I Had Enough!

[AirFarceLive]

For the last year I have been trying to get rid of this stupid green hair algae in my 10 gallon and finally 5 months ago I eradicated it from my aquarium!
It was a good time, adding new plants like the Amazon Sword, Anubius, and some Java Moss that turned out amazing on my rocks... but then came the Black Beard Algae starting on the Amazon Sword and making its way to the Anubius, the next day I went to Big al's aquarium services and asked how do I get rid of BBA and they told me that the American Flagfish will eat it so I got one and guess what...? The little jerk ate it all! I was amazed!
But as good as it was it didn't last long, soon BBA came back to rape my plants, and this time the American Flagfish did nothing but swim around!
I need Lots of help since I have many live plants and many sensitive fish, and generally a gentle setup!
 
Here is some info:
Plants: Amazon Sword, Anubius Barteri, Golden Pothos, Java Moss (Died), Water Lettuce and Water Hyacinth.
Fish: Gold & Opine Gouramis, American Flagfish, 2 Random guppies and Emerald Green Cory Catfish.
Filter:Whisper PF10
Substrate: Cheap gravel
Conditions: Temp. 24C, PH 7, Ammonia 0, Nitrate 0, Nitrite 0. Lighting: simple 20 watt Fluorescent light bulb. 
 
Please tell me how to get rid of it! There is a pic with this article... check it out!

 

 

[snazy]

The biggest cause of BBA is lack of carbon dioxide. Do you supplement any via liquid carbon or injected CO2? Ferts are also needed if you've got a lot of plants. You also may have way too much light for that 10G tank further causing more CO2 deficiency.  I'd either change the light intensity if possible or the minimum reduce the light period but the latter may not help.

 

[Chad]

Snazy beat me to it. I recently performed an experiment on this just to prove it. I had a small tank with Co2...no algae at all. I didn't change any feeding, stocking, or water change habits, I just turned off the Co2, algae went nuts! I was convinced after that experiment that this is the cause of algae in many, if not most, planted tanks.
 
PS I edited your title for you.

 

[AirFarceLive]

I noticed, but I'm fine with it.
I don't add CO2 but I do add fert.
I guess my best choice is grab some CO2 and Flourish Excel and hope for the best, fingers crossed!

 

[Chad]

Let us know how it goes.

 

[AirFarceLive]

Keep you updated

 

[DrRob]

I'd say your options also include dropping the light slightly, but I suspect you'd prefer to add the CO2.

 

[snazy]

I'd say your options also include dropping the light slightly, but I suspect you'd prefer to add the CO2.

 
I think dropping the light intensity for good regardless of the liquid carbon is very important. Liquid carbon is no injected CO2 and won't ever be enough to stop algae in higher lit tanks.

 

[SO19Firearms]

Conditions: Temp. 24C, PH 7, Ammonia 0, Nitrate 0, Nitrite 0. Lighting: simple 20 watt Fluorescent light bulb.

You might want to check your fertiliser, it's not fertilising. And same as above for most everything else - Reduce the lighting right down so there's enough CO2 in the water on it's own, or add CO2/Liquid Carbon until it matches your lighting.
 

Liquid carbon is no injected CO2 and won't ever be enough to stop algae in higher lit tanks.

I see what you're saying but worth dropping a note to say it's all relative - You can only add so much liquid carbon until you start killing stuff for any given lighting level but the same does go for CO2 aswell - Once you hit 30ppm you can't continue to add light otherwise you're gonna have to up your CO2 and start killing swimmy things (but the curve hits sooner with liquid carbon - as you're saying)

 

[AirFarceLive]

Hey there guys, been 2 weeks and here is the update just in time for my Birthday!

I am excited to tell you that this darn BBA is gone once and (Hopefully) for all, the plants are all growing and the Amazon sword even got 2 runners going out!
My secret: Excel Flourish! 
Just a tiny bit every day and only 5 hours of light for 2 weeks and BBA is gone!
No fish lost whatsoever except my American Flag fish who died with a literately in caved belly.
 
Finally proof Excel Flourish works!
 
FOR THE WIN!

 

[ncguppy830]

good to hear sorry to hear about the flagfish though

 

[AirFarceLive]

Yeah, he probably couldn't handle the stress and chemicals. 

 

[eaglesaquarium]

What chemicals are you referring to?  This sounds like a 'red herring' to me.  (Pardon the reference, but its appropriate.)
 
 
An incaved belly sounds like "wasting disease" - caused by a parasite.  Keep an eye on any strange behavior from the other fish. 

 

[AirFarceLive]

Yes, itt was really confusing but only the Flagfish had it, none of the gouramis, guppies, and cories had it. weird.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

That's not so unusual with wasting disease.  Just keep a VERY close eye on the others in the tank.  It can be passed from one to another, especially if they are eating the dead fish before you can remove it.