How Can I Tell If It's Bga?

[Amunet]

In our 28gal.. the algae has gotten out of control. But I'm not sure if it's BGA or just regular green algae?
It has a really intense green color, but I wouldn't say it's blue/green.
None of the fish have ever been bothered by it. None have shown any kind of sickness etc.

So.. how can you tell if it's actual BGA or just normal algae?

 

[Amunet]

I should also mention that I've taken some plants out of the tank that I wanted to try to save. They had algae all over the leaves. I cleaned them off as best I could and plopped them into our 5gallon w/ low light. The algae disappeared on the leaves, but the tank has a very slight green algae problem. Nothing major like the big tank, just a little green on the tank walls.

Anywho.. this leads me to believe that it's just regular green algae, but if there's some way to tell if I'm just dealing with the norm or BGA.. then any info would be appreciated.

 

[Colin_T]

blue green algae can be dark blue, green, brown or a conbination of the three colours. It looks and feels like slime and often has airbubbles under it. It lifts off in sheets and floats around the tank and has a musty smell to it. It can grow very quickly and double its size every day. It coats everything and is usually brought about by excess nutrients and lack of water movement. Try doing daily 50% water changes and gravel clean the tank each time you do it. Make sure any new water going into the tank is free of chlorine and has a similar temp and PH to tha tank water. Old lights can also encourage it.

 

[Amunet]

Well we didn't have an algae problem until we got a new light for the tank. Our plants weren't growing with our old light b/c it was only one of those lighting hoods that comes w/ the aquarium kit. Only held 1 15w bulb.
So we got this other one that holds 2 24w ones. Everything was fine for a few weeks then BAM algae all over the place.
We went from brown algae everywhere w/ no plant growth, to now green or bga algae everywhere and still no plant growth :\

When it gets really bad on the gravel, I can pick it up in one big gross slimey sheet. It feels like a thick booger Haven't smelled it.. I'll do another water change tomorrow and sniff to see if there is a smell to it.

Anywho.. would a blackout of 3 days get rid of it? Or do I have to do something else beforehand and after the blackout?

 

[julioarca]

I had this BGA in my tank a couple of weeks ago, i had had it for approx 3 months. I did a black out for 3 days and after it was over about 95% had gone, plants were leggy, fish were shy but it had almost gone.

2 weeks after it is showing slight signs but I have got a new external filter to go on board, and from 2 nite will have the tank densley planted as well as following a pps classic dosing scheme. Mine was caused by poor circulation and 0 nitrates.

It wont ahppen again, now I know the cause I can keep it at bay

 

[Themuleous]

There is an excellent algae guide on theplantedtank.co.uk

Sam

 

[Amunet]

There is an excellent algae guide on theplantedtank.co.uk

Sam

TY for that link. Looking at the pics on that site... I think I definitely have BGA. BLEH.
Gonna try a blackout and hope it gets rid of it.

 

[rdd1952]

From my experience,, BGA is very difficult to get rid of. I've had it before and although a blackout got rid of it short term, it always came back. The problem is that BGA is actually an organism called cyanobacteria and not really algae. Too much light, direct sunlight, high nitrates and high phosphates are the prime causes. How long are your lights on each day and is the tank ever exposed to direct sunlight?

 

[Amunet]

I think they're on for 12hrs a day. We have one of those timer things and I think fiance has it on 12hrs. How long should we have the lights on for?

No direct sunlight... actually no sunlight at all can get to the tank.


Anywho.. I just did a water change, got as much of it as I could out. Turned the light off and put a blanket over the tank.
Oh and I also smelled a little bit of it. It didn't smell musty at all... actually had a sweet smell to it. It almost smelled like a watermelon.
And before anyone suggests it.. it's not me We don't have anything in the house that gives off that smell, lotion, soap, shampoo, nada. It was the algae that smelled like it.

 

[rdd1952]

12 hours isn't too long. Mine are on for 10 each day. I've read and heard that having a break during the day helps but based on other things, I don't think that is a factor. I think it can actually be detrimental for some plants and if you use CO2. I do have my time broken though but it's simply so the lights are on when we are there most. They're on for 4 hours in the morning, off for about 6 during the middle of the day and then back on for 6 in the evening.