Dealing with BBA

[torque6]

Another interesting physiology.

Though im not facing BBA, im experiencing relentless algae issues dispite EI dosing with stable co2. But one thing peter pointed out is this stalling of uptake of plants. Im using a drop checker and my tank does exhibit blue color in the morning and only turns optimium green after 2-4 hours, perhaps this is the problem.

[Shadow]

maybe - maybe be not because drop checker have slow response. did you turn on your CO2 24 hours? or did you turn on CO2 1 hour before light on?

[PeterGwee]

The other thing about filter flow rates which is tied to response times if that is the only form of current you have from in the tank is that they are often over-rated. Try and measure the actual flow and you might be amazed. Think how turnover rates have effects on CO2 addition for reactors? You are taking less rich tank water and adding CO2 before returning it into the tank again. If you don't bring that low CO2 tank water back often, you would take quite some time before you can hit the target CO2 level, no? Last, filters clog over time and that will lessen the flow even further!

Regards,
Peter Gwee

[torque6]

maybe - maybe be not because drop checker have slow response. did you turn on your CO2 24 hours? or did you turn on CO2 1 hour before light on?

i only have 1 timer so it takes awhile before the drop checker turns green. sometimes it does more than awhile.

[limsteel]

I have been trying to correct my 5ft for months liao:
5ft x 2ft x 2ft (filter 2217 + 2026) (3x54)
Plants mainly (moss, crypts)

Do large Water changes
Up CO2 to 10+BPS (maybe reactor no good, diffusion in tank not thorough)
Light only ONE T5 - 54W (~0.5 W/gal)
BiDaily 10ml Lushgro aqua
Sniping here and there
H2O2 blasting!

But the freaking BBA just kept coming back! All started when I brought home some crypt with slight BBA infection, snipped off the infected leaves... then the Driftwood started growing bread...

Took a few out for heat and scrub treatment, goes back in tank and in weeks bread grew back! if this carries on I think I can open driftwood SPA liao!

[Panut]

Re-Do the whole tank? throw away everything and start from scratch

[barmby]

My tank size is same as you.

But my lushGRO aqua is dosed at twice a week of 10ml each, one time doze of KH2PO4 (5ppm), KNO3 (0.5 tsp) and K2 SO4 (2 tsp).

But my light is 300 Watts MH, and 55Wx4 flourecent.

Perhaps..you should reduce lighting period and fertilizing.

I have been trying to correct my 5ft for months liao:
5ft x 2ft x 2ft (filter 2217 + 2026) (3x54)
Plants mainly (moss, crypts)

Do large Water changes
Up CO2 to 10+BPS (maybe reactor no good, diffusion in tank not thorough)
Light only ONE T5 - 54W (~0.5 W/gal)
BiDaily 10ml Lushgro aqua
Sniping here and there
H2O2 blasting!

But the freaking BBA just kept coming back! All started when I brought home some crypt with slight BBA infection, snipped off the infected leaves... then the Driftwood started growing bread...

Took a few out for heat and scrub treatment, goes back in tank and in weeks bread grew back! if this carries on I think I can open driftwood SPA liao!

[limsteel]

Thinking of tearing everything down but I don't have the time... Got Kid, work and other commitment to take care of.

Been trying to rectify the situation as mentioned above but to no avail...

Do large Water changes Quarter to half tank, twice weekly
Up CO2 to 10+BPS (maybe reactor no good, diffusion in tank not thorough)
Light only ONE T5 - 54W (~0.5 W/gal)
BiDaily 10ml Lushgro aqua
Sniping here and there
H2O2 blasting!

Here my tank details:

5ft x 2ft x 2ft
3 x T5 54W only ONE turned on for the moment
1600hrs to 2330hrs

CO2 ~6 to 10bps via Reactor (turbo reactor - inverted funnel inside)
ON - 2hrs before Light
Off - 1hrs before Dark

Using Lushgro Aqua mainly once every 2 days 10ml
Other fert sub mallick's Fe Powder + KH2PO4 + KNO3 + KSO4
no other stuff added, not even anti chlorine

Eheim 2026 + Eheim 2217
Last service 1+ month back
CR + Plastic Sponge (Dish washer) + Fine Sponge

Age of setup (i.e. since initial setup or last major re-do ) :

Usual water change is 20% weekly
an AC fan blast the left hand side of the water surface, so only the left portion of the tank surface is abit turbulent) THE CO2 output is ~1ft below that part of the water, driven independently by a 300Ltr/hrs mini pump.

Filter inlet position at both far end of the tank.
Filter outlet at the Left hand far end, output directed diagonal to the right front end.

Donno why, the tank is still full of floating debris... can never get crystal clear water.

Temp ~ 26 to 28 DegreeC

~180 Rummy Nose tetra
10 Discus 1.5inch to 4inch
5 Adult balloon Ram
4 Golden Algae eater
100 malayan shrimp + 25 Oto Car (haven't seen any since months ago)

[limsteel]

Lowering Light and Increase CO2. Unsually High light Low CO2 Fert defficient will invite Algae... but mine is Low Light, High CO2, High Fert 10ml LGA every 2 days. Also Cannot?

[Shadow]

How about your ammonium (NH4+) level? I was reading from EI article:

It does not take much ammonium to cause the bloom. If you add NO3 from KNO3 you will not get any algae bloom, if you add even 1/20th of the ammonium you will get a very intense algae bloom. This test can be repeated many times and ran again and again with the same result.

[limsteel]

Apologies for digging an old thread.

After Nuking my tank constantly with H2O2 and Excel Combine attack... BBA still putting up a fight. Lost some fishes, 2 Golden Suckers and 4 Balloon Rams. Surprisingly Oto, Rummy & Cories took it well.

Finally 2 weeks ago, I took out all my DW and trimmed off all the BBA infected Java fern leaves, moss... Then using a paint brush apply H2O2 and Excel concentrated directly. Hear the sizzle of H2O2 and when it stop... Add 1 coat of Excel.

Regreted I didn't do a thorought job. I am unable bring myself to put off one large patch of a nicely attached moss & Java Fern. now BBA seems Stun but not receeding. All the rest of the BBA are now WBA - White Beard Alage

Planning to get some shrimp... Yamato's - bottomless stomach to finish off these senior citizen BBA.

[jacian]

Lowering Light and Increase CO2. Unsually High light Low CO2 Fert defficient will invite Algae... but mine is Low Light, High CO2, High Fert 10ml LGA every 2 days. Also Cannot?

IMO, bba does not need high light to flourish, in your case, if you have high fert but low lights, the fert will not be utilised by the plants and will contribute to the bbs grow only

[Quincy]

Since they are white meant that that they are dead. Should fall off easily. Getting yamatoes is a great idea. Seen my yamatoes plucking on the dead bread algae