Blue green algae, low nitrates

[bitbot]

Hi,

I've had a bit of blue green algae in one of my tanks - on glass and driftwood up high near the light.

I remember reading that blue green algae can be associated with very low nitrates. Sure enough, my test kit is showing around 0 nitrates.

The tank is planted, not heavily, but I am surprised nitrates are that low.

Is this something to be concerned about? - apart from the algae, which isn't worrying me much at this stage.

[Bk828]

do you dose ferts? if so how often?
How are your plants looking?

[bitbot]

I use Sera Florena, 10ml once a week. At the moment I have just two banana plants, not looking terribly healthy, and Java fern, doing its slow-growing thing, and some java moss on wood, ditto.

[jm1212]

BGA is caused by low nitrates...i just got done with a long fight with it in my 37 with the use of 250 mg of erythromycin for every 10 gallons of water

[bushwhacker]

i thought i had killed it out in my 55 but the last few days i'm seeing a few small patches, my nitrates are never over 5 usually less i do have a pound of kno3 in the drawer just not sure what to dose

[bitbot]

So, apart from the BGA itself, is there anything to worry about with low nitrate?
And would it just mean that that the nitrate is being taken up by the plants?
Or, just a thought, could the BGA be consuming the nitrate itself, and therefore causing the low nitrate?

[Canuck]

Low nitrates will cause overall slow or poor plant growth which most including myself leads to a number of algae issues.

BGA can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere. That's one of the reasons it does well in low nitrate environments.

Bushwacker, You could start with a 1/4 tsp 2 or 3 times a week. this is still a low dose in a 55 (around 5 ppm per dose). 1/2 tsp should give you about 10 ppm dose, if necessary.

[bushwhacker]

thanks canuck, its time for water changes anyway.. guess i'll raid the measuring spoons and start my dosing schedule today