My low tech got BBA! HAR??

**ranmasatome** · 8th Oct 2007, 22:13

actually Peter, i started this tank without any co2... maybe the plants were bought from co2 enriched environments..that i agree..but after 2.5 months???? i think should have stabalised liao mah.... so it can't be that they are STILL adapting..
however, looking at the tank these 2 weeks since i've been back..it does seem like the BBA isn't going anywhere... its just staying where it is... However, i also can't really tell because there is just so much of it...it is VERY VERY prevelant where the flow is strong... and almost absent where flow is not strong... perhaps strong flow has something to do with it? i'm tempted to use a different filter and see what happens...i've read on the BarrReport that BBA is SOLELY Co2 induced...but if that is the case i cannot understand why my tank is behaving as such. Is there a thread or soemthing about flow being related in some way?

i'll try the methods mentioned in this thread... trim the plants...get rid of as much bba as i can physically..and then see if they grow in new spots...

**PeterGwee** · 8th Oct 2007, 22:45

Maybe I'll bug Tom on this issue since I have no clue as well.

Regards,
Peter Gwee

**Goondoo** · 8th Oct 2007, 23:17

Originally Posted by PeterGwee

Maybe I'll bug Tom on this issue since I have no clue as well.

Regards,
Peter Gwee

Try lowering your lights further?

**ranmasatome** · 9th Oct 2007, 00:08

Uncle.. i'm already at 1.5wpg... any lower the nana also die..

**StanChung** · 9th Oct 2007, 01:58

I'm quite sure if the CO2 or lack of it is stable, the dirty filter is the cause! Ha! I've got 3 tanks and they all get BBA issues when the filter is neglected or when the CO2 runs out. Clear the filter and it's gone till the detritus buildup reaches a certain point again.

Trimming everything with BBA is recommended.

**ranmasatome** · 9th Oct 2007, 23:16

well... since i am poor and have no money for a new filter or have one hanging around i can use..i'll clean filter first.. then see what happen..

**Jaffar** · 14th Oct 2007, 22:17

I also encounter BBA no matter what I do. Wash filter, reduce lighting, increase CO2, improve circulation, black out for 3 days, etc, etc. Even the SAE don't seem to eat the BBA. They are more interested in other algaes.
Have to trim off the affected areas and hope it goes away gradually. Just don't know any other way to keep BBA in check.

**StanChung** · 15th Oct 2007, 17:15

Jaffar, Introduce fast growing plants and step up fertilization+CO2-not just CO2. If your water was cloudy due to substrate disturbance, do a large WC.
I'd also reduce # of fishes.

The BBA should subside in 2 weeks. Some spot treatment with excel help for plant rhizomes and stems. Leaves infected should be cut off.

**wasabi8888** · 18th Oct 2007, 14:39

Stan

For the fixtures in my tank, i paint hydrogen peroxide on it. This gets of BBA rather easily. Can I spray excel on roots of nanas? The last time, I paint (with a paint brush) the leaf of a nana with hydrogen peroxide, the lead died.

**StanChung** · 18th Oct 2007, 15:38

Excel does not kill roots off that easily should be ok.

**Goondoo** · 18th Oct 2007, 18:46

Originally Posted by ranmasatome

Uncle.. i'm already at 1.5wpg... any lower the nana also die..

Aunty,
I believed I read somewhere that 1.5wpg is too much for a big tank and too little for a small tank, assuming normal tank dimensions.

I remembered those days when my 4x2x2 tank was plague by undying BBA. I tried everything even to the extend of using medication against everyone's advises. It just wouldn't go off.... I was about to give up, especially when my filter broke down while I was working in Malaysia. I ask my wife to turn off the timer connected to the lights and CO2 solenoid (since I was using an external reactor that was driven by the filter). Feeling depressed, I did nothing over the next few weekends when I was back in SG until one day I turn on the lights, the BBA are totally gone!!! You can see the debris (I believe due to dead BBA) everywhere. My plants looks healthy to me especially the crypts and java mosses. I fixed my filter and put everything back to normal and the plants grows faster than ever before.

Note: There are very minimal ambient lights entering my house, those that visited me should know. I verified with Simon then, he told me the same happened to his tank.

Conclusion: no CO2, no filter, no lights = no BBA? (Provided the plants are stable and healthy)

**ranmasatome** · 19th Oct 2007, 03:21

Originally Posted by Goondoo

Aunty,
I believed I read somewhere that 1.5wpg is too much for a big tank and too little for a small tank, assuming normal tank dimensions.

Uncle... my tank is 2ftx1ftx1ft tank... is this big or small? Personally, i don't think this is big tank leh..

**Goondoo** · 19th Oct 2007, 12:07

Originally Posted by ranmasatome

Uncle... my tank is 2ftx1ftx1ft tank... is this big or small? Personally, i don't think this is big tank leh..

I guess its up to the plants to decide, not us

Try lifting your lights higher by a inch or two maybe?

**StanChung** · 19th Oct 2007, 13:27

For small tanks, the WPG should err on the high side. So 1.5WPG on a small tank is very low.

**soulfinder78** · 29th Dec 2007, 21:57

Originally Posted by Goondoo

Aunty,
I believed I read somewhere that 1.5wpg is too much for a big tank and too little for a small tank, assuming normal tank dimensions.

I remembered those days when my 4x2x2 tank was plague by undying BBA. I tried everything even to the extend of using medication against everyone's advises. It just wouldn't go off.... I was about to give up, especially when my filter broke down while I was working in Malaysia. I ask my wife to turn off the timer connected to the lights and CO2 solenoid (since I was using an external reactor that was driven by the filter). Feeling depressed, I did nothing over the next few weekends when I was back in SG until one day I turn on the lights, the BBA are totally gone!!! You can see the debris (I believe due to dead BBA) everywhere. My plants looks healthy to me especially the crypts and java mosses. I fixed my filter and put everything back to normal and the plants grows faster than ever before.

Note: There are very minimal ambient lights entering my house, those that visited me should know. I verified with Simon then, he told me the same happened to his tank.

Conclusion: no CO2, no filter, no lights = no BBA? (Provided the plants are stable and healthy)

Sorry for hijacking this link, was searching through the forum for some information and came across this. Why doesn't the 2WPG rule applys to bigger tank?

Currently running a 54 x 8 T5HO on my 4x2x2, does it means trouble for me?

I'm growing glosso in it and even with such lights my glosso seems to be growing upwards which i assume is due to the cloduy water as it's a newly setup tank.

Pls advise.

**Shadow** · 30th Dec 2007, 00:29

because we should measure lux per square inch instead

The following link may have your answer
http://rexgrigg.com/mlt.html

IMHO it is make more sense than 3WPG rule

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