BBA Algae

H

hb3133

AC Members
Jul 13, 2005
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Flagstaff, AZ
Well, the BBA is starting to get out of control and I need more advice. Here is the current tank stats:

10 gallon heavy planted freshwater tank( since June 2006)
soil: Eco-Complete mixed with small layer of gravel
lighting: 2 x 15 watt compact flourescent bulbs (running from 1:30 pm to 10:30pm)
temp: 76 degrees
Ph: 7.4
ammonia: 0ppm
nitrite: 0ppm
nitrate: 5 ppm (latest reading)
ferts: Flourish(4 times per week), Flourish excel (4 times per week), Flourish Nitrogen (4 times per week), Flourish Potassium ( 4 times per week), Flourish Phosphorus (3 times per week)
plants: 1 Anubais Coffeeolia, 1 Anubais petite nana, 10 dwarf sags, 1 green crypt wendtii, 1 red crypt wendtii, 6 java ferns, 10 anacharis, 1 huge mass of java moss, tons of christmas moss and a small bunch of willow moss.
inhabitants: 50 + red cherry shrimp and 3 otto fish.

The BBA( small black feathery tufts) is growing mainly on the java ferns, dwarf sags and crypts. It started about 3 weeks ago. I haven't change my routine and do 40% water changes once per week. If anybody can help or has more suggestions, please feel free to help. For the past week, I have increase the Excel and Nitrogen to daily doses.
 
Likely, it came from something you imported into the aquarium with spores on it.
I would clean all of it up that you can see and then start dosing Excel daily. It should be killing it off. I think daily dosing would do it.
Hopefully someone else will chime in on the affect if any of Excel on the Cherry Shrimp.
I have little experience with them in conjunction with Excel.

Len
 
hb....BBA is a toughie, especially when you don't have pressurized CO2. I would suggest you physically get out all you can and prune first.

I have heard some positive results with a 4 day 3x excel dose regime, but I would move your cherries to another tank first just to be on the safe side. Also, if you have any anacharis or plants that easily melt with excel, remove them.
WHen doing the 3x dose, calculate what you would normally need, mult by 3 then try to apply it with a syringe to the main affected areas. You can spot dose those nasty spots, and it will all dilute eventually in the water column. Repeat this for 4 days then return to your normal doing.

Like I said many have shown positive results doing this, but some invertebrates cannot handle it so I would suggest being on the safe side and moving them to a temporary home for 5-7 days, then it will be safe to return them after your water change.

Let us know how it works out~
 
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