Green Slime Algae or Cyanobacteria?

We all neglect our tanks:sick:

Whipping them back into shape is skill we all learn soon or later.
You can use the antiobiotic method, your tank is small , will not cost much etc, but you still have the nagging issue as to the cause.

Blackout works as fast, cost nothing.
But I will say with Gloss, it does get very leggy with a balckout.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 
Blackouts weaken most plants, if not all ....

Maracyn worked great...

I'd rather not say how many plants I "had to get rid of" due to a blackout or 2....

That Cyano bacteria is bad stuff.

I probably don't have enough plants yet, for a good balance....
 
Last edited:
Plants blacked out when they shipped to folks and this does not cause any issues, it the plants melt, it's from temp issues, not the light.

Black out does not weakned any plant significantly for 3 days,
even small Riccia, mosses etc are quite able to handle it.
If youn have a plant that's already hurting etc from lack of nutrients, reducing the light is not going hurt it, it's already hurt and in sad shape from the lack of nutrients, not the light.
But plants will make a little sugar even at low/limited situations but this tyopically is nothing that will make or break any plant I've seen.

If the plant cannot make a 3 day blackout, trim it and remove it anyway, it's not going to help get your tank back in good shape anyway if that's the case.

As always, check the CO2 again if you have algae issues, and add KNO3. These tend to be the largest players in algae issues.

PO4/traces less so.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 
Certainly, Tom's advice would be wise to heed....always helpful;)

I wouldn't use antibiotics in any established tank, however. If I were try to get rid of BGA, I would do a series of water changes 1st. I've done enormous water changes in the past with very good results. I'll start off with a 50-60% water change, add new water back, then do another 50% water change and add new water back...sometimes repeating this several times. I have done 150%-200% water changes in the same day, on the same tank, with no problems. Also, you can use a pipet or syringe filled with hygrogen peroxide and slowly squirt this all over the BGA in the tank, killing alot of it fairly quickly. It will start to bubble up so you'll know it's working. It can then be removed by vacuuming during the water changes. Then you can start with a nice clean slate to re-do your fert dosing.
 
Generally folks can count on water changes making life hard for algae but daily 50% water changes is a lot of work when the 3 day blackout method works all the time.

Some BGA cases cannot be beaten with water changes I've heard and seen. The there are those mild cases that all that needs done is add some KNO3, more fish food etc.

But the blackout is effective in any tank.
So are antiobiotics.
Many places outside of the USA cannot get these though.

I really don't like buying anything from MO places or LFS unless I really need it. I end up buying stuff I don't need.

My goal is to make simple methods folks can use everywhere, then suggest other methods such as antibiotics, peroxide, copper sulfate etc secondarily.

In the end, folks do better when they need less, spend less and have less variables going on.

The method also harasses many of species of algae, same for peroxide spotting.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom