help with blue green algae!

[rayhwong]

Hi,
I hvae a 100g tank with 2x96w, 1 4XODNO 48" tube, yeast Co2. I noticed blue green algae grwoing on the substrate and leaves of my plants in the higher light areas of my tank. What is causing it? How can I get rid of it? My algae eaters wont touch this stuff (SAE, platies, mollies, rosy barb, otto, pleco). I dose KNo3 up to 15ppm. I heard of people using erythromycin? Has anyone tried it ? THanks. I appreciate any help!
-Ray

[Wasserpest]

Welcome to the Planted Tank, where the Search button answers 98% of your questions!

Click it, type "Erythromycin", read the two pages of posts, and let us know if anything remains questionable.

[mjyp]

I had a round at that stuff about 4 weeks ago, what knocked it out was Maracyn. There are a couple of types get the straight Maracyn and dose as on the box. It was gone within 5 days with zero fish, shrimp, or plants lost. Also raised my nitrates during that time frame.

Wasserpest is spot on about doing the search here, that was how I found the solution to that nasty problem.

These guys know their stuff big time.

[rayhwong]

Thanks for the help. I used maracyn. 2nd day now and no results. Did you do full 5 day treatment? I have ammolock chips in my filter. Will that absorb the erythromycin?

[mjyp]

I followed the instructions in the box, 1 tab per 10 gallons for 5 days. It took 5 days to get rid of it.

[Wasserpest]

It takes a few days to kill them. You will first notice that they turn pale, green-grey or brown, depending what other algae they are intermingled with. If there was a lot of BGA, monitor water conditions as the dying organisms could lead to an Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate spike, depending on how many plants are in your tank taking up these nutrients.

[rayhwong]

Dang, I have a 100 gallon tank. I thought I wuold get away with just 2 treatments. I should of bought a 100tab bottle from big al's. THanks for the help again. I'll let you know how its going.