Blackout time

[mecedesfish]

Hi,
My 4x2x2 tank was infected with hair and green algae (Sand and plant).

Last Fri night, i changed the tank water
Sunday, I did not covered the tank and off the lighting for the day. At night, decided to cover it with newspapers.

Monday it's still covered.

Question
How do you guy think? Should I leave it to tomorrow night, tear away the newspaper and change tank water again?

I am also thinking to change the Biohome in my filter and add activated carbon (last for 3 mth)?

Lastly, after the water change, should i add fertilser and also lower the PH to 5.8

Thanks ):

[grey_fox]

Does the blackout work for hair/green algae or are you referring to Blue-green algae (BGA)?

If it is BGA do the following,

1. Scrape any visible algae and siphon it up
2. Wash your media
3. Do a blackout (I did a four day blackout as my BGA then was starting to cover the foreground)
4. No CO2 or lighting at all (have to ensure that it is a total blackout without any penetrating lightsource at all!)
5. After the fourth day, do a 50% waterchange and clean your filters again.
6. Dose KNO3 (be a little generous) and resume your fert regime and upkeep it.

Don't know if Carbon will help clear your tank from algaes, however a UV steriliser might help kill the algae spores but would also wipe out the trace elements that your plants need (correct me if I am wrong).

So far for my case, the BGA is gone.

Also why do you want to remove your Biohome for? If you do that, then you'll not only have a algae issue but a BB crash, big time and end up with 2 problems.

Hope this helps you.

[mecedesfish]

Does the blackout work for hair/green algae or are you referring to Blue-green algae (BGA)?

If it is BGA do the following,

1. Scrape any visible algae and siphon it up
2. Wash your media
3. Do a blackout (I did a four day blackout as my BGA then was starting to cover the foreground)
4. No CO2 or lighting at all (have to ensure that it is a total blackout without any penetrating lightsource at all!)
5. After the fourth day, do a 50% waterchange and clean your filters again.
6. Dose KNO3 (be a little generous) and resume your fert regime and upkeep it.

Don't know if Carbon will help clear your tank from algaes, however a UV steriliser might help kill the algae spores but would also wipe out the trace elements that your plants need (correct me if I am wrong).

So far for my case, the BGA is gone.

Also why do you want to remove your Biohome for? If you do that, then you'll not only have a algae issue but a BB crash, big time and end up with 2 problems.

Hope this helps you.

Thank for take some time to reply.

My plant get green spot and while using a tweezer to pick a gain of dennerle sand, a hair form attach to other gain sand.

1. Scrape any visible algae and siphon it up
OK done

2. Wash your media
I am thinking to wash the media and remove the old (about 2 years) then add new Biohome to filter after blackout completed.

3. Do a blackout (I did a four day blackout as my BGA then was starting to cover the foreground)
Worry because afraid that downoi and red tai yang plant will die if blackout is 3-4 days

4. No CO2 or lighting at all (have to ensure that it is a total blackout without any penetrating lightsource at all!)
ha, worry that there will be not O2 in tank water and fishes will die if i would cover the whole tank.

5. After the fourth day, do a 50% waterchange and clean your filters again.
yes will do a 50% waterchange but not the filter refer to Q2

6. Dose KNO3 (be a little generous) and resume your fert regime and upkeep it.
I am using dennerle fert (Gold 7, E15 v30,s7 tr7 etc...) you mean that after the H2O change add KNO3 only and leave out the other fert. Where can i get and how to dose KNO3
I have UV light which start on light on

Thanks

BGA can be cure with antibiotics (did it last month ) but might affect some sensitive plants.

[grey_fox]

:P See reply in erm... purple.

Thank for take some time to reply.

My plant get green spot and while using a tweezer to pick a gain of dennerle sand, a hair form attach to other gain sand.

1. Scrape any visible algae and siphon it up
OK done
Good
2. Wash your media
I am thinking to wash the media and remove the old (about 2 years) then add new Biohome to filter after blackout completed.
Ok, if its 2 years old then yes, its about time to replace your BioHome but do keep a fraction of it to speed up your BB colonisation.

3. Do a blackout (I did a four day blackout as my BGA then was starting to cover the foreground)
Worry because afraid that downoi and red tai yang plant will die if blackout is 3-4 days
Well, I won't lie, your plants will suffer but the BGA will suffer more.

4. No CO2 or lighting at all (have to ensure that it is a total blackout without any penetrating lightsource at all!)
ha, worry that there will be not O2 in tank water and fishes will die if i would cover the whole tank.
What I did was lower the water level so that the spray bar will create a "DIY" air stone or you can drop an airstone in the middle of the tank or a few around to facilitate O2.

5. After the fourth day, do a 50% waterchange and clean your filters again.
yes will do a 50% waterchange but not the filter refer to Q2
Its advisable actually and of course, use the tank water.

6. Dose KNO3 (be a little generous) and resume your fert regime and upkeep it.
I am using dennerle fert (Gold 7, E15 v30,s7 tr7 etc...) you mean that after the H2O change add KNO3 only and leave out the other fert. Where can i get and how to dose KNO3

I'm not too sure about the dennerle fert regime. I am using E.I (Estimative Index) fert regime and it might be different but one of the root cause for BGA to appear is poor water quality or your NO3 bottoming out on your tank. You can purchase KNO3 (Potassium Nitrate) from Nature Aquarium or directly from Dr. Mallick. You should use APC's fertiliator or Chuck's calculator to calculate your KNO3 dosage. For my tank, I dose four times a week @ 9.05PPM at each dose.

I have UV light which start on light on

Thanks

BGA can be cure with antibiotics (did it last month ) but might affect some sensitive plants.

Do not keep using Antibiotics as with all bacteria, there'll be a certain period where they will be immune to it and besides, from what I heard/read, antibiotics won't do you BB any justice. However, since its GSA (Green spot algae) or hair algae there is no need to have antibiotics added or even to do a blackout.

Please note that this procedure is mainly for BGA (Blue green algae/slime algae) AKA Cynobacteria.

Best if you post a photo of the algae you are facing.

[bclee]

Blackout method is only good for BGA. If you have green and hair algae, blackout is not going to be of much help.

Do the following:

1. Mechanically remove as much algae as possible.

2. Do a big water change.

3. If you are injecting CO2, you got to ensure you have 30ppm of CO2 throughout most of your lighted hours. Ensure good distribution of CO2.

4. Dose fertilisers. Maybe you can forget about the ferts you are using other than E15 and V30. (You can swap to trace mix like Seachem Flourish or TMG or the like if you want.) You need to add KNO3 and KH2PO4 to supplement N and P to the plants.

Do a search on "estimative index" or EI in this forum and read up. You will find valuable information in how to prevent algae by proper fertilisation.

BC

[PeterGwee]

Ditto to what BC has said. If you find it a hassle to pick on all the hairy stuff on the substrate, you can turn them over into the lower portions via the "bury you alive method".

Regards
Peter Gwee

[mecedesfish]

Ditto to what BC has said. If you find it a hassle to pick on all the hairy stuff on the substrate, you can turn them over into the lower portions via the "bury you alive method".

Regards
Peter Gwee

Peter,

Getting more Dennerle sand and covered the top surface?

Mecedesfish

[PeterGwee]

No, just rotate the top layer down to the lower portion.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[mecedesfish]

Blackout method is only good for BGA. If you have green and hair algae, blackout is not going to be of much help.

Do the following:

1. Mechanically remove as much algae as possible.

2. Do a big water change.

3. If you are injecting CO2, you got to ensure you have 30ppm of CO2 throughout most of your lighted hours. Ensure good distribution of CO2.

4. Dose fertilisers. Maybe you can forget about the ferts you are using other than E15 and V30. (You can swap to trace mix like Seachem Flourish or TMG or the like if you want.) You need to add KNO3 and KH2PO4 to supplement N and P to the plants.

Do a search on "estimative index" or EI in this forum and read up. You will find valuable information in how to prevent algae by proper fertilisation.

BC

Hi BC
1. Mechanically remove as much algae as possible.
I repeated it almost 2 times everyday for the last few weeks until get tried so decided that blackout might help.


2. Do a big water change.
I will do a 70% this evening after the 3.5 days of blackout. Will add 1/4 fert etc instead of normal.

3. If you are injecting CO2, you got to ensure you have 30ppm of CO2 throughout most of your lighted hours. Ensure good distribution of CO2.
Lucky i have a extra 1.5l CO2 and connect an extra tube to another side of the tank glass.

Peter
No, just rotate the top layer down to the lower portion.
Layman words, Rotate? the lower layer is the base fert, it is alright to mixed the sand to the lower where the base fert is?

Thanks for the reply

Regards

[juggler]

Blackout method is only good for BGA. If you have green and hair algae, blackout is not going to be of much help.

Do the following:

1. Mechanically remove as much algae as possible.

2. Do a big water change.

3. If you are injecting CO2, you got to ensure you have 30ppm of CO2 throughout most of your lighted hours. Ensure good distribution of CO2.

4. Dose fertilisers. Maybe you can forget about the ferts you are using other than E15 and V30. (You can swap to trace mix like Seachem Flourish or TMG or the like if you want.) You need to add KNO3 and KH2PO4 to supplement N and P to the plants.

Do a search on "estimative index" or EI in this forum and read up. You will find valuable information in how to prevent algae by proper fertilisation.

BC

Ha ha... sometimes, it sounds easy to say balance the nutrients. I myself have problem with this hair algae for the last 6 months. I don't have this problem all the while so I am not sure why it came about. I am still trying to solve it.

I also do the same E.I. and the weekly water changes. Only thing I did not do is the NO3. For when I dose it, even 5ppm, I get BBA. I feed my fish liberally.

So my last resort, get Yamatos.

[mecedesfish]

Ha ha... sometimes, it sounds easy to say balance the nutrients. I myself have problem with this hair algae for the last 6 months. I don't have this problem all the while so I am not sure why it came about. I am still trying to solve it.

I also do the same E.I. and the weekly water changes. Only thing I did not do is the NO3. For when I dose it, even 5ppm, I get BBA. I feed my fish liberally.

So my last resort, get Yamatos.

YAMATOS????????????????

I think you will had the high chances with them.

I have a altum 4-5" and 4nos long nose, 100pcs malayan or yamatos will be eaten by them.

Cheers

[PeterGwee]

Ha ha... sometimes, it sounds easy to say balance the nutrients. I myself have problem with this hair algae for the last 6 months. I don't have this problem all the while so I am not sure why it came about. I am still trying to solve it.

I also do the same E.I. and the weekly water changes. Only thing I did not do is the NO3. For when I dose it, even 5ppm, I get BBA. I feed my fish liberally.

So my last resort, get Yamatos.

Now, what do you think happens to the CO2 uptake rate when you dose the NO3? I'll let you ponder on it for a while....(Doing CO2 24/7 doesn't allow much room for error which you can push if you only add it during the day.)

Regards
Peter Gwee

[mecedesfish]

At last I took the Newpapers off the glass.saw some plant decay and change 70% of tank water.

Add flourish 30ml
Prime 7.5ml
FB7 25ml
Sera fishamin 24 drops
S7 7.5ml
TR7 10ml
3 tea spoon KH+ and trying to adjust PH to 6. temp maintance at 26d.

no fert was added.

Will Change another 70% on Sat.

Can pls advise.

[bclee]

Why change water again on Sat? Weekly change should be sufficient.

Just need to make the plants happy by giving adequate CO2 and fertilisers, they will take care of the algae for you. At the meantime, before the plants reach their full health, pick out the algae as much as possible. You can also some algae eaters.

Don't confuse yourself with other things.

BC

[PeterGwee]

As mentioned by Bclee, just provide the plants with the stuff they need to grow well and pick on the algae. The algae will not go away once induced and the only way is via good cleaning and sometimes with the help of algae eating critters (much of the work still has to be done by the hobbyist.).

Regards
Peter Gwee

[mecedesfish]

As mentioned by Bclee, just provide the plants with the stuff they need to grow well and pick on the algae. The algae will not go away once induced and the only way is via good cleaning and sometimes with the help of algae eating critters (much of the work still has to be done by the hobbyist.).

Regards
Peter Gwee

Hi everyone,

I am back and so far the condition of my tank was ok after my weekly 50-60% water change. May not be able to change water this weekend, for a short trip to malacca. Fert dose less, plant grow slow but healthy. lighting hour to 7 hrs.

Thank for the advise.

[digital_ric]

i had a bad case of hair algae last time.. n yeah like peter says, most of the work should be done by hobbyist myself.. clean and dose accordingly. adjust the photoperiod too according to what plants you have inside. i believe black out wont help much and will only harm the plants more.