Can BGA grow in gravel?

[grey_fox]

Just a question, I noticed that the front part of my gravel (facing the tank) is starting to get some algae in it it looks slimy. I am afraid that this is actually BGA... Can BGA actually grow in the gravel? Also should I be concerned that it will surface to the top of the gravel?

Please advise.

[ranmasatome]

Just curious..Where else would it grow?? most commonly seen on gravel.

[grey_fox]

Not too sure where it would start growing at. Anyways since this is the case, should I do a blackout?

[grey_fox]

I just taped the gravel line and lined newspaper along it. Must be the afternoon sun that's causing the BGA to grow...

[|squee|]

It grows on low lying plants, driftwood, stagnant water flow areas. Take up some of it on your finger and smell it. Smells disgusting?

After sneezing a couple of times, check your nitrate levels, they're bottoming out. Add more, or on a more frequent basis. Suck up the stuff now before it becomes a pest.

[grey_fox]

Yet to smell it though. Think I'll need to add more NO3 if this is the case, I am adding 1.5 tps on Mon/Wed/Fri & Sats. I will use my credit card and scrap it down.

Should I add more NO3?

[grey_fox]

Just as an update, I scrapped down the BGA and re-lined the exterior of the tank with newpaper at the gravel line.

I did see some of the BGA particles drift away with the current. Managed to scoop some of it up with my net but a piece or two drifted away. Just wondering if this would lead to disaster AKA BGA infestation?

I will scoop 2 tps of NO3 for tomorrow.

[|squee|]

Should not be a problem.. just keep a look out.

If it does become a full scale infestation, solutions are easily found in the forums. Search "Tom Barr BGA black out".

[grey_fox]

Terence,

Just a question. BGA is caused by lack of NO3 or lack of N or PO4? I've read several posts on BGA and it some say its lack of NO3, then again I read that its the lack of PO4 and then again lack of N.

Please advise.

I'd rather understand the basics of BGA now than never... also, please see my EI schedule. Should I insert K2SO4 (Potassium Sulphate) on Mondays, Weds, Fris & Suns ? I calculated using APC Fertilator and adding 3 tps should suffice. If I do this, would I be overdosing K? As for the NO3, since with my high light and high CO2, would it be wise to add more NO3?

Item is red is a new addition.

Tank Size: 5 x 2 x 2 feet
Tank Vol: 566.34 litres / 149.63 gallons (US)
CO2: Maintained at 30-35PPM daily
Lighting hours: 10 hours

Mondays: KNO3 + KH2PO4 + K2SO4?
Tuesdays: Lushgro-AQUA + Seachem Iron
Wednesdays: KNO3 + KH2PO4 + K2SO4?
Thursdays: Lushgro-AQUA + Seachem Iron
Fridays: KNO3 + KH2PO4 + K2SO4?
Saturdays: 50% WC, KNO3 + KH2PO4 + K2SO4?
Sundays: Lushgro-AQUA + Seachem Iron

Cycle of composition
NO3: 4 x weekly
PO4: 4 x weekly
K: 4 x weekly (from K from KNO3 + K2SO4)
Fe: 3 x weekly
Micros: 3 x weekly (Flourish traces, Flourish, LUSHGro-Aqua)

Composition of each dosage at any one time.
KNO3 – 1.5 teaspoon (7.8ml) ~ 8.48PPM
KH2PO4 (Fleet Enema) - 0.15 teaspoon (1.2ml) ~ 1.42PPM
K – 5.35PPM from KNO3 + 12.73PPM from K2SO4
Fe - 0.51PPM from K + 0.87PPM from Seachem Iron (20ML)
Flourish Trace Elements - 30ML each time. (once finished to move to LUSHGro-AQUA)
LUSHGro-AQUA – 55ML each time. (once finished to move to Seachem Flourish)
Flourish – 10ML each time

Composition of dosage per week
KNO3 – 33.92PPM
KH2PO4 – 5.68PPM
K – 72.32PPM (from KNO3 + K2SO4)
Fe – 3.12PPM
Traces - Mg, Cu, Ca, etc (unknown range - instruction as per Seachem traces of 5ml per 80 litres)

[|squee|]

From all good sources, I've read that low NO3 levels trigger this algae.

Some credible posts by Tom Barr:
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...4&postcount=42
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...69&postcount=3

I don't know about the potassium part, but additional potassium won't harm. Furthurmore, no one has ever accused potassium of being a algae trigger isn't it?

I agree with the add more NO3 part. At high light and CO2, you're gonna need lots of it. It's already shown in your tank... your plants are taking up so much NO3 that BGA has appeared.

[grey_fox]

From what I read, K or Potassium is an additive to prevent the leaves from turning yellow (correct me if I am wrong of course). Just wonder if there should be any side effect as this is someting I am not really dosing on, that being K/Postassium.

I will up my NO3 dosage but 2 tps, which represents 11.31PPM, maybe this is the root cause, as mentioned earlier due to the high lighting levels I currently have, NO3 uptake will definitely be increased.

I will also increase the dosage of the PO4 if this should be the case.

[PeterGwee]

Vac the substrate.....unlikely to be an NO3 issue unless you are getting loads of plant cuttings out of the tank.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[grey_fox]

Hi Peter,

Currently there are no cuttings and the plants look really healthy, other than the BGA in the gravel line, there are no other signs of algae (BBA, Hair Algae, etc) I read up further and there is a lot of feedback indicating that this BGA in the gravel is normally due to access sunlight hitting an area where no/poor circulation is found AKA the gravel. Am I right to say this?

Should I also stick to the current routine without increasing the NO3? And K should be alright to does correct without any side-effects?

[PeterGwee]

Stick with your routine....just vac the substrate to clean things up if it bugs you.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[grey_fox]

Thanks Peter, will do so.

[grey_fox]

...My little cousin pulled out the newpaper that I lined along the gravel line... Itchy fingers of his... anyways, I saw the BGA and 75% of it disappeared. However I noticed a small amount of it on the glass and removed it.

I have re-taped the gravel line again... however am worried that the BGA might spread even further.

Should I proceed to do the blackout.

From all good sources, I've read that low NO3 levels trigger this algae.

Some credible posts by Tom Barr:
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...4&postcount=42
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...69&postcount=3

I don't know about the potassium part, but additional potassium won't harm. Furthurmore, no one has ever accused potassium of being a algae trigger isn't it?

I agree with the add more NO3 part. At high light and CO2, you're gonna need lots of it. It's already shown in your tank... your plants are taking up so much NO3 that BGA has appeared.

I have read Tom Barr's take on BGA and read that BGA is due to poor water quality. Could that be the reason that the tank is suffering from a minor BGA outbreak? It'll be rather strange as I do a 50% WC each week. In that instance I have ruled that out.

I have also faithfully stuck with the dosing of KNO3. Should I increase the dosage or just clean up the filters and perform the blackout procedure?

Hoping for some advise.

[grey_fox]

Btw, in relation to this thread.

http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ad.php?t=18269

I have the same sort of algae. So what I am having is green algae & not BGA?

[|squee|]

If that's the algae you've been having, then I'd not worry much... it's really normal, and too much of a hassle to clean up. I have them in my tanks too, maybe I'll take a pic and post it up here later if you would like to see it.

Update: The pic.

[grey_fox]

Hey Terence,

I will take a picture and then post it up also, think I can remove the newspaper since my cousin already pulled out the newpaper lining....

[PeterGwee]

Just vac the substrate/clean the glass/pull back the substrate from the glass....as mulm builds up, the flow of O2/nutrients in/out is going to slow down. Tom mentions that you need to do the removal of excess mulm after a year or so in order to improve things.

Regards
Peter Gwee