Defeating BBA: A Photo Journal

[Hurley]

I have been battling bba for years and I finally had my ah-ha moment and I feel like an idiot! I was at the DSAS meeting this month and asked if anyone else in the area was getting high nitrate readings from the tap. One of the other guys in town said he hadn't been getting high nitrate readings but he said the water has high amounts of phosphates and has always given him bba trouble. This is where I smacked my head, I have been dosing phosphates under EI in addition to the phosphates in the water supply. I'm curious now, exactly what my phosphate levels are so, next time I'm at the store, I'm picking up a phosphate test kit. So, armed with this knowledge I will be documenting the progress and changes of the tank without me dosing phosphates. Wish me luck!

Please excuse the look of the tank. I just replanted them this afternoon and they are looking rather dejected. I had to dig up all my plants last night to catch all my killifish. After 2 years I decided I'm ready for something different and found them all nice homes with club folk.


3.10.09

Full Tank Shot

Close Up of the really bad part. I swear I put the Giant Hairgrass in there last week.

And finally, my very sad looking Alternanthera reineckii

Wish me luck!

 

[debaric]

my god, i do wish you luck with that Bunny rabbit

Do you do Co2 injection?

 

[Bk718]

^^ i agree

Whats your co2 source?? highly likely that the co2 is very low

 

[debaric]

did anyone ever see Creepshow where the meteor hits by the guys house and the meteor crap grows all over everything including the guy? Thats what that looks like in the photos.

 

[Mgamer20o0]

add excel and call it a day.

 

[DrNo]

Close Up of the really bad part. I swear I put the Giant Hairgrass in there last week.

:shocked:

Wow.... and I thought I had an outbreak. I'll be checking the thread Bunny and good luck! Good call on checking the tap.

 

[debaric]

add excel and call it a day.

I have a feeling she has already tried excel but maybe I am wrong.

 

[DrNo]

Just WOW.... sorry, I can't help it that is some serious black snow. Its already been mentioned but what is the CO2 sitaution in the tank?

 

[Jag1980]

At-least your tank isn't this bad
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=198493 :nilly:

 

[srcfx]

Three things I did that seem to have worked for me are:

1) reduce light to 10 - 12 hrs a day, and
2) split lighting ( 5 hrs on in morning/afternoon, 5 on in Late afternnon/eveing, 2 off in between)
3) Throw more plants in the tank to soak up excess nutrients

I haven't had any algea issues in over a year in all 4 tanks. Two were so bad I almost gave up. I also turned off my UV filter, as it seem to be inhibiting certain plants.