BGA in filter

I would say it depends how much it is aggravating you. The BGA is a bacteria so I would be nervous about treating the whole tank as it might cause a problem with your cycling bacteria. My main concern would be to make sure the filter does not jam up or overheat. Also, depending on the stock of the tank you might be able to remove the filter and see if that solves the problem. If you decide to break down and sterilize the biomedia then it sounds like it should work as it seems isolated to that filter.

Best of luck.

Does the sun shine on your HOB? In my tank, BGA grew where there was a lot of light but not in dimly lit areas. If so, I'd cover the HOB with foil. I've treated my whole tank with antibiotic couple times. It did not affect by BB.

It is not good to use antibiotics unless they are specifically essential for a fish disease. Cyanobacteria should be dealt with by natural means. I see it in my 70g, the only tank of seven it ever appears in.

Cyanobacteria is due to organics, in the presence of light. What is your water change schedule? And do you vacuum the substrate? Is the filter media regularly rinsed? What is the nitrate level?

Byron.

also what ios the photo period (how long are the tank lights on?)

It is also a flow and low oxygen issue. At least it was for me. It makes me think your filter isnt working quite right. You say its an aquaclear….what media and how much is in there?

axelrod12 said:

I believe it's an AC50. And the media is just the AC sponge and the biomedia it comes with. Nothing more. I squeeze the sponge out probably every 4-6 weeks. Oh and there's a prefilter sponge, squeezed out just as often. Flow seems ok through the filter. And the bga came back immediately after a thorough cleaning where flow was I guess at its best.

Sent from my VS980 4G using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

Click to expand...

I would rinse the sponge and filter media thoroughly every week during the water change. Cyano is due to organics, nothing else; water flow is often suggested but this actually makes no difference if the organics are not high in the first place. Like you, I have had cyano right under the filter return, in areas of minimal to no real current, at the surface, on the substrate...all due to organics and light. I know it has occurred due solely to dirty filters, as one time it appeared, I remembered that it had been a few months since I last cleaned the canister, and when I did it that week the cyano was gone and did not return.

I asked previously about nitrates because high organics often show as high nitrate, but not necessarily; it is just one more check.

Byron.