How to do a blackout

[charlessito]

To all bro and sis here, can help explain how to do a blackout .
Thanks in advance

[eddyq]

1. Try to remove as much algae as possible.
2. Change water, about 50%.
3. Cover tank with newspaper or black plastic, etc to block-out lights from entering the tank.
4. Continue to let filter to run and turn off CO2.
5. Do the black-out for a minimum period of 3 days.
6. Provide a 24 hr H2O supply via air pump.

After black-out is completed, change water again and remove any dead plants, if any and continue to normal maintainance.

[charlessito]

thanks bro,will do that.

[oblivion]

1. Try to remove as much algae as possible.
2. Change water, about 50%.
3. Cover tank with newspaper or black plastic, etc to block-out lights from entering the tank.
4. Continue to let filter to run and turn off CO2.
5. Do the black-out for a minimum period of 3 days.
6. Provide a 24 hr H2O supply via air pump.
**erhmm.... should be O2 instead...**

After black-out is completed, change water again and remove any dead plants, if any and continue to normal maintainance.

just a word of correction..

[wasabi8888]

When you turn the CO2 and run the O2 24 hours, wont the PH drop and affect the livestock? This is especially so if CO2 is at a high bps.

[grey_fox]

When you do a blackout, there is no need for any CO2 injection.

[riccia]

Since the filter is still running, do we really need to "Provide a 24 hr O2 supply via air pump" in a blackout situation as suggested by bro eddyq? Is this necessary?

When you do a blackout, there is no need for any CO2 injection.

[charlessito]

thank you all,just finish a blackout,nothing happen to the algae. they grow better i think, guess i have to live with it ,too risky to dose chem as afraid will kill my crs

[zenscape]

Since the filter is still running, do we really need to "Provide a 24 hr O2 supply via air pump" in a blackout situation as suggested by bro eddyq? Is this necessary?

Yes, if you have fish in tank. I murdered 2 altums during one black-out session when the pump failed on the first day without my notice

During a blackout, the tank is just like a bare tank; no light and plants don't produce oxygen and will compete for o2.

Co2 is off during blackout because it serves no purpose as there is no photo period for the plants.

[riccia]

Thanks Maurice.

OIC, the job of the air pump during blackout is to supply enough O2.

Yes, if you have fish in tank. I murdered 2 altums during one black-out session when the pump failed on the first day without my notice

During a blackout, the tank is just like a bare tank; no light and plants don't produce oxygen and will compete for o2.

Co2 is off during blackout because it serves no purpose as there is no photo period for the plants.

[StanChung]

thank you all,just finish a blackout,nothing happen to the algae. they grow better i think, guess i have to live with it ,too risky to dose chem as afraid will kill my crs

What kind of algae in the first place were you trying to kill? Blackout is normally done to kill PSB's like BGA and soften others so that the fauna may eat it.

[charlessito]

What kind of algae in the first place were you trying to kill? Blackout is normally done to kill PSB's like BGA and soften others so that the fauna may eat it.

bro I am really new into this .long hair like green algae,brush algae,bba.

[StanChung]

Ah... that would explain things doesn't it?
Do look in our photo Gallery as to proper ID on algae to confirm it.
IME long hairy algae is eaten by some fish like SAE-siamese algae eaters after some 'softening up'. Now probably the best time to put one or two small SAE in your tank to eat up the algae. Of course you need to manually remove as much as you can and do a water change.
Beware that SAE's will moss and other small plants.

[charlessito]

ya bro,will do that. have any bro sis here try anti algae that will not harm crs?

[grey_fox]

Since the filter is still running, do we really need to "Provide a 24 hr O2 supply via air pump" in a blackout situation as suggested by bro eddyq? Is this necessary?

Having the air pump for blackout periods is just to ensure that there is sufficient O2 supply.

Incase your external canister should fail, it works as a backup.

Charlessito,

If its bba/hair algae and of those likes. Try doing a manual clean up of the algae, water change and reduce your lighting. Apparently the algae in your tank is doing better than the plants that you have.