Hi, my question is not so much in killing BGA. There are already enough information on this site about killing BGA, like black out 3 days and adding nitrate and......
Cut the long stry short, I screwed up my tank, all the plant stunt, and started to get BGA (slimy green stinky stuff covering on leaf and tip of plant growing point). Lately I just got back the right condition, all the plant start growing and showing good health.
The problem is, I need to constantly remove the BGA manually by brush and siphon, or else the BGA will suffocate the plant and reduce the plant growth.
My question is,
Is it possible to stop the BGA by improving the plant growth, by bringing plant back to good health? Couple with Mechanical removal, is it possible to stop the BGA?
Like what was mentioned many time in this forum, Good plant health and tank condition will prevent and stop some of the algae like BGA or thread algae?
I ask because I am seeing good plant growth right now and I try to avoid drastic measure like black out 3 days, as I have some rare plant just recover from 'close death' condition and they surely cannot survive drastic measures.
Do you guys think the BGA can be eliminated by removal and good plant growth?
OR
Once BGA is there, the tank has to be treated with 'black out', no matter how good condition is your tank later?
Please advice, thanks for your help, my first time with BGA sicen I started planted tank 2 years ago.
The plant health/growth would improve if you correct the conditions but you still need to kill/trim off the algae that is already established in the tank. So, do the black out properly to kill off the BGA completely. (Do not let any light get in there at all!). It will not come back if you keep up on the nutrients especially the KNO3.
Regards
Peter Gwee
Do that blackout by taping one or two black thrash bags to cover all three sides of the tank.
I agree, blackout is the fastest way to kill those darn BGA. I am having BGA for the first time too a year into the hobby.
Its impossible to clear them mechanically cause they multiply too fast. Cleaning them mechanically only makes things worst and small pieces will fall out and land somewhere else to multiply. Only way is to cut the co2 and do a 3 day black out. Instead of black trash bag, i just used layers of newspapers, work equally well. I also added capfuls of interpet algae control solution.
2nd day of my blackout, curious to see how tank is, "on" the lights to view, Most BGA gone, but some plants suffered....
Regards
Gene
try this you will be happy
Hello bro
You can try antibiotic (black & red) take from the doctor not from the medical shop. If your tank is 4x2x2 you put 3 and if it's 5x2x2 you put 4. Without turning off the light your plant and fish will be in good health again.
I had the same problem on my 5x2x2 before and now it's completely gone
good luck bro
Last edited by benny; 4th Jan 2006 at 12:56. Reason: spelling
Using Antibiotic is known to be a quick way to remove BGA. However, I must warn that it is to be used with caution. Otherwise, you are creating a disaster in waiting for your tank. The key is using the correct dosage. Best to consult a vet if you are trying.
Cheers,
I have dwarf cichlids in my tanks! Do you?
hey.. where to you get this antibiotic? I looked for erythomycin but they say need doctor's prescription.
hello bro
do you keep any balance antibiotic when you see doctor
you also can try the red & grey, yellow & green or yellow & red but it slow
sorry lah i am run off antibiotic if not i can give it to you
thk
Think about the environment before you use it. If you think cultivating more resistant form of BGA is what you want, go for it.Blackout is free and does not have any after effects as antibotics. Killing the algae is easy but preventing it from coming back is the real key.
Regards
Peter Gwee
Don't get curious! Just kill it at one go. If you let the light in, your efforts are pretty down the drain. As you extend it longer due to your curiousity, your plants are going to suffer more. Adding anti algae solution will hurt your plants as well (they are still plants at a lower form..).Originally Posted by genes
I agree, blackout is the fastest way to kill those darn BGA. I am having BGA for the first time too a year into the hobby.
Its impossible to clear them mechanically cause they multiply too fast. Cleaning them mechanically only makes things worst and small pieces will fall out and land somewhere else to multiply. Only way is to cut the co2 and do a 3 day black out. Instead of black trash bag, i just used layers of newspapers, work equally well. I also added capfuls of interpet algae control solution.
2nd day of my blackout, curious to see how tank is, "on" the lights to view, Most BGA gone, but some plants suffered....
Regards
Gene
Regards
Peter Gwee
furry plant grower
How about BGA beneath the gravel? I've got BGA showing at the front glass under the gravel of a non CO2 tank. It's been there for months, not getting bigger nor growing beyond the substrate. Should I do something about it or leave it alone?
I hope not to have to stir up the muck and blackout the plants when they are growing nicely.
Can a fast growing small foreground creeper that can take calcerous water do it away?
If so, any to suggest?
Warm regards,
Lawrence Lee
brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
Philippians 4:8
Thanks for all the suggestion, be assured that I am reading and judging the pro and cons. Appreciate all your help.
3rd day finally...took away all the newspaper, do more then 50% water change. Finally, BGA gone, spot algae also seems to have reduced significantly. Increasing my dosage of KNO3.
Peeping of my tank on the 2nd day was for afew minutes only, because first time doing a blackout, so was really curious to see the state of algae and condition of my plants. But Peter is right, should not have done that because a small amount of light could have cause algae to bloom again.
Strongly recommend using the blackout method too cause you dun want to be building antibiotics resistant algae in your tank!
Some questions though,
How should I cover the top of the Tank where some light can go in from the top?
Why the magic number 3 days? Can black out 1 day, 2 days???
Most probably because it has been found that 1 and 2 days are insufficient for all the BGA to die out completely.
Still one more question, must one cover the top of the tank? and How to do that?
Thinking aloud.
Light will go into the tank if the top not cover, but if cover the top, how the fish breath?
Yes, cover practically anywhere light can shine on. That means every surface except the bottom of the tank.
Cover the top, your fish will be allright. Some add a airstone to their tank just in case. Discreetly run the airtube inside... you don't want light to go in just because of the airtube.
do u guys feed your critters in the tank during the 3 days?
I used tin foil [two rolls] and found it good to cover everything.
With an air-stone all the critters were happy.
I had it in my tanks before. It never go away unless you black out. Pitch black. Make sure black black. Plantbrain suggested 3 days. But, being a Singaporean, I did 5 days! and I added antibiotics after that- together with the normal things...
colin | The Wilderness and Forest | FTS
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