Bba Query

[elmo666]

I have what I think is bba on a couple of my dark leafed annubius in a heavily planted tank. Its dark green/black short furry hairs along the edges of the leaves. Read the advice in the planted section, but not sure why I've only got three out of say 40 plants affected, I don't have any "stem" plants, all annubias, crypts, swords, mosses, fern, vallis etc. The annubius are at various heights in the tank on bogwood. Now, I'm not sure of my co2 level as my drop checker, denerlle, showed a false reading as I discovered to my dismay 5 weeks ago. My ph had nose dived to 5, I had inadvertently knocked the co2 timer so it wasn't coming on. The drop checker stayed a nice bright green throughout! So I took it out. I didn't notice the co2 wasn't on as the diffuser is set up below the uplift to my external, to increase contact time. I've never been sure if this is a good idea or not, but seemed to work very well in the previous set up. Lighting is high from twin T5 with reflectors. I don't suspect dissolved organics as I filter through Purigen. I dose every other day with lush max, a complete fertilizer. Lighting is on for 7.5hrs, co2 5.5 hrs, both timed. Water changes are 20% twice weekly. Any suggestions pls? Thanks

 

[Zikofski]

anubias is a slow growing plant so its more susceptible to getting algae mine has algae but its a different type, as u knocked the co2 timer off i can probably guarantee that is the cause to the algae what i would surgest as its only on one plants is remove the leafs from that plant that are affected if its the whole plants, i probable just remove it completely and dry the plant out under some lights for a few hours anubias are fine out of the water the algae is not on the other hand, that used to work for me on my old tank. more common methods is spot dosing Liquid Carbon to the effected areas, reducing the lighting and just try to keep your co2 stable. BBA main cause is imbalance in co2 i would also make sure your co2 turns on at least 1 -2 hours before your lights come on, and they can switch off 1 - 2 hours before the lights go off as well, that will ensure there is sufficient co2 in the tank for when the lights go on. 
 
hope this can help a little, just to note when BBA dies it goes a bright red colour so its an easy one to tell once its dead, try removing leafs if the whole plant is covered remove it form the water dry it in a towel and leave it under your lights for an hour or two, if that doesn't work then try the other methods like liquid carbon BBA is a pain and hard to remove and will spread to the rest of the tank quickly so removing it ASAP is best for this type of algae, to prevent it in the future just do you best to keep your co2 stable

 

[elmo666]

Thanks for your advice. I'm trying to source a co2 test kit to ensure I have the right amount running

 

[Zikofski]

yea get a drop checker m8 thats the best and easiest way to check, check this link here for details of what u need any more questions feel free to ask
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/268972-drop-checkers-how-they-work/

 

[elmo666]

Thanks Zikofski. For whatever reason my Denerlle checker became unreactive, even with fresh fluid. Anyways, new fluid in and upped my co2, more than double in fact. New checker went to a lovely light green colour, no change in fish behavior, so I was obviously running it too low. I now have lots of pinhead bubbles coming from several plants, some of which are the ones affected by bba and a little hair algae. Hope this pearling is from the plants and not the algae, if algae can pearl that is. Will I now have to increase my ferts? Currently dosing as per instructions every other day. Thanks

 

[Zikofski]

i would keep dosing as you are unless u see deficiencies in plants. but just monitor what the BBA is doing. if you can keep this co2 stable during the lighting period then no new BBA should appear but the old BBA may still persist

 

[elmo666]

Okey dokey yogi bear