Black Beard Algae Growing during my 20gallon cycle?

Below I have posted a picture of what I believe to be BBA. I am currently reducing the amount of light 4-5 hours instead of 8-10 and double dosing Seachem Flourish Excel every day for two days now. I plan on dipping all my decorations and plants in hydrogen peroxide which I have read does a really nice job. First time dealing with this so bare with me.

I have no fish as I am still working on cycling the tank. Any recommendations?

Id stop dosing excel. It claims to be a source of carbon but its derived from a chemical sanitizer. Its not healthy for fish or plants. Ditch the excel get a comprehensive liquid fert and some root tabs. Co2 is naturally occuring in tanks from the break down of organics in the substrate. Tom barr has said the number one cause of algae growth is inconsistent levels of co2 or too much. Adding the excel is probably more of a source of the algae than a deterent.

@utahfish which liquid fert do you recommend and which root tabs to do you recommend?
Is too much light a factor or can I stick with the 8-10 hours of light?

@utahfish they are also no fish in the tank yet

I use flourish comprehensive and plant tabs. With fish I have it at 1/2 dosage.

@Retired Viking
Seachem Flourish Advance Growth Supplement https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JS2UGAE/?tag=ff0d01-20

Seachem Flourish Tabs Growth Supplement - Aquatic Plant Stimulant 10 ct https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000255QLG/?tag=ff0d01-20

These ones would work?
and how to dose them?

Sergical said:

@Retired Viking
Seachem Flourish Advance Growth Supplement https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JS2UGAE/?tag=ff0d01-20

Seachem Flourish Tabs Growth Supplement - Aquatic Plant Stimulant 10 ct https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000255QLG/?tag=ff0d01-20

These ones would work?
and how to dose them?

Click to expand...

I only use and recommend Seachem flourish comprehensive not their advanced growth, yes on the seachem flourish tabs.

@Retired Viking
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00025696M/?tag=ff0d01-20

this one?

Sergical said:

@utahfish which liquid fert do you recommend and which root tabs to do you recommend?
Is too much light a factor or can I stick with the 8-10 hours of light?

Click to expand...

I use flourish comprehensive and easy green. As for root tabs i use aquarium concepts root tabs, they can be found on line. They have more potassium nitrogen then flourish tabs which have high amounts of calcium and sodium. Ive used the flourish tabs in the past i like the aquarium concepts better. Aquarium co op also make root tabs that have good ingredients.

Sergical said:

@Retired Viking
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00025696M/?tag=ff0d01-20

this one?

Click to expand...

Yes, that is the one

This will probably follow what others have mentioned. First thing to realize, is that a new tank is biologically unstable, so algae has a real advantage. However, not encouraging it is advisable, and that brings us to the light and additives mentioned.

Excel is likely killing the very bacteria you want to establish, along with the plants...the Vallisneria is probably toast. Excel is the chemical glutaraldehyde, which is used in hospitals to sterilize surgical instruments so that tells you how toxic it is. At recommended doses it usually kills Vallisneria, but if overdosed can kill everything...plants, fish (if they were present) and bacteria. I would do some major water changes to get rid of this.

If you get your plants growing, and have some fast growing species (floating pl;ants are ideal for this) you donot have to "cycle" and that is one less problem. Plant the tank, use a comprehensive fertilizer, and when the plants show signs of growth--floating plants really are best here--consider the first fish.

The light reduction may help now, but the other aspects have to be in sync.

@Byron Yeah! Thanks for the heads up. Unfortunately I lost the Vallisneria and seemed to be the cause of the BBA as its roots were infested with the black slimy stuff. I did a huge water change and tried scrubbing gently with a new toothbrush the BBA away from the surfaces and siphoned the gravel a bit too. As of right now, I have yet to see any BBA growth. I do plan on getting some more plants so I will definitely put some more floating plants in.

I want to give an update on this thread. I want to say that I believe the stuff on my plants and my rocks is not BBA? They are very small black dots that with any slight movement comes off. It is kind of like a dust. When I grab my pipette and fill it with water and apply some water pressure to it it just floats around. Any thoughts on what it can be? It also seems to stick the walls of the tank too.

I also want to add that I purchased the root tabs and stuck one underneath each plant I am also dosing the seachem comprehensive liquid fert once a week.

If it can easily be blown around it is certainly not BBA. More likely suspended particulate matter, either from the tap water or from the substrate, or sometimes the filter itself.

What should I do?