Help getting rid of BBA

Ramphonic

Ramphonic

AC Members
Mar 31, 2009
277
0
16
MA
Ive had numerous troubles getting this tank going. The most recent is the BBA that is infesting all the plants. I had cut off the infected leafs to the point where I had hardly any plants left. I got a few new full size stem plants thinking I could out compete. No good. I also have been also Peroxide dipping the plants. Which seems to be helping but only a few days at a time.

I have read into this and it from what it seems it is usually from inadequate C02. Which doesnt make sense in my case as I have a powerhead cutting up and pushing the bubbles from my DIY C02 into the tank. I have micro bubbles that completely fill the tank.

I also heard that high phosphates could be the cause but I have been unable to locate a test kit and I contacted the town for a water report but they dont disclose that info.

As of yesterday I started dosing some Potassium Nitrate because my Nitrates were hovering between 5 to 0

My tank is a 29g, I have the one 2 Liter DIY CO2, an ahsupply retro 55w retro kit, My photoperiod is 8 hours, and the inhabitants are 2 angels, 4 cories and some small snails.

Help would be greatly appreciated

Thank You
 
no reason to dose nitrate IMO.
 
I do not have a drop checker. All I can do is seeing the amount of drops goin in and the cloud of bubbles filling my tank.

I am so confused by this whole thing. When I first started this was told I do not have a strong enough light for any plants so I got this ahsupply setup and some low light plants, Almost immediately I started getting a black coating on all the plants plus BGA and I had to throw 50% of my plants out. So i started the DIY C02 under recommendation this helped it the BGA but none the other stuff. Now I have BBA and cloudy water. First it was green cloudy now white cloudy

So whats messing with me is one says the lights are too low the other too bright. One says I need DIY CO2 the other says why did I start it. Last week I was told I need to dose some nitrates because I dont have enough. So what should I do?? I have no more money to spend. I have spent hundreds of dollars on stuff that doesnt work.

All I want is a easy low light tank. I see them all over the place on here. What am I doing wrong?? Nothings working for me

Again thank you for your help.
 
where are you from? i live in ma too.
a drop checker would be awesome, but you dont have one. what is your kh and ph? do you use any buffers?

are you able to manually remove the algae?

cloudy water usually indicates a bacteria bloom. i would cut back on feeding for a bit to cut down on nutrients that bacteria and algae can consume. how much do you feed? how about your bioload, whatcha got in your tank?
 
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cut the lights out for 3 days... you have too much. to avoid more algae in the future raise your lights. once you raise them if you still get algae raise them more. if the plants stop growing lower them. if your nitrates are always between 0-5 then do not dose it... the fish are making the waste and the plants/algae are using it. if there wasn't enough it would never really raise.

i am no expert, but this seems to work for me.
 
Is your tank heavily planted? If not then cut back on the CO2 and less feeding. BBA is probably one of the hardest to get rid off. 50% water change with cleaning off all the bba on your ornaments and plants as best you can. Using Excel on them also helps. Rosy barbs will also eat the algae but you have to go and not feed your inhabitatants for a bit so the only food source for the rosy barbs will be the algae.
 
timwag2001 said:
where are you from? i live in ma too.
a drop checker would be awesome, but you dont have one. what is your kh and ph? do you use any buffers?

are you able to manually remove the algae?

cloudy water usually indicates a bacteria bloom. i would cut back on feeding for a bit to cut down on nutrients that bacteria and algae can consume. how much do you feed? how about your bioload, whatcha got in your tank?
Click to expand...


I live on the Cape. Im trying to get a CO2 indicator now.

I have been unable to manually remove the algae. Ive had to either trim and throw away infected pieces or most recently Ive been peroxide dipping them . The algae turns red but the plants seemed to be getting cooked.

I think my nutrients are all the plants that are falling apart on me. I barely feed the fish.
 
dundadundun said:
cut the lights out for 3 days... you have too much. to avoid more algae in the future raise your lights. once you raise them if you still get algae raise them more. if the plants stop growing lower them. if your nitrates are always between 0-5 then do not dose it... the fish are making the waste and the plants/algae are using it. if there wasn't enough it would never really raise.

i am no expert, but this seems to work for me.
Click to expand...

I have done two 3-4 day blackouts to no help. I am unable to raise the light as they are built into my hood.

I was told to dose the nitrates as anything below 5 would cause the BBA. The plants have nothing to eat at that point so they stuntand the algae takes over.
 
fishy714 said:
Is your tank heavily planted? If not then cut back on the CO2 and less feeding. BBA is probably one of the hardest to get rid off. 50% water change with cleaning off all the bba on your ornaments and plants as best you can. Using Excel on them also helps. Rosy barbs will also eat the algae but you have to go and not feed your inhabitatants for a bit so the only food source for the rosy barbs will be the algae.
Click to expand...

At this point I wouldnt call it heavily planted.

I have heard several people say to use excel I will have to wait and special order some.
 
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