I have a 125 gallon, inject CO2 and have about 3 watts per gallon. I add
KNO3, but it must not be high enough. What level do I need the nitrates to prevent this stuff from forming?
Blue-green, slime or smear algae:
Grows rapidly in blue-green, slimy sheets. Spreads rapidly over almost everything and usually indicates poor water quality. However, blue-green algae can fix nitrogen and may be seen in aquariums with extremely low nitrates. Sometimes seen in small quantities between the substrate and aquarium sides. Will smother and kill plants. This is actually cyanobacteria. It can be physically removed, but this is not a viable long term solution as the aquarium conditions are still favorable for it and it will return quickly. Treatment with 200 mg of erythromycin phosphate per 10 gallons of water will usually eliminate blue-green algae but some experts feel it may also have adverse effects on the biological filter bed. If erythromycin is used for treatment, ammonia and nitrite levels should be carefully monitored.
I know how to kill it, I want to prevent it. My water has low nitrates, so I add KNO3 in the hopes of increasing the nitrates, which I thought would prevent the slime algae.
My water may be poor quality because I add lots of bottom feeder pellets at night: 10 carnivorous plecos, but my discus and cardinal tetras are doing fine. What would be considered poor water quality? I have not measured my ammonia or nitrites in a while, but I am guessing that they are all pretty low. In addition, I change 40% of the water each week.
I'm not sure how to prevent it, I've been unsuccessful so far. I just diligently scrape it off the plants every day.
Aqualife red slime remover for marine tanks is a product I've heard of that takes care of BGA as well. Supposedly it is also safe for plants and inverts. I checked prices and it looks like $15-20 plus shipping for one treatment for a 125 gallon tank.
I have a 125 gallon, inject CO2 and have about 3 watts per gallon. I add
KNO3, but it must not be high enough. What level do I need the nitrates to prevent this stuff from forming?
I have a 125 gallon, inject CO2 and have about 3 watts per gallon. I add
KNO3, but it must not be high enough. What level do I need the nitrates to prevent this stuff from forming?
You can either do a 3 day blackout, or dose your tank with Erythromycin. It is your call. All of this business about Erythromycin killing your biological flora is BS so either way, you will be fine. You seem to dose your NO3 ok, lack of water movement can also cause a bloom, but if you want it eratdicated, you will have to kill it. I had success with a black out but eventually it finds its way back in. I never had a real problem, just a little at the substrate line, but enough to bug me. I had a very successful Erythromycin treatment and after my water change an my charcoal filtration for 2 weeks, I have yet to see it since. All of my critters and plants did very well.
Hey i believe that reducing the light on the "blue" side of the spectrum in your tank will do wonders instead of leaving lights out or just adding toxins to kill it. Cyanobacteria rely on the blue side of the spectrum, (thus the blueish coloring) so if you have a dual lighting fixture, turn on the 5600 k light only, during normal photo periods. I would do this for, say, one week and see if you can eliminate it naturally. (I dont necessarily trust chemicals)
