I am so glad this question came up, as I am having the same issue with my 5g planted shrimp tank. There is so little bioload at this time, as there are only like 3 RCS in there, so nitrates aren't really a problem. I have been dosing only a half ml of flourish 1x week, just to provide some nutrients for the plants.
BGA are bacteria, but they do photosynthesise (hence the colour) so I would think a blackout would help; but they may also have other ways of 'feeding'.I was considering a blackout, but was reading on another thread here, that a blackout will not affect BGA, as it is bacterial in nature. I have been doing 2x weekly water change in this tank.
Hi Tetramoon,
I understood that lack of nitrates was associated with BGA (which has happened in my tank); plants would take up most of the little nitrate in a planted tank.
BGA are bacteria, but they do photosynthesise (hence the colour) so I would think a blackout would help; but they may also have other ways of 'feeding'.
ahhhh, got it. Maybe I will add a dash of nitrate tonight, just did a w/c.
thank you.