to black out any light if used properly. I tend to cover the entire growing medium and that seems to mitigate a lot of issues and I bethelps keep pests out. Obviously you don't want to "seal" the container because you still want lots of air getting in but where there is a will there is way.. Hope this helps merry christmas happy growing!.