Is this Algae ?

[Star-flog]

Is this Algae? If so, what should I do?
It spreads quite fast even to the tank glass (see photo). Thanks....

[vinz]

Can't really tell from this photo... looks like Blue Green Algae which technically isn't an algae. It's bacteria. Don't worry it won't harm your fishes, nor your plants except to block out the light.

Does it appear like a film... no hair or fibres at all? And when you remove it, it has an odd smell and feels slimy? If so, it's BGA.

Usual prescription:
1. Physical removal by siphoning, and a 50% water change.
2. Make sure your CO2 is good and after that NO3 levels. Are you dosing NO3?

[Star-flog]

Can't really tell from this photo... looks like Blue Green Algae which technically isn't an algae. It's bacteria. Don't worry it won't harm your fishes, nor your plants except to block out the light.

Does it appear like a film... no hair or fibres at all? And when you remove it, it has an odd smell and feels slimy? If so, it's BGA.

Usual prescription:
1. Physical removal by siphoning, and a 50% water change.
2. Make sure your CO2 is good and after that NO3 levels. Are you dosing NO3?

Thanks for your advice and what a relieve!
Yes, it appears like a film and it sticks all the Riccia together. What would happen if I just leave it and do nothing! Would it spread further ?
I add quite a fair bit of CO2 and also dosing NO3. All the plants in my tank is very healthy.

[PeterGwee]

Thanks for your advice and what a relieve!
Yes, it appears like a film and it sticks all the Riccia together. What would happen if I just leave it and do nothing! Would it spread further ?
I add quite a fair bit of CO2 and also dosing NO3. All the plants in my tank is very healthy.

You might consider giving us more details of your dosing regime and tank parameters in order for us to help you more effectively.

Riccia should pearl very well if the CO2 and nutrients are good. Yours doesn't pearl much from the looks of the pictures?

Regards
Peter Gwee

[Star-flog]

You might consider giving us more details of your dosing regime and tank parameters in order for us to help you more effectively.

Riccia should pearl very well if the CO2 and nutrients are good. Yours doesn't pearl much from the looks of the pictures?

Regards
Peter Gwee

I will get that detail to you asap. The most part of Riccia pearl very well except some small areas (blocked by PC cooling fan) and hence uneven lights distribution.

[Star-flog]

You might consider giving us more details of your dosing regime and tank parameters in order for us to help you more effectively.

Riccia should pearl very well if the CO2 and nutrients are good. Yours doesn't pearl much from the looks of the pictures?

Regards
Peter Gwee

Hi, I started using Seachem Flourish just two weeks ago and give a slight dose every 3 - 4 days. The plants show noticed green and grows. Very good plant supplement recommended by AQ, I must say.

Also, I use Dennerle CO2 long-term test correct for simple control of CO2 content. Presently it shown green meaning ideal CO2 content. Not sure how to use long-term PH test according to Dennerle table that is to use CO2 to calculate the carbonate hardness (CH) and pH value??

Besides, what I did this morning, was to physically removed those filmsy-green-thing. It's a lot easy to remove than normal aglae. And also, took out the wire mess that attached with Riccia, washed it under the tab water..Now looks very clean.

Do I need to do anything else, would the BGA comes back again?

[|squee|]

Your C02: I learnt from Peter and many other sources that C02 is usually the factor that causes 90% of most algae problems. Make sure the C02 is enough, I'd personally say up the C02 bubble count to the point where you don't dare to increase it anymore. This allows for maximum C02 input, and less chance of the C02 going haywire. Also check that your C02 is dissolving efficiently.

Your fert regime: Seachem Flourish is exactly what you said: a supplement. It doesn't contain Nitrogen, and has very minute amounts of Potassium and Phosphate. From what I've read around, and as a testimony to people's experiences, BGA can be caused by nitrate levels in your tank being too low. There might be a chance of the BGA coming back again, since you are not adding nitrogen.

I don't know how long your tank has been setup and all, so I'm just spewing out all the stuff I wanna comment on

[Star-flog]

Your C02: I learnt from Peter and many other sources that C02 is usually the factor that causes 90% of most algae problems. Make sure the C02 is enough, I'd personally say up the C02 bubble count to the point where you don't dare to increase it anymore. This allows for maximum C02 input, and less chance of the C02 going haywire. Also check that your C02 is dissolving efficiently.

Your fert regime: Seachem Flourish is exactly what you said: a supplement. It doesn't contain Nitrogen, and has very minute amounts of Potassium and Phosphate. From what I've read around, and as a testimony to people's experiences, BGA can be caused by nitrate levels in your tank being too low. There might be a chance of the BGA coming back again, since you are not adding nitrogen.

I don't know how long your tank has been setup and all, so I'm just spewing out all the stuff I wanna comment on

First of all, thanks for your comments and much appreciated.

1) Your CO2 - I tried that before on how fast CO2 counts, but the buddle goes out and up so fast and got freighted..may be 5 buddle per second.

2) Your fert regime - That's right and just want to maintaince a simple supplement program. Should I add-in nitrogen? If so what is the advantage of doing that?

I started this 3ft tank (any my planted tank hobby) in February 12, 2005 and counting up-to-date is 97 days (or 3 months +). May be the tank is still in its recycling stage.

[PeterGwee]

First of all, thanks for your comments and much appreciated.

1) Your CO2 - I tried that before on how fast CO2 counts, but the buddle goes out and up so fast and got freighted..may be 5 buddle per second.

2) Your fert regime - That's right and just want to maintaince a simple supplement program. Should I add-in nitrogen? If so what is the advantage of doing that?

I started this 3ft tank (any my planted tank hobby) in February 12, 2005 and counting up-to-date is 97 days (or 3 months +). May be the tank is still in its recycling stage.

Star-flog, if its BGA as it seems, a complete blackout (cover it with trashbag, towel or etc.) of the tank for 3-4 days would do it. Adding KNO3 which is a plant nutrient will prevent it from coming back.

Seachem flourish is basically consider "micros" for plants and you will need to supplement the big players like NO3, K, Ca/Mg and PO4. Basically, what you need for a CO2 enriched tank is KNO3, KH2PO4 and flourish.

For the CO2, if your riccia pearls within 1-5 hrs after the lights are "on" daily, most likely your CO2 is good. A pH and KH test kit is all you need to have and is much better than the long term test you are using currently. What you want to see is if the CO2 is stable during the photoperiod which you can't with the long term test (reponse of that equipment is pretty slow).

Regards
Peter Gwee

[Star-flog]

Star-flog, if its BGA as it seems, a complete blackout (cover it with trashbag, towel or etc.) of the tank for 3-4 days would do it. Adding KNO3 which is a plant nutrient will prevent it from coming back.

Seachem flourish is basically consider "micros" for plants and you will need to supplement the big players like NO3, K, Ca/Mg and PO4. Basically, what you need for a CO2 enriched tank is KNO3, KH2PO4 and flourish.

For the CO2, if your riccia pearls within 1-5 hrs after the lights are "on" daily, most likely your CO2 is good. A pH and KH test kit is all you need to have and is much better than the long term test you are using currently. What you want to see is if the CO2 is stable during the photoperiod which you can't with the long term test (reponse of that equipment is pretty slow).

Regards
Peter Gwee

Much appreciated. If complete blackout will solve the BGA problem, I will try. If there any side effect on the fishes & other plants? would they die or half-death? Honestly, is BGA a seriour problem in the planted tank?

I don't know I still need to buy KN03, KH2 & PO4, any product in the market covering all these 3 elements in one bottle?

[PeterGwee]

The critters would be fine from the blackout, just make sure you off your CO2 during that period and aerate or increase the surface movement.

If you are not willing to get plant nutrients for the plants, there is nothing I can do to help you to prevent BGA from coming back except to go low light/non-CO2.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[Star-flog]

The critters would be fine from the blackout, just make sure you off your CO2 during that period and aerate or increase the surface movement.

If you are not willing to get plant nutrients for the plants, there is nothing I can do to help you to prevent BGA from coming back except to go low light/non-CO2.

Regards
Peter Gwee

OK, so for high-tech, high-light & CO2 if without proper nutrients then BGA is unavoidable? Headache already for KN03, KH2 & PO4 etc..OK, will try to get those next time in fish shop or any brand to recommend?

[Star-flog]

Unfortunately, the BGA come back again after I physically removed it 3 days ago. I think I must to a complete blackout as soon as possible. when you say comlete blackout, must cover the whole aquarium and no light allow to go in???

[Star-flog]

Hi all, see what I did this morning (see photo) as I covered the 3ft tank with 2 big trash bags and should cut out the light completely. My wife thinks I am crazy !! Hahahaha

Hope the BGA will go away after 3 days period.

[StanChung]

Hi all, see what I did this morning (see photo) as I covered the 3ft tank with 2 big trash bags and should cut out the light completely. My wife thinks I am crazy !! Hahahaha

Hope the BGA will go away after 3 days period.

your aq looks funny now, however it isn't funny when your prized fishes gasp for air and try to commit suicide.[xp is what my mistakes are]

you may wanna try anti-biotics as 2nd last resort.

look at links below for other people's experience. as bga is arguably part plant/bacteria -cyanobacteria, it can be killed with anti-biotics.
below are links of eg of erythromycin and metronidazole

http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Algae/cyanobacteria.html
http://www.seachem.com/support/forum...hread.php?t=61

before you try this, standby something to restart your biological filtration. eg hagen cycle.

good luck.
the last time i did it, i also threw out all the infected plants, wore gloves[you could have allergies to the med]
worked.
bga never came back.
good luck.

stan

[Star-flog]

your aq looks funny now, however it isn't funny when your prized fishes gasp for air and try to commit suicide.[xp is what my mistakes are]

you may wanna try anti-biotics as 2nd last resort.

look at links below for other people's experience. as bga is arguably part plant/bacteria -cyanobacteria, it can be killed with anti-biotics.
below are links of eg of erythromycin and metronidazole

http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Algae/cyanobacteria.html
http://www.seachem.com/support/forum...hread.php?t=61

before you try this, standby something to restart your biological filtration. eg hagen cycle.

good luck.
the last time i did it, i also threw out all the infected plants, wore gloves[you could have allergies to the med]
worked.
bga never came back.
good luck.

stan

It might look a little crazy but it worked. The GBA is gone, all the plants and fishes are no problem. After I took out the trash bags, and changed 30% of water and now everything in order now..

[StanChung]

It might look a little crazy but it worked. The GBA is gone, all the plants and fishes are no problem. After I took out the trash bags, and changed 30% of water and now everything in order now..

great job, will take note as i don't really like chemical alternative.
the dennerle article is really informative and... scary. just because of light bulb change. ha ha.

[read articles links posted by members juggler, chee boon yong and others. very informative.]

stan