Algae Problem

[random]

Hello

I have this algae hair growing problem all over my gravel any advice on how to get rid of this or the cause of this.
See the image below of the algae hair growing on the gravel.

Many Thanks In Advance.

 

[waterdrop]

That's BBA (Black Brush Algae.) One of the known causes of BBA are high CO2 fluctuations. A common cause of high CO2 fluctuation can be large water changes that come directly from the tap, where CO2 is in higher concentration from the pipe pressure. But there can be other causes for CO2 fluctuations. Another thing about BBA is that it often occurs in the higher flow areas of your circulation. Some find that making an effort to turn the BBA covered gravel grains down under during a gravel clean will help.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[random]

That's BBA (Black Brush Algae.) One of the known causes of BBA are high CO2 fluctuations. A common cause of high CO2 fluctuation can be large water changes that come directly from the tap, where CO2 is in higher concentration from the pipe pressure. But there can be other causes for CO2 fluctuations. Another thing about BBA is that it often occurs in the higher flow areas of your circulation. Some find that making an effort to turn the BBA covered gravel grains down under during a gravel clean will help.

~~waterdrop~~

Thanks Waterdrop, I will try turning my gravel next time I do my water change.

Cheers

 

[walkers101]

a gravel cleaner will mix the gravel up with ease for only a few £ well worth it

 

[random]

And is there any fish that will eat the Black Brush Algae (BBA)??

 

[waterdrop]

Interesting, I'd be interested to hear if anyone's witnessed their otos or other larger algae eaters going after BBA...?

~~waterdrop~~

 

[random]

Has anyone tried using flourish excel to cure BBA.

 

[waterdrop]

As with all algae, you can try direct-dosing of Flourish Excel via pipette and see what results you get. I bought a ton of plastic pipettes really cheaply from a lab supply place here in the US. They are throw-aways. You just suck up the Excel liquid into the pipette and then get the tip of the pipette right in front of the algae in question and squirt the Excel straight on it, underwater. Can't hurt! I haven't tried it particularly on BBA but that kind of treatment can be pretty effective on most algae, or at least some find it can work. Note also that old-fashioned cleaning of things with a somewhat rough (in an aquarium you always want to be careful things aren't so rough as to scratch glass etc.) sponge just before your water change is also effective. The water change takes out both the leftover floating algae from the cleaning and some of the invisible algae spores that are no doubt in the water too. This is yet another reason that some like 50% weekly water changes or multiple changes per week etc.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[random]

I will get Flourish Excel from my local store and will let you know how it goes.