Slime Algae! It's Back!

[alanchown]

I succesfully (apparently) got rid of my slime algae by doing a 72 hr blackout, but it's back already!! I can see it creeping up the gravel, and there are some ominous black bits attaching themselves to plants. I'm at a bit of a loss-I have some Maracyn on order from the states, but that doesn't get rid of the underlying cause. I previously reported 0 as my Nitrate, but that was a false reading due to a dodgy test kit, my readings now are

100L tank/lighting 3 watts per gallon 10 hrs per day

PH 7.2
KH 9.5 deg
CO2- 18ppm (via 2 xNutrafin/DIY mix)
Nitrates 20ppm ( or near as dammit with API test kit)
Phosphates 2.5 ppm (down from 5 yesterday-tap water about 5ppm)

What next (apart from neat bleach!).

Desperate of London

Alan

 

[tigerbarb420]

Achown,

I have been having a battle with Blue Green Algae myself, as well. It appears the stuff is next to invincible. From what I have read and been told, it is commonly associated with low nitrates, slow/stagnant water, and anaerobic pockets in the substrate. One thing you may want to look into is producing more water movement in your aquarium with a small powerhead aimed at the BGA(I am going to shoot mine across the bottom, since that is where most of my BGA seems to grow). Another thing I have been advised to do is to religiously do gravel vacuuming while doign water changes. If you can see the algae growing between your substrate and the glass, that may most likely be your culprit(anaerobic pockets).

I am going to pick up a small powerhead, and start vacuuming and stirring my gravel really well during changes. I'll keep ya posted on how that works for me.

 

[alanchown]

Achown,

I have been having a battle with Blue Green Algae myself, as well. It appears the stuff is next to invincible. From what I have read and been told, it is commonly associated with low nitrates, slow/stagnant water, and anaerobic pockets in the substrate. One thing you may want to look into is producing more water movement in your aquarium with a small powerhead aimed at the BGA(I am going to shoot mine across the bottom, since that is where most of my BGA seems to grow). Another thing I have been advised to do is to religiously do gravel vacuuming while doign water changes. If you can see the algae growing between your substrate and the glass, that may most likely be your culprit(anaerobic pockets).

I am going to pick up a small powerhead, and start vacuuming and stirring my gravel really well during changes. I'll keep ya posted on how that works for me.

Trust me-I have enough flow-I could filter a swimming pool with my filter!

Alan

 

[tigerbarb420]

Yeah, your filter is definitely adequate. Do you regularly vacuum your gravel?

 

[alanchown]

Yeah, your filter is definitely adequate. Do you regularly vacuum your gravel?

The tank is new, but the answer is yes. When the BGA starts, constantly to keep up with it-unsuccesfully I might add.

ALan