Uber Fast Flat Green Algae.

[Malt_Vinegar]

I dont really have a problem with algea over-running my tanks, but i do clear it off the rocks, and sand, and the viewing glass panels every now and again.

However, weekend I did the usual and cleared everything down, and re-planted some of the plants that are in there too, added 2 new some "Moss" balls too

The idea of the moss balls was to add more live plants to out-compete the algea!

My lights are only on 8 hours a day, and I am carefull about what I feed, and how much.

I dont think I have ever seen growth this fast before. Within 6 hours, there were a couple of inch wide spots on the earlier pristine sand. These are not residue thats dropped, it had grown over the sand in amazing speed!

Any ideas what this kind of algea is, and how best to combat it?

 

[VaegaVic]

Sounds like green dust algae, which can grow back faster than you can remove it. Best plan is to let it build up and then completely wipe it all clean.

 

[loraxchick]

is it like a green mat which easily peels off and is slimy to the touch. if yes it is blue green algae. big waterchange and manual removal followed by blackout will get rid of it. that stuff grows VERY fast and can take over a tank.
have a look here:
http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm

will help you determine what sort of algae it is and how to get rid of it.
cheers

 

[Malt_Vinegar]

Great!

Nice link. looks like BGA. Will have to try a black-out, and remove my CO2 injection as suggested.

Seeing as I have a planted tank, will the existing plants be ok for this period of time blacked out? Presumably the plants can cope better with the time without light than the BGA!?

 

[loraxchick]

Great!

Nice link. looks like BGA. Will have to try a black-out, and remove my CO2 injection as suggested.

Seeing as I have a planted tank, will the existing plants be ok for this period of time blacked out? Presumably the plants can cope better with the time without light than the BGA!?

here was my horrid BGA breakout. tried everything short of blackout and antibiotics to get rid of it. to no avail. did a big waterchange scraping off as much as possible before hand. fed the fish as normal. unhooked co2 and blackout for 5 days followed by another large waterchange. cleared it up 100% with no affect on the plants or fish and hasnt returned in over 20 months. youd prob be ok with just a 3 day blackout as yours isnt so bad (or so it seems). remember, no cheating, peeking or fishfeeding during the blackout.
best of luck!
cheers

 

[Malt_Vinegar]

Cool, will see what happens! My tank is shown below

 

[Malt_Vinegar]

3 months down the line...

BGA is almost non-existant in my tank still!!!
Blackout is REALLY effective. I think I did 5 days.