Advertisements
Aquatic Avenue Banner Tropica Shop Banner Fishy Business Banner
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 37

Thread: Monte Carlo Algae Problem

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Posts
    78
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore

    Monte Carlo Algae Problem

    Advertisements
    Fresh n Marine aQuarium Banner

    Advertise here

    Advertise here
    Hi,
    Have a problem with algae growing at the lower/inner section of my Monte Carlo carpet. I just did some trimming to shorten my Monte Carlo length. Is there any way to prevent it from algae from happening?

    Thanks to all the sifus

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Jurong West
    Posts
    399
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore

    Re: Monte Carlo Algae Problem

    Firstly provide the type of algae you encounter. Secondly post image of the algae if you are not sure.

    Then we go from there.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Posts
    78
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore

    Re: Monte Carlo Algae Problem

    Quote Originally Posted by greenie View Post
    Firstly provide the type of algae you encounter. Secondly post image of the algae if you are not sure.

    Then we go from there.
    I'm guessing it's black bears algae cause those are growing on leaves of my longer stem plants. Here are some pics.



    Sent from my LYA-L29 using Tapatalk

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Jurong West
    Posts
    399
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore

    Re: Monte Carlo Algae Problem

    BBA stands for Black Beard algae as the black fuzz looks like a beard.

    I use the 1-2 punch chemical attack for BBA. Remove any snails temporarily out.

    Items to get :

    1. Small syringe.
    2. Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) (local pharmacy like Guardian or Watson sells 100ml or 500ml bottle)
    3. Seachem Excel

    Step 1.
    Determine your total water volume. With filters running, add 10ml per 4L tank volume of water direct to tank. So if your tank water volume is 50L then add (50/4) x 10ml Hydrogen peroxide = 125ml. Let it run for at least 12 hours. Important to calculate the water volume minus the hardscape and substrate to prevent overdosing.

    Step 2.
    50% water change after 12-24hrs. Do vacuum your substrate, nook and cranny of any debris, mulm and waste.

    Step 3.
    At 50% tank level, stop your water circulation. Make sure water is still as possible before using a syringe to spot squirt any visible BBA you can find like pipes, stones or wood. Wait for 5 mins for the Excel to further weakened and destroy any surviving BBA from the H2O2 dosing before running back your filter/pump. The Excel also is good source of carbon for your plants anyways but don't over dose, spot treat sparingly.

    Step 4.
    Fill up your tank, add any necessary additives eg anti-chlorine and observe for 2 to 3 days. BBA should turn red follow by grey or whitish. Yamato shrimp will eat the dead BBA.

    Please note that you need to constantly monitor your fishes and critters for any signs of stress, remove them if necessary. Most scaleless fish like Cory and Oto don't handle well with this treatment but mine seems able to tolerate and survive the ordeal. For shrimps, they usually would start doing laps after laps in the tank if stressed. I had 1 CRS turn turtle during 1 episode of me using the 1-2 punch but recovered after a few hours.

    Reintroduce your snails in 2-3 days. Good luck.
    Last edited by greenie; 19th May 2020 at 11:10. Reason: add

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Posts
    78
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore

    Re: Monte Carlo Algae Problem

    Thanks for the advise Greenie. A question though, doesn't Zebra and Spotted snails eat BBA?

    Sent from my LYA-L29 using Tapatalk

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Jurong West
    Posts
    399
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore

    Re: Monte Carlo Algae Problem

    Almost nothing eats bba. Sometimes when there's really no food, they might graze on it.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Jurong West
    Posts
    399
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore

    Re: Monte Carlo Algae Problem

    But don't bet on them. BBA grows faster than any snails can eat. Unless the nuked bba, even SAE will gobble them up.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Posts
    78
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore

    Re: Monte Carlo Algae Problem

    Lol! Thanks. Now I have to find Seachem Excel during CB

    Sent from my LYA-L29 using Tapatalk

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Jurong West
    Posts
    399
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore

    Re: Monte Carlo Algae Problem

    If you stay west side, LFS at C328 are open for business. In fact, just bought a bottle from Polyart yesterday.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Posts
    78
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore

    Re: Monte Carlo Algae Problem

    Quote Originally Posted by greenie View Post
    If you stay west side, LFS at C328 are open for business. In fact, just bought a bottle from Polyart yesterday.
    Thanks!!

    Sent from my LYA-L29 using Tapatalk

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Posts
    78
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore

    Re: Monte Carlo Algae Problem

    Quote Originally Posted by greenie View Post
    BBA stands for Black Beard algae as the black fuzz looks like a beard.

    I use the 1-2 punch chemical attack for BBA. Remove any snails temporarily out.

    Items to get :

    1. Small syringe.
    2. Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) (local pharmacy like Guardian or Watson sells 100ml or 500ml bottle)
    3. Seachem Excel

    Step 1.
    Determine your total water volume. With filters running, add 10ml per 4L tank volume of water direct to tank. So if your tank water volume is 50L then add (50/4) x 10ml Hydrogen peroxide = 125ml. Let it run for at least 12 hours. Important to calculate the water volume minus the hardscape and substrate to prevent overdosing.

    Step 2.
    50% water change after 12-24hrs. Do vacuum your substrate, nook and cranny of any debris, mulm and waste.

    Step 3.
    At 50% tank level, stop your water circulation. Make sure water is still as possible before using a syringe to spot squirt any visible BBA you can find like pipes, stones or wood. Wait for 5 mins for the Excel to further weakened and destroy any surviving BBA from the H2O2 dosing before running back your filter/pump. The Excel also is good source of carbon for your plants anyways but don't over dose, spot treat sparingly.

    Step 4.
    Fill up your tank, add any necessary additives eg anti-chlorine and observe for 2 to 3 days. BBA should turn red follow by grey or whitish. Yamato shrimp will eat the dead BBA.

    Please note that you need to constantly monitor your fishes and critters for any signs of stress, remove them if necessary. Most scaleless fish like Cory and Oto don't handle well with this treatment but mine seems able to tolerate and survive the ordeal. For shrimps, they usually would start doing laps after laps in the tank if stressed. I had 1 CRS turn turtle during 1 episode of me using the 1-2 punch but recovered after a few hours.

    Reintroduce your snails in 2-3 days. Good luck.
    Do I need to repeat this step? If yes how frequent?

    Sent from my LYA-L29 using Tapatalk

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Jurong West
    Posts
    399
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore

    Re: Monte Carlo Algae Problem

    Shouldn't be anytime soon, if done with the correct dosage.

    And as long as you don't accidentally reintroduce the BBA through fishes or plants that is not properly quarantined before adding to your tank, your tank will remain BBA free.

    I will always shy away from LFS that have BBA in their display tank as I deem all their tanks are already BBA infested. But if a particular plant or fish that I'm looking for is only available at that shop, I will still purchase it and then proper quarantine procedure will be done before adding to tank.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Jurong West
    Posts
    399
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore

    Re: Monte Carlo Algae Problem

    In fact thinking of it, ALL plants and animals bought will go through quarantine procedure before adding to my tank, not only those I suspect with BBA.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Posts
    78
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore

    Re: Monte Carlo Algae Problem

    Quote Originally Posted by greenie View Post
    In fact thinking of it, ALL plants and animals bought will go through quarantine procedure before adding to my tank, not only those I suspect with BBA.
    What kind of quarantine procedure do you do? I recently bought some Crypts from a LFS. No visible BBA but it's hard to locate spores. I didn't quarantine it too

    Sent from my LYA-L29 using Tapatalk

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Jurong West
    Posts
    399
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore

    Re: Monte Carlo Algae Problem

    Simplest method I used is using bleach. Yes, ordinary bleach. Not the coloured or scented ones.
    19 part water to 1 part bleach. I soak or dip plants depend on type. Hardy ones like Nana on rocks I just soak the entire thing in the solution for 30mins. Rinse and dechlorinate in a container.
    Then using a fresh container of water, I soak the plants in high doses of Seachem Excel. For the second step some plants cannot tolerate the high dose of Excel and will melt, not necessary actually and sort of overkill. But I will do it for hardy plants especially those tied to rocks or wood.
    Plants grown in gel media like from Tropica, can skip this as it is assure to be algae and pest free.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Posts
    78
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore

    Re: Monte Carlo Algae Problem

    Quote Originally Posted by greenie View Post
    Simplest method I used is using bleach. Yes, ordinary bleach. Not the coloured or scented ones.
    19 part water to 1 part bleach. I soak or dip plants depend on type. Hardy ones like Nana on rocks I just soak the entire thing in the solution for 30mins. Rinse and dechlorinate in a container.
    Then using a fresh container of water, I soak the plants in high doses of Seachem Excel. For the second step some plants cannot tolerate the high dose of Excel and will melt, not necessary actually and sort of overkill. But I will do it for hardy plants especially those tied to rocks or wood.
    Plants grown in gel media like from Tropica, can skip this as it is assure to be algae and pest free.
    Thanks Greenie

    Sent from my LYA-L29 using Tapatalk

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Jurong West
    Posts
    399
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore

    Re: Monte Carlo Algae Problem

    For fishes, please don't use bleach! Instead quarantine in separate container and add meds to kill any diseases like ich.
    Just note that many hobbyist tend to kill their fishes during the quarantine period due to over dosing of meds or putting different meds all at once.
    BBA spores could be brought over from the water when the fishes are pack, so I step is I will add the H2O2 and Excel method during this phase too. Sounds a lot of work but you will thank yourself from future headaches.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Posts
    78
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore

    Re: Monte Carlo Algae Problem

    Quote Originally Posted by greenie View Post
    For fishes, please don't use bleach! Instead quarantine in separate container and add meds to kill any diseases like ich.
    Just note that many hobbyist tend to kill their fishes during the quarantine period due to over dosing of meds or putting different meds all at once.
    BBA spores could be brought over from the water when the fishes are pack, so I step is I will add the H2O2 and Excel method during this phase too. Sounds a lot of work but you will thank yourself from future headaches.
    For fishes, do I mix the H2O2 + Excel 50/50 ratio and spray into the quarantine water?

    Sent from my LYA-L29 using Tapatalk

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Posts
    78
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore

    Re: Monte Carlo Algae Problem

    Quote Originally Posted by greenie View Post
    BBA stands for Black Beard algae as the black fuzz looks like a beard.

    I use the 1-2 punch chemical attack for BBA. Remove any snails temporarily out.

    Items to get :

    1. Small syringe.
    2. Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) (local pharmacy like Guardian or Watson sells 100ml or 500ml bottle)
    3. Seachem Excel

    Step 1.
    Determine your total water volume. With filters running, add 10ml per 4L tank volume of water direct to tank. So if your tank water volume is 50L then add (50/4) x 10ml Hydrogen peroxide = 125ml. Let it run for at least 12 hours. Important to calculate the water volume minus the hardscape and substrate to prevent overdosing.

    Step 2.
    50% water change after 12-24hrs. Do vacuum your substrate, nook and cranny of any debris, mulm and waste.

    Step 3.
    At 50% tank level, stop your water circulation. Make sure water is still as possible before using a syringe to spot squirt any visible BBA you can find like pipes, stones or wood. Wait for 5 mins for the Excel to further weakened and destroy any surviving BBA from the H2O2 dosing before running back your filter/pump. The Excel also is good source of carbon for your plants anyways but don't over dose, spot treat sparingly.

    Step 4.
    Fill up your tank, add any necessary additives eg anti-chlorine and observe for 2 to 3 days. BBA should turn red follow by grey or whitish. Yamato shrimp will eat the dead BBA.

    Please note that you need to constantly monitor your fishes and critters for any signs of stress, remove them if necessary. Most scaleless fish like Cory and Oto don't handle well with this treatment but mine seems able to tolerate and survive the ordeal. For shrimps, they usually would start doing laps after laps in the tank if stressed. I had 1 CRS turn turtle during 1 episode of me using the 1-2 punch but recovered after a few hours.

    Reintroduce your snails in 2-3 days. Good luck.
    I'm starting this treatment tomorrow. Was wondering how much squirts of Excel can I use for the Step 3?

    Do I wash my filter clean before I start this treatment?

    Sent from my LYA-L29 using Tapatalk

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Posts
    78
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore

    Re: Monte Carlo Algae Problem

    Quote Originally Posted by greenie View Post
    BBA stands for Black Beard algae as the black fuzz looks like a beard.

    I use the 1-2 punch chemical attack for BBA. Remove any snails temporarily out.

    Items to get :

    1. Small syringe.
    2. Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) (local pharmacy like Guardian or Watson sells 100ml or 500ml bottle)
    3. Seachem Excel

    Step 1.
    Determine your total water volume. With filters running, add 10ml per 4L tank volume of water direct to tank. So if your tank water volume is 50L then add (50/4) x 10ml Hydrogen peroxide = 125ml. Let it run for at least 12 hours. Important to calculate the water volume minus the hardscape and substrate to prevent overdosing.

    Step 2.
    50% water change after 12-24hrs. Do vacuum your substrate, nook and cranny of any debris, mulm and waste.

    Step 3.
    At 50% tank level, stop your water circulation. Make sure water is still as possible before using a syringe to spot squirt any visible BBA you can find like pipes, stones or wood. Wait for 5 mins for the Excel to further weakened and destroy any surviving BBA from the H2O2 dosing before running back your filter/pump. The Excel also is good source of carbon for your plants anyways but don't over dose, spot treat sparingly.

    Step 4.
    Fill up your tank, add any necessary additives eg anti-chlorine and observe for 2 to 3 days. BBA should turn red follow by grey or whitish. Yamato shrimp will eat the dead BBA.

    Please note that you need to constantly monitor your fishes and critters for any signs of stress, remove them if necessary. Most scaleless fish like Cory and Oto don't handle well with this treatment but mine seems able to tolerate and survive the ordeal. For shrimps, they usually would start doing laps after laps in the tank if stressed. I had 1 CRS turn turtle during 1 episode of me using the 1-2 punch but recovered after a few hours.

    Reintroduce your snails in 2-3 days. Good luck.
    @greenie thanks for the advise. Managed to get most of the BBA and Hair Algae turned whitish. A few casualties along the way too, but lucky not many.

    After changing 50% water today, the smell of the water condition is stronger than usual. I'm not sure what it smells like, maybe fishy smell, but definitely today I noticed it than before.

    Is this normal?

    Sent from my LYA-L29 using Tapatalk

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •