Black spot algae on Annubias

[JoePhish]

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]

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

-Philosophos

[JoePhish]

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]

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]

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

[Philosophos]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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 )

[Amazonfish]

My anubias have the same problem actually. They have black spots on them, and it's only on my anubias. I was just searching the algae forum to find a solution to this! They're in a 5.5 gallon tank with a 27 watt desk lamp. Before I move the anubias, I'll try adding more phosphate.

[JoePhish]

Ok. Still having a problem with the annubias but now I made things worse.
I increased the light (10g) to two 26w CFL's. Now I know this is WAY too much light for the annubias, so I increased my Co2 in hopes that this would help. I also increased my ferts.

BBA outbreak all over the place. It's growing on my Val's, my Crypts, annubias, even my java fern. And to top it off, my micro swords all died.

I'm sure that it is because I don't have enough Co2 for the amount of light that I'm pumping in. Rigfht now I'm waiting on my order of Flourish Excell to come in and hopefully that will help.

In the mean time, I have removed my annubias and place them in my guppie drop/grow out tank wich has just a standard flor bulb over it. Still have some BBA on it but as soon as I get some new growth I will trim off the infected parts and try to save the plant.

I can't afford to go with pressurized Co2. So does anyone have any suggestion on what to do to salvage the rest of the tank?

[Philosophos]

Reduce the light to 1x26w or less if you can. Unless you've got some sensitive ground covers that are easily overshadowed, try to drop your lighting to something more in the 1.5wpg range. Keep the CO2 high.

From there, mechanically remove as much of the BBA as you can; clip stems, scrub hardscape, etc. When the excel arrives, spot treat the BBA daily at post WC levels. Change your water frequently for a while; every couple of days.