Bga

[idiot]

Since BGA is cyanobacteria, will UV light be able to kill it?

[idiot]

Anybody can help?
Looking to invest in a UV filter but will UV light be able to kill BGA?
The BGA is winning the war...

[Goondoo]

Anybody can help?
Looking to invest in a UV filter but will UV light be able to kill BGA?
The BGA is winning the war...

Hi,
I believe you only need to do a search in AQ.
You will realize that all you need to do is a blackout.

[Shadow]

UV only kill free moving algae and not the one that already take a hold on your substrate. It can help prevent though by killing the spore.

[idiot]

I tried blackout for 2 days, a few days later BGA came back
I was told BGA is not really algae but cyanobacteria so blackout not 100%
I'm willing to kill all bacteria good or bad as long as BGA don't come back

[christopher.wtc]

I tried blackout for 2 days, a few days later BGA came back
I was told BGA is not really algae but cyanobacteria so blackout not 100%
I'm willing to kill all bacteria good or bad as long as BGA don't come back

Well, before going to that extend. Try the black out method again. It's really important to follow every step meticulously. Thats the key. Here is what Tom Barr suggested. Works for me and I hope it works for you.

Black out method for 100 liters tank
1) Clean filter, gravel and along gravel line.
2) Vacuumed the gravel, 1/3 sections over 3 weeks. (Optional cause you could do it after black out)
3) Clean most things, fluff up any dead spots
4) Trim plants that might be on the surface
5) 50% or large water change+ KNO3 dosing (Target it at 30ppm)
6) Blackout tank for 3 days.
7) 50% or large water change+ KNO3 dosing (Target it at 30ppm)

Killing all beneficial bacterial and the BGA does not guarantee you from wiping out BGA too. BGA manifest quickly.

As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. The key fert is high dose of KNO3, course it needs to be complimented with high dosing of other ferts. That way BGA will be kept at bay.

[idiot]

I'm reluctant to go to that extent as I have fishes which I am quite attached to.
I don't think it is safe to let the fishes remain in the tank & to move them out would be causing stress to them & I also do not have any place to store them once removed from the tank.

That's why I'm looking at other alternatives such as heavily planting Egeria densa but not sure how effective it is against BGA...

[Shadow]

normally BGA is due to dirty filter, poor circulation, and low NO3. Adding Egeria densa may not work since it will take out more of the NO3

[gcce]

I tried the excel approach before and somehow it worked. Using a syringe & needle (with filter turned off), i injected excel directly at the BGA. Left it there for ~10-15min before turning on the filter again. Also pumped up my NO3 concentration to ~20ppm. It went away.

[fishy80]

How about for shrimp tank? How do i rid of BGA. NO3 is very low. Less than 10mg. injecting excel might be harmful to shrimps. I just changed my filter wool, but i rinsed the media with tank water. The BGA seems to be coming back. Any advise?

[Wabi-Sabi]

How about for shrimp tank? How do i rid of BGA. NO3 is very low. Less than 10mg. injecting excel might be harmful to shrimps. I just changed my filter wool, but i rinsed the media with tank water. The BGA seems to be coming back. Any advise?

Do a 3-5-day blackout and remember to add an air pump.

I am not sure Excel is able to get rid of BGA... Haven't heard of it but it is certainly effective on BBA.