Blue-Green Algae

[shawnhu]

I think I have a case of BGA in one of my nano tanks. Looks to be a web-like slimey coat on the bottom of the tank.

This tank was recently sterilized, and some Anubias attached on driftwood was placed in there. These were transfered from another hobbiest's tank. I've also added some berried RCS, and have since hatched some shrimplets.

Has anyone faced this type of algae with shrimp involved? What brought this into my tank? None of my other 5-6 tanks have this in it, could it have been the driftwood and plants? Is this algae-looking bacteria always in our waters and only manifests given the right conditions? What's the best removal process for it?

I was also wondering if we have this info listed somewhere, maybe a sticky that I missed?

Thanks.

 

[tanker]

BG is not a real algae--- it is bacteria. You will need some kind of antibiotic to kill it.

 

[shawnhu]

I am aware that it's not really algae, as stated in my original post. Question is what can I use to get rid of it, and keep it from coming back. I'm also not looking to kill my shrimp in there.

 

[Star_Rider]

shawn it's a bugger to remove.
antibiotics like erythomycin is effective and usually won't harm bio filter.
higher water flow seems to keep it from setting up house.
also blackouts have some effect
some say that low or no nitrate allows it to get a foothold..tho I have seen it in tanks with 20-40 ppm nitrate.

you could also try hand removal and good vac.

 

[shawnhu]

Thanks Star_Rider for chiming in.

The tank does not have a filter, so I'm not worried about the beneficial bacteria, just my shrimp and shrimplets.

The water in this tank is stagnant, so the no water-flow would explain it, however my other tanks also does not have flow, this is the only tank with this problem.

Blackout won't be an option, since it's so small, I'd probably rather nuke it with PP or bleach.

I've read the low nitrate theory, I have not tested the water, but I would imagine that with no bio-filter, and a low bio-load, I would not have any nitrate at all.

Hand-removal would probably only make the bacteria mad, and come back faster, and harder the next time around, so I've read.

Looks like the favorable treatment is nuking with the shrimp out.

 

[jmhart]

Black out and EM will kill it.

In the one tank of mine that has BGA problems from time to time I can say it is directly linked to decreased flow/low nitrates. Particularly if I get lazy on my dosing, it always manifests itself.

 

[plantbrain]

I think the lack of filter, water flow, and low NO3, this is common in many shrimp tanks.

I'd suggest a palm filter for the nano, 7$, 15-20 gph.
BO or EM will kill it, but not prevent future outbreaks, higher NO3 and better plant growth will.

Don't go too far with keeping NO3 low in CRS tanks, I use eI, as do others with plenty of CRS's, see "rain-" tanks on TPT for an example. I have mine as well, maybe 60?

No issues with CO2, EI type dosing, warmer temps etc.
They breed, never lost one in over a year+. Started with 12.

So they do well, if I kept the temp lower, and in a bare bottomed tank etc, then I'd have more brood, this is true for fish also.

So if that is more or less that goal, do that.
Otherwise, focus a bit more on plants if you also want a nice scape/planted tank as well some breeding.

It's a trade off, torturing the plants does little good.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[shawnhu]

Thanks for the insight Tom, much appreciated.

The nano is 1.5G, if flow is the issue, I could use a Red Sea HOB rated for that size tank. The tank was recently moved, from a lower light to a higher light, particularly direct sunlight. That may be the trigger for this bacteria to flourish.

I initially put the driftwood and plants in there as a QT, but later aquired some berried RCS. I figured it might be a good idea to keep the Anubias company with the algae eaters and also keep the shrimp safe from fish by having them in a small nano to themselves.

I find it amazing how the lack of one nutrient, could cause the bloom of a certain type of algae. It's almost as if the nitrate is toxic to this type of bacteria.

 

[KarlTh]

I fixed mine by (1) manual removal and (2) removing the cause - (in my case) poor water movement and zero nitrate. I now use a fert which includes nitrate.

 

[shawnhu]

Bringing an old thread back, but for some closure, I nuked the tank with PP, and it's never returned since. I believe I contracted it from some plants and driftwood, and it's been spreading since. After the PP treatment, no signs of it for months, under the same conditions.