Can Someone Identify A Fix For...

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jmkgreen

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• Aug 21, 2006

• #1

This:



What looks like algae or a weed of some kind forming over leaf structures and overwhemling plants. I cleaned most of the stuff out last weekend!

Losing the battle.

Any help / advice appreciated.

James

 

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robjack

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• Aug 21, 2006

• #2

Looks like BGA to me (Blue Green Algae - although it's actually a bacteria). Nasty stuff, and can soon get a hold of your tank if you leave it to rule. There is an expensive antibiotic treatment called Maracyn to combat it, but I had luck with the 3 day blackout routine:

Siphon out/Clear the tank of as much of it as you can, then perform a water change (20%?)
Cover your tank with a material that wont let any light in whatsoever - i used several dust sheets iirc.
Leave for three days, absolutely no peaking, and hopefully it will be gone - again, scoop/siphon any remaining dead stuff, then water change.

Hope this helps,

Rob.

 

Bufo Bill

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• Aug 21, 2006

• #3

Take a look in the pinned article "algae in the planted tank at the top of the page". Otherwise, I can be no help whatsoever.
Sorry from Bill.

 

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ChrisP

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• Aug 21, 2006

• #4

Id say its BGA also.

 

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J

jmkgreen

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• Aug 21, 2006

• #5

robjack said:

Siphon out/Clear the tank of as much of it as you can, then perform a water change (20%?)
Cover your tank with a material that wont let any light in whatsoever - i used several dust sheets iirc.
Leave for three days, absolutely no peaking, and hopefully it will be gone - again, scoop/siphon any remaining dead stuff, then water change.

Click to expand...

What about the light tubes - switch these off too?

 

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ChrisP

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• Aug 21, 2006

• #6

I would do a 50% before and after the black out aswell as a good filter clean after. All lighting should be off and Co2 too if you inject.

Your probably going to have to dose KNO3 also otherwise it will come back.

 

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robjack

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• Aug 21, 2006

• #7

jmkgreen said:

What about the light tubes - switch these off too?

Click to expand...

Ha, yes, sorry! Forgot to mention that rather crucial aspect!

 

DiscusKeeper403

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• Aug 21, 2006

• #8

yeah deff BGA even tho Maracyn is probly the best they have other cheaper treatments out on the market for that kind of stuff rite now. if u can find any cheaper stuff maybe you could do some treatment with ur black out. sounds like alot of work, good thing i dont have it!

 

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planter

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• Aug 21, 2006

• #9

you might try adding a couple of black mollies (poecilia sphenops) they love eating this stuff!!

 

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netcode

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• Aug 21, 2006

• #10

will blacking out your tank hurt your fish? thats 3 days with no food or light...

 

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ChrisP

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• Aug 21, 2006

• #11

Fish will be fine for 3 days, Ive done 5 day blackout before and all was well. I would always try the blackout method before going the maracyn route. On top of what I mentioned earlier you will have to give the gravel a good vac and keep NO3 at 10-20PPM from now on.