Black Beard Algae And Possible Ammonia Problem

[SLKenny]

Hi.
I have a planted aquarium with small tropical fish, and I have been having problems with Black Beard algae recently (I know its blackbeard because I have taken an infected leaf to a fish shop for diagnosis). It is only forming on the plants, and the fish seem to be perfectly healthy. I was wondering if anybody knows a possible way to get rid of it. Also, the water has recently began to give off an ammonia smell, and I don't know if it is to do with the Black Beard.

 

[AstonN24vantage]

well if the case is algae your nitrates are probably high, i would recomend doing a 35% water change

 

[aaronnorth]

nitrates dont cause algae.

BBA is caused by low or fluctuating CO2, and/ or poor circulation.
tank size?
lighting (wattage and diamter)
filters?
Powerheads?

thanks

 

[SLKenny]

nitrates dont cause algae.

BBA is caused by low or fluctuating CO2, and/ or poor circulation.
tank size?
lighting (wattage and diamter)
filters?
Powerheads?

thanks

Tank size is 200 litres. Filter is an AquaOne CF1000 canister filter with biochem in the bottom, black sponge, blue sponge, noodles and white sponge. What is a powerhead? Lighting is provided by a 119.94 cm long 40W fluro globe, and it looks a little worse for wear... could this be the problem? What is a powerhead?
Thanks.

 

[SLKenny]

Just got a water test done... the water has an excessive level of Phosphate... any idea how to fix this? The guy that tested the water didn't know

 

[aaronnorth]

powerheads basically improve water circulation.

It is similar to the motor on the filter, except it has no media beneath it!

How heavily is the tank planted? Is circulation ok throught the whole of the tank?
BBA tends to apear where "dead spots" occur (no, or little water movement).

It would help if you can get a picture.

PO4 can be removed by plants, and water changes. However, if you already have PO4 in your tap water then it will never get lower by doing water changes.

PO4 doesnt cause algae neither, it is myth. Look at my tank in my signature, that has 20ppm nitrate, and 2ppm of phosphate. I dont see any excessive algae growth
For more evidence, take a look at the planted journals at the top of this page, most tanks on there are dosed with phosphate and nitrate daily!

Nutrients dont cause algae, they feed it.
So at the minute the BBA will be usinng nutrients in the water, but you cant blame them in the first place for its apearence.!!

 

[keenonfish]

powerheads basically improve water circulation.

How heavily is the tank planted? Is circulation ok throught the whole of the tank?
BBA tends to apear where "dead spots" occur (no, or little water movement).

Sorry if I am hijacking the thread, but related and figure this is relavent...

I find that statement interesting because I have slight BBA issues (nothing serious fingers crossed!) but non quite so bad as where I have java moss attached to an artificial background - It just happens to be at it's worst right in the flow of the filter outlet! Where the moss is most exposed I am finding BBA to be overwhelming it. I wonder if the high flow is particularly low in CO2 or is there something else going on?

 

[aaronnorth]

powerheads basically improve water circulation.

How heavily is the tank planted? Is circulation ok throught the whole of the tank?
BBA tends to apear where "dead spots" occur (no, or little water movement).

Sorry if I am hijacking the thread, but related and figure this is relavent...

I find that statement interesting because I have slight BBA issues (nothing serious fingers crossed!) but non quite so bad as where I have java moss attached to an artificial background - It just happens to be at it's worst right in the flow of the filter outlet! Where the moss is most exposed I am finding BBA to be overwhelming it. I wonder if the high flow is particularly low in CO2 or is there something else going on?

correct, BBA grows on the filter outlet due to differences in CO2 levels, also it grows on things like airstones and spraybars etc, or if antying is near the surface of the tank where gaseous exchange is constantly taking place.

 

[keenonfish]

powerheads basically improve water circulation.

How heavily is the tank planted? Is circulation ok throught the whole of the tank?
BBA tends to apear where "dead spots" occur (no, or little water movement).

Sorry if I am hijacking the thread, but related and figure this is relavent...

I find that statement interesting because I have slight BBA issues (nothing serious fingers crossed!) but non quite so bad as where I have java moss attached to an artificial background - It just happens to be at it's worst right in the flow of the filter outlet! Where the moss is most exposed I am finding BBA to be overwhelming it. I wonder if the high flow is particularly low in CO2 or is there something else going on?

correct, BBA grows on the filter outlet due to differences in CO2 levels, also it grows on things like airstones and spraybars etc, or if antying is near the surface of the tank where gaseous exchange is constantly taking place.

Ah thanks aaron I will redirect the outlet slightly!

 

[poconoboss]

nitrates dont cause algae.

BBA is caused by low or fluctuating CO2, and/ or poor circulation.
tank size?
lighting (wattage and diamter)
filters?
Powerheads?

thanks

BBA is caused by excessive phosphates and not enough nitrates.

In heavily planted tanks, BBA will often show up when the plants have used up all the nitrates. This causes plant growth to slow or stop, which leaves the excess phosphates available to the algae. By supplying extra Nitrate to a planted tank, we allow plant growth to continue until all phosphate is consumed. Then plant AND algae growth will slow/stop. As long as a usable (5-10ppm) level of Nitrate is maintained, the the plants will continue to use up the available phosphate, effectively controls BBA and other phosphorus-dependant algaes.

 

[MoondustBob]

BBA is caused by excessive phosphates and not enough nitrates.

In heavily planted tanks, BBA will often show up when the plants have used up all the nitrates. This causes plant growth to slow or stop, which leaves the excess phosphates available to the algae. By supplying extra Nitrate to a planted tank, we allow plant growth to continue until all phosphate is consumed. Then plant AND algae growth will slow/stop. As long as a usable (5-10ppm) level of Nitrate is maintained, the the plants will continue to use up the available phosphate, effectively controls BBA and other phosphorus-dependant algaes.

I'd pay to see you try to debate this with Clive over @ ukaps

 

[aaronnorth]

nitrates dont cause algae.

BBA is caused by low or fluctuating CO2, and/ or poor circulation.
tank size?
lighting (wattage and diamter)
filters?
Powerheads?

thanks

BBA is caused by excessive phosphates and not enough nitrates.

In heavily planted tanks, BBA will often show up when the plants have used up all the nitrates. This causes plant growth to slow or stop, which leaves the excess phosphates available to the algae. By supplying extra Nitrate to a planted tank, we allow plant growth to continue until all phosphate is consumed. Then plant AND algae growth will slow/stop. As long as a usable (5-10ppm) level of Nitrate is maintained, the the plants will continue to use up the available phosphate, effectively controls BBA and other phosphorus-dependant algaes.

I sort of agree wit your stement, however it still isnt the excess PO4 that causes algae to grow.

Once NO3 has been used up, plant growth stops like you said, because they are defficient, they start to rot, and it is the ammonia that triggers algae, then they feed off the PO4.

No algae is dependant on Phosphorous except GDA. GDA can be caused by low phosphate, however, high levels have also been known to bring it on, so you have to find the "sweet spot."

BBA is caused by excessive phosphates and not enough nitrates.

In heavily planted tanks, BBA will often show up when the plants have used up all the nitrates. This causes plant growth to slow or stop, which leaves the excess phosphates available to the algae. By supplying extra Nitrate to a planted tank, we allow plant growth to continue until all phosphate is consumed. Then plant AND algae growth will slow/stop. As long as a usable (5-10ppm) level of Nitrate is maintained, the the plants will continue to use up the available phosphate, effectively controls BBA and other phosphorus-dependant algaes.

I'd pay to see you try to debate this with Clive over @ ukaps

 

[Dave Spencer]

BBA is caused by excessive phosphates and not enough nitrates.

I can induce BBA at will by switching off the CO2 to my tanks. BBA will grow on the hardware, and staghorn will grow on leaf edges. I can repeat this time after time, and cure it by treating the BBA and staghorn with Excel, and restoring the CO2 back to stable, unlimiting conditions.

Could you prove to yourself that there is a link between BBA and phosphates?

Run nitrogen low and the first thing you will notice is that plants that are red get redder. Chlorophyll is N intensive, so the green cast it gives reduces as N reduces. Here is the results of my attempt. This tank also had phosphates at around 4ppm and no algae. Exactly what are high phosphates?

Run nitrogen to a point where plant growth is limited, and their health really starts to suffer, and you will see a whole catalogue of alga produced. None of this has anything to do with phosphate levels, as far as I can see.

Blaming algae on excessive phosphates is a tired old statement that has been regurgitated verbatim for a long time now. I have yet to see the evidence produced by anyone in an aquarium, and still await the evidence.