Bba Problem

[backtotropical]

Hi Plant Guys!,

I've had a problem with BBA in my planted tank for months and months. I just can't seem to get rid of it, so tonight i've triple-dosed Flourish Excel as a last resort.

What should i do now? Sit back and wait?

Advice or info appreciated. Thanks!

BTT

 

[backtotropical]

Well its not proven to be a good experience so far. I awoke this morning to 2 dead Rummy-Noses.

Has anyone ever experienced fish deaths from overdosing excel? I understood that it was pretty safe for fish?

Cheers

BTT

 

[Colin_T]

Yeah I lost fish to overdosing with plant foods. Double dose is bad enough but triple dose can be a real problem.
Normally you add the plant food and wait for a few days, then the algae starts to die and when it is gone you can water change the tank to get rid of the fertiliser.
Glass Shrimp do a pretty good job of cleaning it up

 

[SuperColey1]

excel is dangerous to anything in high enough levels. Best to run it as per dosing instructions and be more patient.

BBA is often caused by bad CO2. Not necessarily that you don't have enough but more that it is not getting to certain parts of the tank, normally around obstructions (deco/wood/rock) therefore anubias etc that grow on these obstructions are very susceptible to it.

This is the main reason for many of us overfiltering. We are firstly after the improved flow rate so we get filters that are rated at 5-10x (sometimes 20x) the volume of our tank. After allowing for media and hose/inpipe/outpipe restrictions this flow is greatly reduced by as much as half in some cases.

This won't ensure that you have good circulation but it should improve it.

I have a 700lph external cannister filter on my 125Ltr (5.6x) and then in the other corner I also have a Fluval3+ (700lph) to give the current an extra push.

All in all thats 1400lph (rated maximum) on a 125Ltr tank. After allowing for flow reductions I would guess its nearer 800lph combined. This keeps my CO2 bubbles from the diffusor from reaching the surface and they get caught up on the leaves of the plants which is the main aim.

If I had the money (or was bothered by the internal) I would buy a 1200lph filter.

I may change the internal filter at some point for a smaller mp400 powerhead which will do the same function just a lot smaller.

Andy

 

[backtotropical]

Thanks guys!

Andy, I certainly won't overdose it again!!
Its a 260 litre tank turning over around 2000lph, but i could try another powerhead maybe?

CO2 is good, its a Dennerle pressurised system so should be adequate.

All other livestock seems fine, so I'm sitting back now to see what happens.

BTT

 

[SuperColey1]

2000lph should be OK.

I would be inclined to buy a cheap glass diffusor for £5 off ebay and try that instead of the Dennerle one. Quite often these 'kitted' CO2 setups have poor diffusion methods included. For the sake of £5 it will give you another option.

Andy

 

[backtotropical]

Funny you should say that. I'm not a big fan of the ladder diffusers, so i got a nice piece of glassware from Aquatic Magic. It's only been on a few days, but i'll let you know how it goes.

One thing, the CO2 kit didn't come with a bubble counter, obviously because it has a ladder diffuser which kind of does the same job. Do i really need one, or can i just measure my CO2 levels on the colour of the drop checker rather than bpm?

Thanks

BTT

 

[backtotropical]

6 days on and the algae is starting to get a reddish tinge. I'm quite excited.

I usually do my water change on a friday night. Should i be doing water changes or will this mess it up? When should i start to change out the water again?

Also, one of my cory cats has passed on too. I don't like Excel any more.

Cheers

BTT

 

[backtotropical]

OK. Another Rummy-Nose dead today. Enough is enough. I'm changing the water now and never over-dosing Excel again.

Algae hasn't properly died off yet but i'm not willing to sacrafice my livestock for it.

Can anyone suggest any other ways to get rid of BBA?

I have stable CO2 with plenty circulation. Tank is 260 litres (57 UK gallons / 69 US gallons) and lighting is an Arcadia Luminaire with 4 x 54w Plant Pro tubes (only using 2 just now), giving 1.9WP(UK)G or 1.6WP(US)G. Lights are on for 10 hours per day. 50% water change every week, and dosing with Tropica TPN+ 15ml per week.

May thanks and Rummy-Noses and Cory Cat.

BTT

 

[Colin_T]

we used glass shrimp in one of our tanks and they worked a treat. Other shrimp would probably work too.

 

[backtotropical]

Thanks Colin. I might give that a try, although its risky as the tank is open-top!

 

[Colin_T]

drop the water level down an inch or two and use glass shrimp. they are pretty cheap.