Excel used as an algaecide

[Hank]

What is your CO2 system like?

I'm no where near an expert on pressurized systems, but my experience with BBA stemmed from problems with CO2 and possibly someone could identify an issue...

Just a suggestion.

I too am not an expert and I'm not smarter then a 5 year old
MY CO2 system consists of two, 5 lb tanks. and a SU-Mo regulator, pH controller, Drop checker. The KH is 3 dKH and pH is 6.4. You can see how high my CO2 is.
I'm in my second week of double dosing Excel. I appreciate all suggestions, I must say this, why do hobbyist tell those who are having problems with bba that they are having problems because they have too much or too little of something. How about this, Introducing bba in your tank from a plant swap. Food for thought.... Thank you

 

[sorberj]

LOL, I'm not algae free, but they have been eating some of the bba that I ended up with and they absolutely chow down on the brown diatom stuff that grows on my plants. I do use excel since I haven't had the cash to go with pressurized CO2 (although there is a portion of my tax refund set aside for that now). I'm actually to the point of starting to put algae tabs into the tank again. I'm going to have to put in an order to kens soon

 

[Hank]

LOL, I'm not algae free, but they have been eating some of the bba that I ended up with and they absolutely chow down on the brown diatom stuff that grows on my plants. I do use excel since I haven't had the cash to go with pressurized CO2 (although there is a portion of my tax refund set aside for that now). I'm actually to the point of starting to put algae tabs into the tank again. I'm going to have to put in an order to kens soon

I do love Otto's but eating bba? I never had the pleasure of Otto's eating my bba. I know for a fact they are excellent for consuming brown Diatoms. I've read that young SAE's do eat bba but when they get bigger they develop an appetite for fish food. I do wish you luck in getting your CO2 system together.

 

[Fresh250]

Personally though, I cheat and use Otocinclus catfish. They're great at eating algae, and I enjoy their personalities and antics in the aquarium. I get them because I enjoy them and they need the algae so I don't worry too much about the nutrient mix. There are a lot of people here that will post their disagreement with the idea of purchasing a fish to solve something that could be resolved though other methods.

i just recently bought a pack of otto's specifically to help control some of the algae in my tank... and i too have found that i love watching their antics about the tank... quite fun and not a bad idea at all.

 

[sorberj]

Mine have munched a bit on the bba, but they do prefer the diatoms. I may have just gotten a weird one or two though. My apple snails (Pomacea bridgesii) have munched on the bba, but they're such random eaters that they aren't reliable for anything except the veggies I put in for my pleco. I still have some bba in my tank as well. It came in on some plants I ordered. I tried the target dosing of excel and it didn't work, I ended up clipping off a couple of the worst leaves and now between the snails, otos, and an occasional squirt of excel, it has at least stopped spreading.

As for treatment in the OP's tank, it sounds like pretty much all of the standard treatments that I know of have been tried. I'm at a complete loss.

 

[plantbrain]

I appreciate all suggestions, I must say this, why do hobbyist tell those who are having problems with bba that they are having problems because they have too much or too little of something. How about this, Introducing bba in your tank from a plant swap. Food for thought.... Thank you

Because that is simply not the case. How does freshwater algae spread into dry stream beds, puddles that recently form etc? Are you willing to practice sterile technique on all aspects of keeping plants etc?

I'm not.

Fish, food, air born spores of algae, plants, nets, water from the LFS etc........ many sources.

So if that is the cause, where is my algae then?
I have plenty of BBA exposure and yet it never grows.
Can you explain this observation?

I can take healthy actively growing BBA, and add it to this tank and it does not live.

So this logic fails for inoculation from other sources. It does not address why you have it or the cause. The problem is you have little idea why the BBA is there and are simply reading 101 claims and most newbies have this same issue as did myself way back when(it was much worse).

They did not look at what germinates algae in an aquatic planted tank.
Yes, the spores have to get there, but that's pretty easy, prevention of spores has yet to save anyone I am aware of. Perhaps with a few green species, and even that is a maybe.

The other issue for most newbies with algae issues is a lack of a reference control where the plants are growing well to test their ideas. Few also want to test and see etc, they just want the problem to go away. If they could produce such a tank, then they would not need to test in the first place.

So they have troubles and have to take some things on faith.
Till you learn more and get a handle on it, that will not change.

I've been down the same path with algae in every form.
So I try and help and tell folks where to put their efforts to reach that goal.
Many do their own thing and learn the hard way. I did. Up to you, but it's a much longer more painful road.

SAE's are the best BBA control fish/critter.


Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Hank]

Mine have munched a bit on the bba, but they do prefer the diatoms. I may have just gotten a weird one or two though. My apple snails (Pomacea bridgesii) have munched on the bba, but they're such random eaters that they aren't reliable for anything except the veggies I put in for my pleco. I still have some bba in my tank as well. It came in on some plants I ordered. I tried the target dosing of excel and it didn't work, I ended up clipping off a couple of the worst leaves and now between the snails, otos, and an occasional squirt of excel, it has at least stopped spreading.

As for treatment in the OP's tank, it sounds like pretty much all of the standard treatments that I know of have been tried. I'm at a complete loss.

Wow! hard to believe, target dosing did nothing to bba! Did you try H2O2? what is OP's tank?

 

[Hank]

Because that is simply not the case. How does freshwater algae spread into dry stream beds, puddles that recently form etc? Are you willing to practice sterile technique on all aspects of keeping plants etc?

I'm not.

Fish, food, air born spores of algae, plants, nets, water from the LFS etc........ many sources.

So if that is the cause, where is my algae then?
I have plenty of BBA exposure and yet it never grows.
Can you explain this observation?

I can take healthy actively growing BBA, and add it to this tank and it does not live.

So this logic fails for inoculation from other sources. It does not address why you have it or the cause. The problem is you have little idea why the BBA is there and are simply reading 101 claims and most newbies have this same issue as did myself way back when(it was much worse).

They did not look at what germinates algae in an aquatic planted tank.
Yes, the spores have to get there, but that's pretty easy, prevention of spores has yet to save anyone I am aware of. Perhaps with a few green species, and even that is a maybe.

The other issue for most newbies with algae issues is a lack of a reference control where the plants are growing well to test their ideas. Few also want to test and see etc, they just want the problem to go away. If they could produce such a tank, then they would not need to test in the first place.

So they have troubles and have to take some things on faith.
Till you learn more and get a handle on it, that will not change.

I've been down the same path with algae in every form.
So I try and help and tell folks where to put their efforts to reach that goal.
Many do their own thing and learn the hard way. I did. Up to you, but it's a much longer more painful road.

SAE's are the best BBA control fish/critter.


Regards,
Tom Barr

So your answer to my BBA problem is to get a handle on the situation.
I'm 69 years old and I will try to fit it into my schedule, 4 grandkids, takes a lot of my time but I love It. Maybe one day I will be able to tell you why BBA doesn't survive in your planted tank.
Looks like I will have BBA in my tank for awhile.

 

[James0816]

So to keep this thread on track, am I correct that the OP is actually looking for advice on ridding BBA?

We all know that algae forms from an inbalance in the aquatic environment. Some are easier to rid than others with the aid of black outs and such. But..when dealing with the dreaded BBA, I believe the OP is looking for assistance to ridding it currently.

 

[Turbosaurus]

Hi Hank (its Paula)

I'd love for Tom to expound on what he means by "get a handle" on things. I also have BBA, and he doens't so he's doing something right and you and I are doing something wrong, but what? I agree its not as simple as "introduction" because I have tanks with it, and without it.


I know its not that you aren't willing to put in the time - regardless of what else life throws at you- I know you do spend some time on your tank every day testing and dosing. I am sure with some type of lead - some direction to take you'd take it.

Tom, can you be more specific? I agree its not simply introduction- but what could it be instead?