Beginnings Of Something Bad..

[Ste_J]

Started Dosing Excel after making myself a DIY python - Can't believe that I actually used to carry all those buckets. 2nd day into it and dosing 15ml a day for the next couple of weeks.

Fish have actually started to pay heavy attention to the infected bogwood etc already.

Never bothered with the controller but bought a Pinpoint monitor instead during a late night Wicked WW session.

If this thing is right then my original Co2 levels were way down - I suspect that this is why the BBA never stunted in growth. Just working out a solenoid timer routine to achieve best results, got as far as 30ppm through out the evening with solenoid being switched off 30mins before lights out. KH 4 PH 6.64/63 - 30 mins after Co2 was turned off the PH started to get back up to 6.68. Just need to monitor in the morning so that I can get a good build up for lights on without over pumping by the end of the night - Thinking of having the Co2 mixed in with the siesta timings for the lights.

 

[Ste_J]

Day 5 of Dosing @ 15ml per day and the BBA has really started to fade away. There are some fantastic red patches which are really quite bright.

The cloudy water after dosing is a bit of a pain though!

 

[piper]

Just looked at you pics
looked at my cyling tank
looked closer at your pics
looked even closer at the plants in my tank

DOH, think I have it tooo

my tank has only been set up 10days, added plants 4days ago. Cant belive I all ready have algae, and a bad one of that.

Will I just be able to remove my plants and give them a good clean, or shall I bin them and start again.

2.2W/G, 70Gal, Flora Base subs,

 

[Ste_J]

Just looked at you pics
looked at my cyling tank
looked closer at your pics
looked even closer at the plants in my tank

DOH, think I have it tooo

Don't you just hate it when that happens!

Not sure about this stuff with cyling as I got it through unstable Co2 levels. Has it taken over your tank or would you be able to trim off the parts that have been hit? I tried to get rid of things in the past but this stuff is good at lying low and then jumping out to say "BOO"

Zig may have some advice if he stops by but I can say that the Excel OD is working a treat for me - but the it's still early days for your tank yet.

 

[zig]

Just looked at you pics
looked at my cyling tank
looked closer at your pics
looked even closer at the plants in my tank

DOH, think I have it tooo

my tank has only been set up 10days, added plants 4days ago. Cant belive I all ready have algae, and a bad one of that.

Will I just be able to remove my plants and give them a good clean, or shall I bin them and start again.

2.2W/G, 70Gal, Flora Base subs,

hmmmmm............doubt if its BBA after 4 days...........any pics of this algae

Tanks at startup will get algae problems, within the first few weeks you will usually get a good amount of brown diatoms, this stuff can really take over your tank to the point where you think you will never get rid of it if you get it bad, but it will pass, its normal at startup in new planted tanks.

Post a pic if you can

 

[@ombomb]

Siamese Algae Eaters and American Flagfish are supposed to eat BBA. Having said that I would not add them to the tank to solve this problem as all you would be doing is removing the symptons and not the cause.

 

[piper]

It looks alot like the BBA pics posted but ill get some photos up on firday when I get home

 

[Jen]

How has the excel been working for you?

 

[Ste_J]

How has the excel been working for you?

Excel is working a treat

A lot of the larger growth areas went from brown to bright red and now to white. I still have a bit of fuzz on a couple of leaf edges although going to keep dosing until the bottle runs out - should be by the end of next week.

Got my CO2 more stable now so that should help keep things at bay

 

[loudog]

Been adding the Excel for a little over a week and it is extremely effective. Good call Zig..I would have never thought of using the Excel to rid BBA.
How did you come up with such a solution?


I am going to post some new pics of the tank in a day or two because my plants are thriving!! Since I am not injecting Co2, I am going to continue normal doses of the Excel along with Peat granules in my canister. I have never seen the Java Moss grow so fast....I am going to be getting rid of a large amount of moss once I am positive the algae is under control. Please let me know if anyone will be interested!!!

Thanks again to Zig for the help.

To those still battling along with me:

I made a sweet little vacuum that worked incredibly...

Parts:

5Gal Bucket
Air Hose
Micro Valve
Internal tube from a Hydro-Lift

Inline, I connected the rigid plastic internal tube from a Hydro-Lift to a length of air hose into a bucket. I cut the hose in the middle and added the valve for flow control. Using this for BBA is fine and will not block up the valve. If the valve does clog, it's really easy to clean out with a paper clip if needed.
Since the BBA really latches on, I also used some sandpaper to put a sharp edge no the end of the plastic tube.
Start a siphon, set your flow and go to town removing the algae.

I thought about using a store bought vacuum that will collect debris in a handy little bag, but I read that the spores can be small enough to get through the mesh and the removal would be unsuccessful.

Give it a try...it works really well.



Thanks all... L8R