Just found green BBA tufts on my eco complete!!!

it's not unusual for tanks recovering from a severe algae event,
to have the very top level of gravel removed and discarded.
but if you are replanting anyway, simply vacuum and mix up
your substrate, as once the algae is buried away from the lit
surface, it will die and just end up feeding your mulm.
remember to also dip all plastic parts submerged in your tank
water, as they will host algae just as well as your plants did.

Why didn't I think of that. Thanks so much. I'll mix it in right now. I did bleach the plastic in the tank, so that should be taken care of (but maybe not since spores are still in tank). Anyway, I'll watch the equipment.

loachlady5 said:

maybe not since spores are still in tank.

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algae spores will always be in your tank.
the trick is to maintain good water conditions
so they don't reassert themselves and out
compete your plants for available nutrients.

think of it another way; fin and tail rot fish disease
is caused by too much mulm and feces accumulating in
your tank, yet some mulm is needed for biological filtration.

so tank keeping is a matter of maintaining a balance,
not trying to eliminate any specific threat altogether.

spypet said:

algae spores will always be in your tank.

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Okay. That makes sense.

..............

Loachlady -

You WILL get things under control. You just have to have faith... And oh yeah... Clear out your old messages in your inbox. I can't reply to you until you do.

mrkookm said:

Get a DC and an good pvc reactor. If you cannot get someone to make a reactor buy one from Rex or get a glass diffuser. BBA = not enough Co2

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Going to order a DC tonight or tomorrow. PVC reactor not an option - no canister filter and a husband sick of me spending money on plants. That is my next investment though. The BBA is left over from when I had very little CO2 and poor circulation.

loachlady5 said:

Going to order a DC tonight or tomorrow. PVC reactor not an option - no canister filter and a husband sick of me spending...

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Just tell him we all need a hobby and a happy spouse, he will see it your way.

loachlady5 said:

Going to order a DC tonight or tomorrow. PVC reactor not an option - no canister filter and a husband sick of me spending money on plants. That is my next investment though. The BBA is left over from when I had very little CO2 and poor circulation.

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Go out and buy to Filstar XP2's and tell them that you either ran into a sale where it was buy one, get one free, or that you won them in raffle.

I am in the same situation as you as far as spending money, but now that I have everything I need, my wife loves the tank. She feels guilty that the tank looks so good and the rest of the house is a disaster (because of the 3 little ones).

BiscuitSlayer said:

Go out and buy to Filstar XP2's and tell them that you either ran into a sale where it was buy one, get one free, or that you won them in raffle.

I am in the same situation as you as far as spending money, but now that I have everything I need, my wife loves the tank. She feels guilty that the tank looks so good and the rest of the house is a disaster (because of the 3 little ones).

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You guys are so funny. I've really got to stop taking all this so seriously.