getting rid of black brush algae

Couesfanatic · 05-15-2011, 04:19 AM

Stems. Plant stems. Water Sprite, Wisteria, Cabomba, fast growing stems. I see java ferns, anubius and crypts in there. I know there are a lot more plant species in there but those are very slow growers. What is your substrate?

fahim6801 · 09-11-2012, 11:16 AM

im really new in this planted aquarium world, i am facing the same problem too (BBA) for around 2 month now, is it possible that by introducing some Otocinclus vestitus or siamese algae eater can help me get rid of BBA, or any other algae eater tht can help me cleaning this BBA....

Sethjohnson30 · 12-12-2012, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fahim6801

im really new in this planted aquarium world, i am facing the same problem too (BBA) for around 2 month now, is it possible that by introducing some Otocinclus vestitus or siamese algae eater can help me get rid of BBA, or any other algae eater tht can help me cleaning this BBA....

I just read this whole thread + a few others to refresh my memory so I could get rid of a small bba outbreak. If you read this thread you posted in you will find the answers. Here's a quick list of things mentioned of inportance in this thread:

Low co2, you want at least 30 ppm in most situations
High light(without co2 and ferns to support it
Proper dosing methods(ei was mentioned here, it's nice and simple,works for most people).
I have also noticed a link between sachem flourish iron and bba
Fluctuating co2 levels is also suspect along with low nitrates(I disagree,my nitrates are kept at 15 ppm and I have algae)

You can get rid of it by spot dosing excel or h202(hydrogen peroxide)

Thanks everyone that posted in this thread. I have came to the conclusion that bba showed up in my medium light non co2 tank because I got lazy with dosing excel. This was kind of one those moments where I went "DUH!" and smacked myselfin the forehead.

For some reason I continued reading. This thread is a very good read.

etgregoire · 12-12-2012, 06:54 PM

Wow this is an epic thread, I found it on google... and as it turns out it was posted on just today.

Seth - What was the connection between Seachem Iron and BBA that you found?

I have a slight amont of BBA everywhere and it's driving me crazy. It doesn't grow in thick tufts or patches like most photos I see, but very slowly small amounts on the edges of leaves. I prune a lot of affected leaves. I have also been spot dosing excel. I have pulled plants out and soaked in H2O2 and even soaked the sword leaf tips in cups of h2o2 when the water was low during water change.

I'm thinking of upping my fert dosing... I have might lights cut back to 6 hrs, and I don't know my exact amt of co2 but i know its pretty high....

Sighhh

Just curious about your Iron / BBA statement! Thanks

Sethjohnson30 · 12-12-2012, 09:32 PM

Every time I dose flourish iron(or comprehensive) I end up with bba butif I dose csm+b I do not get bba.

Lastnight I looked through a lot of threads. As I always do when I have a question. It became apparent to me that people dosing flourish iron seamed to have a lot worse problems with bba.
I read a lot last night, like 50 threads.
I haven't done any true experiments to prove my findings, but I'm satisfied.

Sethjohnson30 · 12-12-2012, 09:35 PM

How's your flow? If you don't have even distribution of nutrients and co2 some times algae will grow heavier in slower moving water because the nutrients and co2 are not able to get to that area

Sethjohnson30 · 12-12-2012, 09:47 PM

I think this thread should be a sticky.can we do that mods?

**OVT** · 12-13-2012, 12:03 PM

I wish I could find Cause -> Effect in this thread (or any other). The search continues....

etgregoire · 12-13-2012, 12:24 PM

I did have high flow in my tank so I took out my power had circulating water. It seems to be growing less rapidly now but I also have a better co2 reg that gives more consistent output. So I'm not sure which that was. I might try adding it back

crossbred900 · 01-26-2013, 12:52 PM

My 75 gallon oscar tank was infested with bba a few months ago when I decided to try a couple plants in his tank. Now the plants are gone and I can't get rid of the algae. I read that overdosing Flourish Excel can get rid of it, but how much can I dose without hurting my large oscar? The initial dose I used last night was for 90 gallons. Now it says add 1 cap a day. How much more than that should I use?

plantedtankfan · 02-01-2013, 01:20 AM

Will sdding some SAE help with the bbs problem?

puopg · 02-01-2013, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plantedtankfan

Will sdding some SAE help with the bbs problem?

help yes. Solve, maybe. Spot dose excel and Stable CO2

TetraFan · 02-01-2013, 05:27 AM

I had a problem with BBA only once. I traded my CAE in for two SAE and I have never had it since...

12-13-2012, 12:03 PM	#53
OVT Carpe Diem (View User Tanks) PTrader: (117/100%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: SF East Bay Area Posts: 2,334	I wish I could find Cause -> Effect in this thread (or any other). The search continues.... __________________ Courtesy Integrity * Perseverance * Indominable Spirit * and Self Control* Tenets of TKD

02-01-2013, 05:27 AM	#58
TetraFan Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Victoria, Canada Posts: 53	I had a problem with BBA only once. I traded my CAE in for two SAE and I have never had it since... __________________ 50g Tetra community - neon, glowlight, serpae, black neon, & rummynose tetra + gold barbs, clown plecos, SAE, amano shrimp, & nerites

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05-15-2011, 04:19 AM	#46
Couesfanatic Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (17/100%) Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: WA Posts: 1,230	Stems. Plant stems. Water Sprite, Wisteria, Cabomba, fast growing stems. I see java ferns, anubius and crypts in there. I know there are a lot more plant species in there but those are very slow growers. What is your substrate?

09-11-2012, 11:16 AM	#47
fahim6801 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Bangladesh Posts: 19	im really new in this planted aquarium world, i am facing the same problem too (BBA) for around 2 month now, is it possible that by introducing some Otocinclus vestitus or siamese algae eater can help me get rid of BBA, or any other algae eater tht can help me cleaning this BBA....

12-12-2012, 06:54 PM	#49
etgregoire Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 272	Wow this is an epic thread, I found it on google... and as it turns out it was posted on just today. Seth - What was the connection between Seachem Iron and BBA that you found? I have a slight amont of BBA everywhere and it's driving me crazy. It doesn't grow in thick tufts or patches like most photos I see, but very slowly small amounts on the edges of leaves. I prune a lot of affected leaves. I have also been spot dosing excel. I have pulled plants out and soaked in H2O2 and even soaked the sword leaf tips in cups of h2o2 when the water was low during water change. I'm thinking of upping my fert dosing... I have might lights cut back to 6 hrs, and I don't know my exact amt of co2 but i know its pretty high.... Sighhh Just curious about your Iron / BBA statement! Thanks

12-12-2012, 09:32 PM	#50
Sethjohnson30 Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Portland oregon Posts: 1,078	Every time I dose flourish iron(or comprehensive) I end up with bba butif I dose csm+b I do not get bba. Lastnight I looked through a lot of threads. As I always do when I have a question. It became apparent to me that people dosing flourish iron seamed to have a lot worse problems with bba. I read a lot last night, like 50 threads. I haven't done any true experiments to prove my findings, but I'm satisfied.

12-12-2012, 09:35 PM	#51
Sethjohnson30 Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Portland oregon Posts: 1,078	How's your flow? If you don't have even distribution of nutrients and co2 some times algae will grow heavier in slower moving water because the nutrients and co2 are not able to get to that area

12-12-2012, 09:47 PM	#52
Sethjohnson30 Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Portland oregon Posts: 1,078	I think this thread should be a sticky.can we do that mods?

12-13-2012, 12:24 PM	#54
etgregoire Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 272	I did have high flow in my tank so I took out my power had circulating water. It seems to be growing less rapidly now but I also have a better co2 reg that gives more consistent output. So I'm not sure which that was. I might try adding it back

01-26-2013, 12:52 PM	#55
crossbred900 Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Dunbar Posts: 1	My 75 gallon oscar tank was infested with bba a few months ago when I decided to try a couple plants in his tank. Now the plants are gone and I can't get rid of the algae. I read that overdosing Flourish Excel can get rid of it, but how much can I dose without hurting my large oscar? The initial dose I used last night was for 90 gallons. Now it says add 1 cap a day. How much more than that should I use?

02-01-2013, 01:20 AM	#56
plantedtankfan Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: US Posts: 92	Will sdding some SAE help with the bbs problem?