Switch to EI method

[aquarius]

Ranmasatome your tank looks FANTASTIC! Unfortunately my tank is currently 90% covered with BBA. Pity i can't take a pic to show you guys my tank otherwise you'll also after seeing it.

I've tried adjusting the direction of the rainbar a few times, clean the filter, change to diffusor instead of using external reactor, upped the CO2, reduce feeding etc etc etc etc..... but nothing works!! In fact the BBA in some of the instances grew VERY FAST and they actually bubbled!!!

I guess i'll have to change the whole scape to a low-maintenance one cos give up liao after battling it for a few years.

[StanChung]

Proof???

Here loh..

Fwah! Don't play play!

[StanChung]

http://www.barrreport.com/estimative...?highlight=BBA

The first line in the above article is misleading

ranmasatome, that's a disgustingly good tank. I'm going to go tear down mine now

Thank for the article Terence, not much on APC after Tom deleted it.
Tom say's BBA is related to stable CO2.
This I take he means within a range.

He also say algae likes CO2 but they have less a demand for it.
He does not say anything about adding CO2 hinders growth of BBA.

Perhaps he hints plant growth helps keep BBA away.
It does.
It keeps it off the plants but we'll see some on the furniture if the tanks are in for the long haul.

To be honest, if have a total outbreak then you really need to look at CO2 plus all the other issues that hinder/help plant growth.

[StanChung]

Pity i can't take a pic to show you guys my tank otherwise you'll also after seeing it.

Please do! It would take a lot to surprise!

[ranmasatome]

Stan.. your tank also quite Fwah what..

And about algae have less demand for Co2, i think thats why they can adapt so well to variations in Co2 levels.. much better than your plants can..so they thrive better.

Stable Co2 levels allows plants to take off and hence hinder algae growth, in some sense. Also if they are not on your plants.. it makes no sense that they will be on your equipment...because not all parts of your plants are stationary.

[StanChung]

Ha Ranma- I thought yours look better anyway.


I think quick growth prevents it from forming on plants but if on slow growing plants there is high possibility of it growing. eg anubias, bolbitis.
If conditions are good, BBA would not happen, not for a long time anyway. Even if it does it usually happens to the old leaves.

From observation, BBA always tends to form on fairly stationary items and the thing closest to the lighting first. eg. the tip of the driftwood that's not covered with moss, the filter outlet, the old vallis nana leaves. Would never see it on the Rotala macrandras or other hygros that grow 4 inches a week or more.

[Shadow]

Stable Co2 levels allows plants to take off and hence hinder algae growth, in some sense. Also if they are not on your plants.. it makes no sense that they will be on your equipment...because not all parts of your plants are stationary.

sorry, I feel bad, after so many explanation I still dont get it

If CO2 level does not hinder BBA grow does it mean increasing the CO2 ppm will not solve BBA issue? Both plant and BBA will grow, only BBA grow slower in comparision.

I do understand that if CO2 unstable, plant take longer time to addapt during that adaptation period, BBA might grow faster than the plant.

In other word, there is no way of killing BBA, in both case it still grow only faster or slower.

[|squee|]

Here's one of Tom's replies to me asking him why does BBA in non-CO2 tanks appear.

Light drives CO2 uptake.
More light=> more CO2 uptake.
Too much light=> too much cO2 uptake, => BBA.

Well you know what? Sometimes I wish I had a ton of moolah and get a full ADA system. I'd just blindly follow Amano's instructions and not ask why.

[StanChung]

Well you know what? Sometimes I wish I had a ton of moolah and get a full ADA system. I'd just blindly follow Amano's instructions and not ask why.

When you do then you'll wonder how long you can keep at it.
It's slavery!

The good thing is plants are easier than ever to grow. [in my case]

[wasabi8888]

Terence

Bad news.... i still get BGA at the gravel (creeping upwards) and hair algae at by moss...

I am doing EI method now...

+/- 1/8 tsp KNO3 (N) Mon Wed Fri
+/- 1/32 tsp KH2PO4 Mon Wed Fri
+/- 3 drops of Lushgro Micros Tue Thurs
50% weekly water change
Half tablespoon of Seachem Equil, KNO3 and KH2PO4 after WC...

What do you think is wrong?

I know BGA is caused by low nitrates, poor water circulation and poor CO2.. I do not think it's poor water circulation cos my flow is so strong, that my fishes have problems swimming...My KH is 3.5, PH is 5.7 which means CO2 is rather high already.

1.Do you think i should up my KNO3 and KH2 PO4 to one quarter teaspoon? What are the consequences?
2. DO you think I have added too much Seachem Equil?


Please help anyone.. i hate BGA...

[StanChung]

Suck up whatever BGA you see and keep doing what you're doing.
Just a hunch, I suspect your filter is not doing it's job. What have you got in there?

Please note that flow that is too fast is useless for biological filtration. A moderate flow is prefered for biological filtration to take place. [Produce nitrates for your tank]

[|squee|]

1.Do you think i should up my KNO3 and KH2 PO4 to one quarter teaspoon? What are the consequences?
2. DO you think I have added too much Seachem Equil?

Suck it all up as best as you can, or do the blackout method (search the forums). Meanwhile, I used to dose 1/4 teaspoon for my planted tank, no side effects. Dosing more also definitely rules out the possibility of low nitrates.

Your Equilibrium addition is fine, although I used to add 1 teaspoon, not a tablespoon. Adding more doesn't hurt, but Equilibrium is rather expensive.

[wasabi8888]

Stan

Mine is a Juwel tank... thus it's an internal box filter.. hard to explain...

i judge the flow on how much the current is...

will start dosing more.. black out to me is the last resort, as that will hurt the plants as well.. besides, that does not solve the root of the problem.... still trying to figure the BGA thing.. pisses me off like hell..

[StanChung]

I think i know what kind of filter. That kind has limited space for media, so you need to get the most effective.

[wasabi8888]

Stan

Sorry.. dont understand.. most effective what? the filter is fixed.. cant change the filter.. for the media. Using all the media that Juwel recommended

[StanChung]

Perhaps you can get the best media money can buy to put in there since there is so little space in the filter box.

Such a small filtering capacity means that you have to watch how many fishes you put in your tank.

[ronald_t80]

It'll be easier if you bought KNO3, KH2PO4, a trace product like Lushgro micros, and Seachem Equilibrium.

I don't think Mircos/Aqua have nitrates or phosphates. Dosing 3 times a week is easier, the schedule will be like:

Monday: KNO3 and KH2PO4
Tuesday: Trace
Wenedesday: KNO3 and KH2PO4
Thursday: Trace
Friday: KNO3 and KH2PO4
Saturday: 50% water change, KNO3 and KH2PO4 and Equilibrium
Sunday: Trace

Hi Squee....can advised where can we get the above-mention fert? brands etc? Thanks!

[grey_fox]

You can get KNO3, KH2PO4 and the likes from Nature Aquarium.

[ronald_t80]

Thanks Grey_fox.....just bought Seachem Trace and Equilibrium....

BTW can advise isit ok to dose it every morning bfore the lights turn on?
Cos i left for work ard 0800 and the timer for the lights and co2 is on 1000.

[|squee|]

Yea you can. Doesn't really matter what time you dose the ferts, as long as the plants get them on the assigned day.