Discus/angels + Java Wall

[c-dub]

Black brush algae as per James' algae page.

Description

Often grows on leaf edges of slow growing plants, bog wood and mechanical equipment. Also sometimes it grows in fast flowing areas of the tank. Grows in clumps or patches of fine black tufts up to about 0.5cm long.

Cause
In a high light tank it is an indication of low or fluctuating CO2 levels or not enough water circulation around the plants. In a low light tank it is often due to changing CO2 levels.

Removal
In a high light tank you will need to increase your levels of CO2 and/or improve water circulation around the plants. Scrub and cut off as much as you can first. Increase levels slowly to 30ppm or more but watch the fish to see if they are respiring heavily. Make sure you have good water flow around the whole tank along with some good surface movement. Adding a powerhead may help.
If you have a low light tank without CO2 injection then not doing any water changes will help. This is because tap water often has lots of CO2 dissolved in it which causes CO2 levels in your tank to fluctuate. The algae respond to this a lot quicker than the plants do.
Siamese Algae Eaters are known to eat BBA so can be used to control this algae.
Overdosing Flourish Excel will clear it up.

Thanks a lot champ! Will have to allocate a day to doing these steps! MY water flow is pretty good but I'm guessing I literally need to take everything out and go to work with a hard toothbrush

 

[micko]

your discus are great looking

 

[c-dub]

your discus are great looking

Thanks micko!

 

[c-dub]

Here are some more photos:

As you can see there are my 5 new siamese algae eaters, who if you look at the driftwood... have been eating away at the black brush algae! I'm very proud of them!

 

[KkAaNnEe]

Here are some more photos:

As you can see there are my 5 new siamese algae eaters, who if you look at the driftwood... have been eating away at the black brush algae! I'm very proud of them!

Thats great. I too am battling BBA, its so annoying, I have a small gold pleco that I bought yesterday but I know that it will not eat the BBA, but it will keep on top of the other stuff. I am intrigued to see how these SAEs get on, keep us posted!

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Concerning the BBA, i had a massive full blown invasion of the stuff in my tank a month ago (started many months before that though) and at its worst point it was completely covering the filters & ornements in the tank. But when i tested the tank for nitrates they were almost nil, which surprised me as i had always associated algae problems with an excess of nutrients in the tank etc.

But after reading some great articles on algae ( http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm )i learned that algae problems can come about due to a lack of nutrients in the tank just as much as they can come about due to an excess of nutrients. I have live plants in the tank but even they were being over-run by the BBA.

But i found a brilliant cure for it! Flourish Excel!
Its a special plant fertiliser that gives the aquarium plants the right stuff they need to establish themselves, thrive and out-compete the algae. I've been using this stuff for a month now and i kid you not, my BBA is completely gone! Usually people advise overdosing on Flourish Excel to get rid of BBA but i barely used any extra at all and it was still excellent in getting rid of the BBA.

I'm so happy i managed to get rid of it as it was driving me to my wits end. Before using the Flourish Excel i would try and pluck the BBA off the ornements, filters, plants etc almost every day in the tank, keep the tank lights turned off for as much as possible and do lots of water changes etc. But the BBA just got worse. But since using the Flourish Excel not only is my BBA completely gone but my plants are looking so much greener & happier too! I've never had a knack with aquarium plants in the past but this Flourish Excel stuff is really making them survive & thrive (yay my plants are having baby plants !) so i'm gonna keep at it even though the BBA is now gone .

 

[c-dub]

Concerning the BBA, i had a massive full blown invasion of the stuff in my tank a month ago (started many months before that though) and at its worst point it was completely covering the filters & ornements in the tank. But when i tested the tank for nitrates they were almost nil, which surprised me as i had always associated algae problems with an excess of nutrients in the tank etc.

But after reading some great articles on algae ( http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm )i learned that algae problems can come about due to a lack of nutrients in the tank just as much as they can come about due to an excess of nutrients. I have live plants in the tank but even they were being over-run by the BBA.

But i found a brilliant cure for it! Flourish Excel!
Its a special plant fertiliser that gives the aquarium plants the right stuff they need to establish themselves, thrive and out-compete the algae. I've been using this stuff for a month now and i kid you not, my BBA is completely gone! Usually people advise overdosing on Flourish Excel to get rid of BBA but i barely used any extra at all and it was still excellent in getting rid of the BBA.

I'm so happy i managed to get rid of it as it was driving me to my wits end. Before using the Flourish Excel i would try and pluck the BBA off the ornements, filters, plants etc almost every day in the tank, keep the tank lights turned off for as much as possible and do lots of water changes etc. But the BBA just got worse. But since using the Flourish Excel not only is my BBA completely gone but my plants are looking so much greener & happier too! I've never had a knack with aquarium plants in the past but this Flourish Excel stuff is really making them survive & thrive (yay my plants are having baby plants !) so i'm gonna keep at it even though the BBA is now gone .

Does using this affect the fish at all?
I gonna have to find a stockist in australia.
The BBA is under control... it's not "out of hand" as you can see in the tank. However it is more just an annoyance rather than a serious problem.

 

[c-dub]

I just ordered 2L of the stuff you mentioned online. I will try putting some in when it rocks up and see how it goes.

 

[KkAaNnEe]

I have just recently read about the Flourish Excel cure. I will for sure test it myself too...

 

[c-dub]

I have just recently read about the Flourish Excel cure. I will for sure test it myself too...

Mine arrived today. I am just worried about double dosing it and it effecting the fish?

 

[KkAaNnEe]

I have just recently read about the Flourish Excel cure. I will for sure test it myself too...

Mine arrived today. I am just worried about double dosing it and it effecting the fish?

I would post this question somewhere to get the right answer, but I am unaware of the effects on fish...

 

[c-dub]

I have already started using it, no dramas so far. Some of the discus have been acting aggressive towards 1 other... Maybe breeding season who knows. Bala shark still tearing the place up he has to go!!!

 

[c-dub]

Just a bit of an update...

Black Brush Algae is getting owned! 5 x Siamese Algae Eaters and dosing with Flourish is working well.

I think the Siamese Algae Eaters are doing the best job, my plants have been the ones to notice the nutrients though!

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Just a bit of an update...

Black Brush Algae is getting owned! 5 x Siamese Algae Eaters and dosing with Flourish is working well.

I think the Siamese Algae Eaters are doing the best job, my plants have been the ones to notice the nutrients though!

Sorry i did not get back to replying earlier but its great to hear its working for you too ! So glad i found Flourish Excel, my BBA problem was severe but the Flourish Excel has completely gotten rid of it (and i didn't need to even use a sponge to scrub any off anything- wish i had taken before & after pics!) . Hasn't ever seemed to have affected my fish either at any point (15 half grown Swordtails + 5 Amano Shrimp in a 30gallon tank) and its the first time plants have ever really thrived for me .

 

[c-dub]

Some sad news... My white smaller discus passed away this weekend. He had a wound however seemed to be healing well. All of a sudden he just couldn't hold on anymore.
I'm very upset about this and am so sorry to see him go.

RIP buddy.