is there an effective way of getting rid of Black brush algae? I have a 4" Senegal bichir and I'd rather not buy an algae eater that will get eaten.
Bba
- Thread starter malken
- Start date
That's some nasty stuff. I've soaked it in pure bleach for several hours, scrubbed the rock, placed it in a *different* bba-free tank, and it sprouted like corn in Nebraska.
I hate to say it but I don't have much more info for you than sheer determination. If you feed the bichir heavily, you may have some nitrogen buildup (nitrates) and/or phosphates. Try to keep them low.
Otherwise, I don't know of anything that will eat it other than a siamese algae eater, and even they don't care much for it in my observations.
You may try salt. Bichirs, if I'm not mistaken, don't mind brackish water. If his tankmates (if any) can handle it, raise your salinity by using something like Instant Ocean at like 1/4 or 1/3 the normal saltwater doseage (done over a week or so, so you don't shock the bichir). I don't think bba likes brackish water. I may be wrong.
I hate to say it but I don't have much more info for you than sheer determination. If you feed the bichir heavily, you may have some nitrogen buildup (nitrates) and/or phosphates. Try to keep them low.
Otherwise, I don't know of anything that will eat it other than a siamese algae eater, and even they don't care much for it in my observations.
You may try salt. Bichirs, if I'm not mistaken, don't mind brackish water. If his tankmates (if any) can handle it, raise your salinity by using something like Instant Ocean at like 1/4 or 1/3 the normal saltwater doseage (done over a week or so, so you don't shock the bichir). I don't think bba likes brackish water. I may be wrong.
plantbrain said:
How confident are you of this? I ask because my fiancee hates the idea of feeding him fish and my problems will extend well beyond the bba if it gets eaten. I was thinking, If I do go with that option, I might try stocking up on ghost shrimp to keep his attention away from the SAEs.
I feed my bichir pretty well (he's nice and plump) but I don't have any nitrates if I don't add KNO3. There are more than 15 plants in the 10g tank. I also use flourish liquid fertalizer. The lighting is a bit over the top because my lightstrip broke down and I had to switch over to the strip I lined up for the 30g I'm getting on Saturday.
Thanks,
Malken
Sure, if they are not tiny little fish, get medium sized adults.
And what about a Bich in a 10 gal?
And as mentioned the Excel will help to some degree as would going with a non CO2 method entirely. I'd pick one of those methods and stick with it.
Regards,
Tom Barr
And what about a Bich in a 10 gal?
And as mentioned the Excel will help to some degree as would going with a non CO2 method entirely. I'd pick one of those methods and stick with it.
Regards,
Tom Barr
Right now he's only about 4" long. he's going to a more suitable tank soon.
Well, it's only getting worse with the CO2. I'm going to try the excel soon and if that doesn't help I'll break down and pick up a SAE.
Thanks for your help everyone.
Well, it's only getting worse with the CO2. I'm going to try the excel soon and if that doesn't help I'll break down and pick up a SAE.
Thanks for your help everyone.
I'd personally consider the algae problem a "lost cause" in such a small tank with a beefy fish like a Bichir. He may be only 4" right now, but he's still more mass than 10 Neon Tetras (which is what that whole 1" per gallon thing is geared towards). The fact is that he's too much fish for that tank. He's also a fish that likes to eat alot (you already said you keep him pretty plump), which means there is even more food than necessary in the tank.
Basically, if you are moving the Bichir soon, then don't add any fish to the tank, do large frequent water changes often (once or twice weekly), and cut back on feeding a bit. You will have to deal with quite a bit of algae till he's gone I'd say! This will also be more motivation to move the poor lad to an appropriately sized tank quickly. These are the trade-offs of making do with smaller tanks. When he's gone, get small, easy-on-plants fish to fill that tank.
Believe me, I have a 150 gallon (5'x2') with 1 Blackbelt (almost 10") and 1 Pleco (about 4") and I'm battling big-time BBA and Hair algae problems. I have all the necessary equipment, as well, but still fighting hard. Big, beefy fish are going to be a difficult course for a planted tank. I expect that, and I'm dealing with it. Everyone has warned not to try it, but I'm an experimenter (within reason) and want the best "natural" environment for my fish. I'm starting to get a grip on which plants aren't going to mix with him, though. Even though he occasionally uproots stem plants and tears leaves off of them all, it's the low growing crypts that have a nearly impossible job. He dumps way too much dirt on top of them (big-time digger) for them to grow effectively. I'm going to move them to another tank tomorrow.
Basically, if you are moving the Bichir soon, then don't add any fish to the tank, do large frequent water changes often (once or twice weekly), and cut back on feeding a bit. You will have to deal with quite a bit of algae till he's gone I'd say! This will also be more motivation to move the poor lad to an appropriately sized tank quickly. These are the trade-offs of making do with smaller tanks. When he's gone, get small, easy-on-plants fish to fill that tank.
Believe me, I have a 150 gallon (5'x2') with 1 Blackbelt (almost 10") and 1 Pleco (about 4") and I'm battling big-time BBA and Hair algae problems. I have all the necessary equipment, as well, but still fighting hard. Big, beefy fish are going to be a difficult course for a planted tank. I expect that, and I'm dealing with it. Everyone has warned not to try it, but I'm an experimenter (within reason) and want the best "natural" environment for my fish. I'm starting to get a grip on which plants aren't going to mix with him, though. Even though he occasionally uproots stem plants and tears leaves off of them all, it's the low growing crypts that have a nearly impossible job. He dumps way too much dirt on top of them (big-time digger) for them to grow effectively. I'm going to move them to another tank tomorrow.
I've been reading alot of forums and articles that recommend keeping small bichirs in smaller tanks until they are a certain size (6") Mine's four and the main reason for upgrading him soon is that the lightstrip broke and I need to keep my plants alive. The nitrates are close to nil and whats there is only because I've been supplimenting it to try to put it around 5-10 ppm.
One way or another, he'll be in a bigger home in less than a week. when I move him, everything in the tank is going with him. I'm breaking down the ten. What course of action do you suggest after the move?
One way or another, he'll be in a bigger home in less than a week. when I move him, everything in the tank is going with him. I'm breaking down the ten. What course of action do you suggest after the move?