Black Brush Algae

[Guinness]

Hi

Apologies is this has been asked before, but I am at my wits end with this stuff.

Have had my 70G heavily planted tank running now for well over 6 months with no problems algae wise at all. 4WPG & CO2 @ 30 bubbles PM. (not even any build up on the glass)

Stupidly, I let my pressurised CO2 cannister run out as there was a delay in sending my replacements. I dropped the lighting to compensate for this (was probably out of CO2 for about a week) but my ET at the front of the tank began to get BBA & now I don't seem to be able to get rid of it.

I am double dosing Excel (as from last Tuesday), but do I now need to get rid of the ET altogether, or will the Excel do the job over a period of time?

None of my other plants have been affected, so not a complete disaster- but one I could have controlled if I was more on the ball.

Any tips greatfully received.

 

[Themuleous]

Try a single triple 'initial/large water change' dose of excel, thats what I do to get rid of BBA, although if its a very stubborn infestation you might need to do it more than once.

If you can get rid of the BBA then the ET should recover.

FYI BBA can take a few weeks to full disappear after the excel has killed it.

Sam

 

[Guinness]

BBA has now gone red after Sam's advice (Thanks !!)

Excel is magicial stuff, hopefully it has done the trick.

 

[Shrimper]

Is Excel shrimp safe?

I could do with something to get rid of my black brush algae!

 

[Themuleous]

Excellent, if its red, its dead! It'll slowly disappear now.

Yes its shrimp safe, well at 3x dosing rate anyway, Ive dosed several shrimp tanks with 3x dose rate and its not affected them as far as I can tell.

Sam

 

[Shrimper]

Yes its shrimp safe, well at 3x dosing rate anyway, Ive dosed several shrimp tanks with 3x dose rate and its not affected them as far as I can tell.

Sam

Thanks Sam, I have a look at getting some

 

[Themuleous]

No porbs, its very usful. I tend to dose a tripple rate at the first signs on BBA and it keeps it at bay, not that I get much algae, of course I dont!

 

[Shrimper]

I've noticed one of my Anamo shrimp nibbling on some today so i'm going to give it a couple of weeks and see how they do first, but i'll keep this in mind if they don't shift it.