Black spot algae on Annubias

JoePhish · 10-25-2009, 03:11 AM

Anyone got any advice on how to get rid of and controll black spot algae on Annubias? I'm sure there's a thread in here somewhere, I just can't find it yet.

Philosophos · 10-25-2009, 03:43 AM

Increase your PO4 levels and get your anubias out of the light.

-Philosophos

JoePhish · 10-25-2009, 03:47 AM

Get them "Out" of the light.
I never would have guessed that.
But the PO4 your right, it is high and I'm working on that.

Philosophos · 10-25-2009, 03:52 AM

No, if anything you WANT high PO4; it'll reduce GSA.

I've found anubias just doesn't grow fast enough under high light, even with non-limiting CO2, to prevent GSA consistently. It's far easier stuff to grow under lower light values until you've got your methods perfected.

-Philosophos

JoePhish · 10-28-2009, 04:51 AM

Oh sorry. I misread.
MORE PO4.
Hmmmm. Going to have to figure out how to increase JUST the PO4.

Philosophos · 10-28-2009, 05:03 AM

I suppose I should've asked what you're dosing right now. What are your targets and methods? How much does your tap add, and if possible what does a calibrated test kit say about PO4?

-Philosophos

**MarkMc** · 11-07-2009, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philosophos

No, if anything you WANT high PO4; it'll reduce GSA.

I've found anubias just doesn't grow fast enough under high light, even with non-limiting CO2, to prevent GSA consistently. It's far easier stuff to grow under lower light values until you've got your methods perfected.

-Philosophos

That's interesting. Low phosphates causes GSA?

nismo tetra · 11-09-2009, 12:22 AM

from the sounds of it, I read it as low phosphates doesn't necissarily cause GSA. But a higher level will help reduce it from growing.

**MarkMc** · 11-09-2009, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nismo tetra

from the sounds of it, I read it as low phosphates doesn't necissarily cause GSA. But a higher level will help reduce it from growing.

Either one is interesting. Curious to know if it's a scientific finding or a subjective observation.

Philosophos · 11-09-2009, 07:23 PM

Low phosphates seem to induce more favorable conditions for GSA than high. I've found my GSA problems pretty much gone outside of slow growth on hardscape and glass; a scrub of the back glass with the magfloat every month or two seems to keep it almost nonexistent. The hardscape only gets it on one log that seems to attract the stuff, but even that is maybe a yearly cleanup at most. It's never stopped growth completely for me, or killed it, but the spread has definitely slowed to a level that no longer bothers me.

The science on it isn't something I understand yet; only that It has worked for me, and has had no ill effects that I am aware of. I run about 5ppm of PO4. It's definitely something worth trying, and it beats waiting for the life cycle to run its course.

Be prepared to increase your K+ if PO4 was previously on the lean/limiting side. I hit mild K+ deficiency the first time I did it.

Tom Barr recommends PO4 for GSA here:
http://www.barrreport.com/general-pl...ggestions.html

And I'm finding his posts behind a lot of the recommendation when I look around. I've created a thread over on TBR and ask about it, though the algae board is in the members only section:
http://www.barrreport.com/algae-cont...html#post42996

I'll share any info I get.

-Philosophos

fish dork · 11-10-2009, 05:04 PM

Do you have a pic of the Anubius? Is it for sure GSA? My anubius gets a black spot algae that I'm sure is a type of BBA.

JoePhish · 11-14-2009, 04:54 AM

Wow. Didn't realize I would get this much attention when I started this thread, but this is great stuff.

My Annubias also gets the black spot type of algae, and it is on my annubias ONLY.

Keep it comming, this is great stuff.
(Guess I better start watching this thread

)

10-25-2009, 03:11 AM	#1 (permalink)
JoePhish Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Auburn, Me Posts: 65	Black spot algae on Annubias Anyone got any advice on how to get rid of and controll black spot algae on Annubias? I'm sure there's a thread in here somewhere, I just can't find it yet. __________________ Do fish know that they are wet?

10-25-2009, 03:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
JoePhish Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Auburn, Me Posts: 65	Get them "Out" of the light. I never would have guessed that. But the PO4 your right, it is high and I'm working on that. __________________ Do fish know that they are wet?

10-28-2009, 04:51 AM	#5 (permalink)
JoePhish Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Auburn, Me Posts: 65	Oh sorry. I misread. MORE PO4. Hmmmm. Going to have to figure out how to increase JUST the PO4. __________________ Do fish know that they are wet?

11-09-2009, 12:22 AM	#8 (permalink)
nismo tetra Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Missouri Posts: 151	from the sounds of it, I read it as low phosphates doesn't necissarily cause GSA. But a higher level will help reduce it from growing. __________________ 1,500 gal fish room. (mostly amazon predatory fish) one matamata turtle tank. I dedicated a 20 gallon tank to plants and smaller fish lol. Got to start somewhere http://community.webshots.com/user/nismosilvia240

11-10-2009, 05:04 PM	#11 (permalink)
fish dork Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 264	Do you have a pic of the Anubius? Is it for sure GSA? My anubius gets a black spot algae that I'm sure is a type of BBA. __________________ 80 gal planted thread: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ph...tons-pics.html filstar pimp #146 Dual-ing XP3's

10-25-2009, 03:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
Philosophos Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2009 Location: ID Posts: 169	Increase your PO4 levels and get your anubias out of the light. -Philosophos

10-25-2009, 03:52 AM	#4 (permalink)
Philosophos Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2009 Location: ID Posts: 169	No, if anything you WANT high PO4; it'll reduce GSA. I've found anubias just doesn't grow fast enough under high light, even with non-limiting CO2, to prevent GSA consistently. It's far easier stuff to grow under lower light values until you've got your methods perfected. -Philosophos

10-28-2009, 05:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
Philosophos Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2009 Location: ID Posts: 169	I suppose I should've asked what you're dosing right now. What are your targets and methods? How much does your tap add, and if possible what does a calibrated test kit say about PO4? -Philosophos

11-09-2009, 07:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
Philosophos Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2009 Location: ID Posts: 169	Low phosphates seem to induce more favorable conditions for GSA than high. I've found my GSA problems pretty much gone outside of slow growth on hardscape and glass; a scrub of the back glass with the magfloat every month or two seems to keep it almost nonexistent. The hardscape only gets it on one log that seems to attract the stuff, but even that is maybe a yearly cleanup at most. It's never stopped growth completely for me, or killed it, but the spread has definitely slowed to a level that no longer bothers me. The science on it isn't something I understand yet; only that It has worked for me, and has had no ill effects that I am aware of. I run about 5ppm of PO4. It's definitely something worth trying, and it beats waiting for the life cycle to run its course. Be prepared to increase your K+ if PO4 was previously on the lean/limiting side. I hit mild K+ deficiency the first time I did it. Tom Barr recommends PO4 for GSA here: http://www.barrreport.com/general-pl...ggestions.html And I'm finding his posts behind a lot of the recommendation when I look around. I've created a thread over on TBR and ask about it, though the algae board is in the members only section: http://www.barrreport.com/algae-cont...html#post42996 I'll share any info I get. -Philosophos

11-14-2009, 04:54 AM	#12 (permalink)
JoePhish Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Auburn, Me Posts: 65	Wow. Didn't realize I would get this much attention when I started this thread, but this is great stuff. My Annubias also gets the black spot type of algae, and it is on my annubias ONLY. Keep it comming, this is great stuff. (Guess I better start watching this thread ) __________________ Do fish know that they are wet?

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