Hey all, I have a 16g Bowfront with Eco-Complete, 16W of T5HO at 10,000K, Flourish and Flourish Excel, 450LPH (120GPH) internal power filter, planted with glosso, Hygrophilia polyspermia, Rotala Rotundafolia, Crypt. lutea, wedntii and another one I forgot the name of, Echinodorus parviflora, Susswassertang and java moss stocked with 2 Apistogramma macmasterii and a juvi SAE (it is a true one bought in an attempt to take the BBA back a step, will be going to the 135g tank once it gets too big for its current tank) and some MTS. I should be buying pressurised CO2 in a couple of weeks but I'm not too sure that'll make a difference to the BBA. After having the SAE for nearly a week, there has only been BBA eaten from the leaves of the Crypts and some glosso and patches on the back of the tank but it appears that the SAE won't be able to completely get rid of the BBA. What should I do?
BBA Problems. Help!
- Thread starter aussie pride
- Start date
When you dose your excel, use a pipette and spray it directly onto the BBA rather than just pouring it in the tank. I use a 10ml Mohr measuring pipette with pump. You can find a set on Amazon for less than $20. I also use it for measuring Prime, any ferts, etc. It's more accurate than the "cap-full" measurements.
Once you've hit it with the Excel, it usually takes a day or two before it turns orange and then starts to bleach and fall off. I have noticed that the Excel tends to be more effective if you have sufficient magnesium levels in the tank so if you don't get results from it right away, try adding a small amount of epsom salts to the tank. The Excel does have to be sprayed directly on the algae too.
You could also try a blackout, but I've not been able to successfully do it in my larger tanks when this menace shows up. You need to cover the tank and unplug the lights for several days. During the blackout don't even lift up the cover to check on your fish (this is why I don't prefer it), or you'll have to start over again.
Once you've hit it with the Excel, it usually takes a day or two before it turns orange and then starts to bleach and fall off. I have noticed that the Excel tends to be more effective if you have sufficient magnesium levels in the tank so if you don't get results from it right away, try adding a small amount of epsom salts to the tank. The Excel does have to be sprayed directly on the algae too.
You could also try a blackout, but I've not been able to successfully do it in my larger tanks when this menace shows up. You need to cover the tank and unplug the lights for several days. During the blackout don't even lift up the cover to check on your fish (this is why I don't prefer it), or you'll have to start over again.
I'm already dosing the Excel with a small (5mL) syringe with 2.25mL daily squirted onto the BBA. I've been doing that for around 3 weeks and it hasn't made much of a difference. I'll have to give a blackout a try. If it doesn't work, looks like I'll be buying some H2O2 and turning it into some crazy chemical warfare.
Came to the conclusion that it'll be easier and quicker as well as cheaper to just tear down, completely clean and re-do this tank. I'm getting around to it the day after Boxing day. I'm planning on taking fish out, put them in a bucket with a sponge filter and heater, take out all plants and hardscape, scrub driftwood, bleach dip the plants and rub them clean, boil the Eco-Complete or put it in a very rich Excel solution, scrub the hell out of the tank and re-set it up and hopefully if the BBA springs back up I'll be able to get on top of it as soon as I first spot it.
Ouch. I don't blame you though. That stuff is hard to beat.
Please forgive any typos. This was sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using the MonsterAquariaNetwok App
Please forgive any typos. This was sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using the MonsterAquariaNetwok App
i have the same problem. I have BBA on my driftwood, plant leaves, even the airstone tubing lol. I am going to clean everything in my tank in the next couple of days, and set up my new CO2 pressurized system. Hopefully this will clear it all up. (Im an aussie too, originally from Brisbane) 
i have the same problem. I have BBA on my driftwood, plant leaves, even the airstone tubing lol. I am going to clean everything in my tank in the next couple of days, and set up my new CO2 pressurized system. Hopefully this will clear it all up. (Im an aussie too, originally from Brisbane)
It took me 6 hours to get everything done, so be prepared for an epic day! Good to see another Aussie here!