Black Stuff Again (photo)

[doresy]

Got the dreaded black stuff again in my Betta tank. (hairy algae?)

Mainly on the fake wood stump near the top.

Was recommended to use Seachem Exel by Dave Spencer and it worked like a dream for a few month but now keeps coming back dispite still using the Exel.



History/spec. Well matured and cycled. 34tr, AquaOne trickle canopy filter, 78*, Ammonia/Nitrite both zero. Nitrate 40ppm (as per tap water) fake dec's with a few real plants. Weekly 25% water changes. Lights on around 7 hours a day.
2 other tanks in the same room with the same timer and they are completely free of any algae.

Tank inhabitants 1 Betta-boy, a couple of 'Ottos and a few Pigmy Cory.


Definately not over feeding.

Any ideas on how to stop it as fed up with the removal and srubbing of the stump.

Here is a piccy after 1 week after a complete scrub. Oh and there seems to be minute gas bubble coming from it.too!

 

[Ludwig Venter]

I getit too, & just hate the stuff..... Took my tank, scrubbed it, put outside in the sun for 4 days to dry out completely.... Re established,.... & I've been clean now for 17 weeks 2 days and 4hrs.... Really interested in the answers to this problem.....

 

[Truck]

lower lighting, and if plants are there, easycarbo(algaecide and CO2 supplement) and a good fertiliser

EDIT***

and good flow helps

 

[doresy]

lower lighting, and if plants are there, easycarbo(algaecide and CO2 supplement) and a good fertiliser

EDIT***

and good flow helps

Seachem Excel is the same kinda stuff and the flow is baffled as it is a Betta tank

 

[Truck]

yes it is, but vallis and riccia and sometimes javamoss will melt

 

[doresy]

yes it is, but vallis and riccia and sometimes javamoss will melt

will melt?

 

[Truck]

or slowly rot away

 

[Ludwig Venter]

or slowly rot away

That's too easy Trucka..... we want a second opinion.....

 

[backtotropical]

Yes some plants will melt when exposed to Flourish Excel, but I believe that is only when it is overdosed to kill algae. I wouldn't recommend overdosing it personally. I tried it once to get rid of BBA (Black Bush Algae) and it killed some of my Rummy-Noses.

I'm afraid I don't have the answer for you Doresy, but would be interested in finding out the solution. I've been battling the same stuff in my tank for months and months.

I would suggest that you may get a better response in the planted section.

BTT

 

[Truck]

whenever ive had it ive found that better flow works

 

[pippoodle]

my shrimps eat any i get amanos love the stuff
i stop their feed supplements for a couple of days and its usually all gone then by a couple of mornings later

i know its a hassle to buy fish to get rid of it though

hopefully you find an easy way

Sarah xx

 

[Truck]

algae is generally caused by excess nitrates or phosphates, buy a some plants (fast growers) and see if that helps

 

[doresy]

my shrimps eat any i get amanos love the stuff
i stop their feed supplements for a couple of days and its usually all gone then by a couple of mornings later

i know its a hassle to buy fish to get rid of it though

hopefully you find an easy way

Sarah xx

Yes, I have Amanos in my other tank and that's fine, only trouble is I don't know how the Betta would react to them if I put some in with him

Yes some plants will melt when exposed to Flourish Excel, but I believe that is only when it is overdosed to kill algae. I wouldn't recommend overdosing it personally. I tried it once to get rid of BBA (Black Bush Algae) and it killed some of my Rummy-Noses.

I'm afraid I don't have the answer for you Doresy, but would be interested in finding out the solution. I've been battling the same stuff in my tank for months and months.

I would suggest that you may get a better response in the planted section.

BTT

Ah I see now. Yes some of my plants are 'melting' so maybe I put too much in already

 

[pippoodle]

blooming amanos are quite expensive to try with arent they
i suppose its up to you wether you want to risk it but they do such a good job dont they

catch 22 you got there hun

 

[Syphoniera]

I had BBA in one tank, battled it for about a year.
I kept thinking it was gone and then it'd come back but was hard to clean out as I had LOTS of stones, slate and rocks, as well as plants in, as it was a 25 gal. kit my parents got for me as a present, which came with green and blue gravel I had to cover as much as possible, so I wasn't sick as well as the clowns.
(My apologies to coloured gravel lovers everywhere - it's a very strong personal taste thing.
I find it hard to envision tanks as a section of nature when the gravel is a similar colour as some of my make-up.
And, as you'll see, it was not only day-glo, but evil-possessed.)
After it killed most of my plants, I tore the tank apart, chucked everything except the fish that was unbleachable, (the gravel - some of which had arrived wet in bags, obviously used and rinsed for resale and which I'd foolishly rinsed in hot water rather than bleached, and from which the BBA had sprouted - was hopelessly contaminated and had to go so I could get clean, natural looking gravel in) and haven't had a problem since.
So I figure if I avoid coloured gravel, lol...

All I can say is, good luck.
Some people clear it up, but too often it just comes back again.
Once the spores are in the water, they'll wait for any opportunity to leap out and get you.
Evil...