Dreaded Bga!

[JonW]

Hi everyone

I'm new to the forum. Have a Rio 180 planted tank with the usual angels, tetras, gouramis etc. Found this forum because I was having major troubles with slime algae ever since about January this year. Was interested to read some of the threads about BGA and this looks very much like what I have in my tank. So I ordered some Maracyn from Ebay USA and have been using it this week since Monday.

My problem is this - what is supposed to happen exactly? The water is pogressively turning more and more milky but the BGA seems unchanged. I also added a powerhead for extra water movement and that has blown some of the BGA away from the glass but it all looks as green as ever. Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks

JonW

 

[TrueNoob]

Depending on extent of growth it could look like small tufts of black hairs, or a black carpet
The strands don't ever get very long, one centimeter is the usual size.
It usually forms on slow-growing plants such as Anubias, but it can also grow on gravel.
This is one of the worst algaes to get rid of. It cannot be manually removed off a leaf or other surface, the entire leaf must be removed.
Siamensis are one of the only known fish to eat this type of algae. If you have space it is highly recommended to get these fish as they really earn their keep.

 

[Themuleous]

Think your talking about bBa there turenoob, Jonw is talking about bGa

Welcome to the forum JonW

BGA can be a pain, but fortunately there are solutions. The maracyn you are using should kill it, its generally a last resort as there are other less 'medicated' ways of treating BGA. However as you say you've already start using it, it should just clear up. I would do a 50% change once you have finished the course just to clean the tank up a bit (possible 2 or 3 50% changes if its been an extra heavy infestation). But there isn't really much else to it, it'll just gradually go over time. But this can take a bit longer if there is lots of it. Try to remove as much as possible by hand as it comes off quite easily, and will mean there is less for the maracyn to work on making it more effective I would have thought

Sam

 

[CBBP]

Depending on extent of growth it could look like small tufts of black hairs, or a black carpet
The strands don't ever get very long, one centimeter is the usual size.
It usually forms on slow-growing plants such as Anubias, but it can also grow on gravel.
This is one of the worst algaes to get rid of. It cannot be manually removed off a leaf or other surface, the entire leaf must be removed.
Siamensis are one of the only known fish to eat this type of algae. If you have space it is highly recommended to get these fish as they really earn their keep.

EDit: opps xd truenoob had me thinking it was hair algea haha

 

[JonW]

Think your talking about bBa there turenoob, Jonw is talking about bGa

Welcome to the forum JonW

BGA can be a pain, but fortunately there are solutions. The maracyn you are using should kill it, its generally a last resort as there are other less 'medicated' ways of treating BGA. However as you say you've already start using it, it should just clear up. I would do a 50% change once you have finished the course just to clean the tank up a bit (possible 2 or 3 50% changes if its been an extra heavy infestation). But there isn't really much else to it, it'll just gradually go over time. But this can take a bit longer if there is lots of it. Try to remove as much as possible by hand as it comes off quite easily, and will mean there is less for the maracyn to work on making it more effective I would have thought

Sam

Thanks Sam

Guess I was just expecting the BGA to show signs of dying - e.g, turning black or something which it hasn't done. The powerhead seems to have ripped it off the glass however. What's the current thinking about powerheads in planted freshwater tanks - are they useful to have long-term or just a short term fix for BGA? I must say that although I've been keeping FW fish for a few years now, reading some of the threads on this site makes me realise that there's an awful lot I don't know!!

Cheers

JonW

 

[Themuleous]

I guess the biggest thing with powerheads is the need? You don't need them in the same way you do in say marine tanks. Guess they could be helpful with BGA as you say, but are by no means essential, you should be able to get ample water flow with just the filter.

Yeh I know what you mean about not knowing much, I've learned loads and I've not even ventured into cichlids or marines yet! But this forum is an excellent source of information.

Sam

 

[JonW]

I guess the biggest thing with powerheads is the need? You don't need them in the same way you do in say marine tanks. Guess they could be helpful with BGA as you say, but are by no means essential, you should be able to get ample water flow with just the filter.

Yeh I know what you mean about not knowing much, I've learned loads and I've not even ventured into cichlids or marines yet! But this forum is an excellent source of information.

Sam

Thanks Sam

BGA is now history and how impressed am I! That maracyn stuff is amazing. I've been fighting this damn BGA since January and nothing else I have tried worked. Fish were starting to look decidedly ill (I think the stuff is actually toxic isn't it?). Now tank is clear and fish are fit as a fiddle! Why is it that you can't seem to buy this stuff without importing it from the US??

JonW
P.S. I have actually ventured into marines since Feb. It's absolutely great but my god it takes up your spare time....

 

[Themuleous]

Because its an anti-biotic and you can only get those in the UK on prescription, hence you have to get it from the US, where you can get the more common ones over the counter.

Glad its gone, maracyn sorted the BGA in my two tanks in less than a week. I don't normally advocate chemicals or non-natural treatments but as you've seen it does work very well indeed!

Sam