BBA and Flourite

[livingword26]

I've had the tank in my signature going for about 9 months. I have had BBA most of the time. I have tried everything to get rid of it to no avail. I do 50% water changes every week. My pressurized co2 is a constant 30ppm or above. I even tore the tank down once and cleaned all the fittings and changed all the water, but it just keeps coming back. I don't know where it came from initially, but it is in the substrate now. It grows on certain pieces, iron containing pieces I assume. Any way I am about ready to scrap it all and start over with some plain gravel so I can better control the trace nutrients. I have to questions. First, will the spores from the BBA be in my cannister filters? Will I need to start over with them also? Second. I have heard that you need to let your fish clean out. If I put them in a small tank for 2 or 3 days, will that be enough time to purge their digestive systems of any BBA that may be in there? Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

[livingword26]

Oh yea. I am dosing ferts. 1 teaspoon k2so4 with water changes, 1/2 during the middle of the week. Kno3 as needed to keep Nitrates above 10 but below 20ppm. I have kh2po4, but I don't need it much. I keep my phosphates below 1.0. I am using flourish once a week for traces. I have also been dosing Flourish accel in addition to my co2.

[livingword26]

Here is how it looks on the rocks. Best picture I can do.

[livingword26]

Anyone at all?

[phanmc]

It's not the flourite and trace minerals that are causing the problem. For a high light tank you need to be dosing more frequently, specifically the Flourish for trace. Raise phosphates to 1. I'm not sure how much plants you have but if it would help if you're heavily planted.

[livingword26]

This is how heavy it is planted. It would be denser, but I have to cut out the BBA all the time.

[phanmc]

Plant mass looks pretty good so try dosing KNO3 and KH2PO4 every other day and Flourish in between.

How are you measuring CO2?

[livingword26]

How are you measuring CO2?

Filling a glass with tank water. Running a bubbler in it for 4 hours, testing the ph in the glass and the tank, then comparing the drop in ph. Its dropping form 7.6 to 6.4.

[phanmc]

Would be simpler to invest in a drop checker like this one:

http://stores.ebay.com/AquaticMagic_CO2-Equipment_pH_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ9411999QQftidZ 1QQtZkm

[livingword26]

Thank you phanmc. I will give that all a try.

[livingword26]

What about lights? I leave them of for 11hours.

[phanmc]

8-10hrs is enough, I leave mine on for 9-10 but I know plenty that have had success with less.