How to properly black out a tank!

C

cichlidcichlid

AC Members
Jun 15, 2006
893
0
0
I have throughly cleaned my 29 gallon planted tank of as much cyanobacteria as I possibly could get. So that way when I do a black out I won't get an ammonia spike from the dead cyanobacteria.

What are the procedures for a black out?

How many days?

What to cover the tank with?

Should I dose ferts or feed during this time?

I want to get it right the first time because I just spent 6 and a half hours cleaning this tank. So you can see why I want this to go well.

Are there any problems that I should be aware of that might come up from doing this procedure?

Is there a chance that any fish or plants will be dead at tghe end of the black?

Please let me know as soon as possible so that I can start tonight.
 
I have blackout questions too :)

How long are you supposed to black out for?
Do you stop CO2?
Does lowering the temp a few degrees help as well?
Do you do water changes during the blackout?


I've been considering doing this if I can't find another solution. I've been fighting BBA and green algae for a few weeks now. I've reduced my lighting period by 3 hours today in hopes it will help. I was doing 13 hours, going down to 10. Maybe I should cut it back more? I've also just removed the slow growing anubias and added some ludwigia repens, pennywort (planted, not floating) and willow hygro. Other plants are red wendtii and java fern. I use the flourish plant tabs, and some liquid ferts maybe once a week. I have 2x65w power compact over 29 gallon with DIY CO2, but one of those bulbs is the actinic kind. I haven't replaced it yet because I kind of like the blueish tint to the lighting. I've been thinking of switching it out a combo 10k/actinic bulb to add more real oomph to the lighting.

The green algae doesn't bother me too much, but I hate the BBA.
 
IDK about blacking out a tank, But aluminum foil would work great.

I cleared up a cyano outbreak in a 125 gal Discus tank bu using 1/2 dose of Maracyn (Erythromycin)

IMHO
Black outs dont work. They are a hassle, and in the end, there's no gaurantee it will work, and you will starve your plants for the duration of the blackout. In order for the black out to be effective, it has to be total, and continious for several days, even letting light in as you feed your fish can stall the progress.

Cyano bacteria is a bacteria, not really an algea. If you want to get rid of it for GOOD, once and for all, use the Erythromycin.
 
How many days do I do it for?

3?

Please let me know so I can cover is tommorrow.

Or should I just get the myrecine stuff?

Mg Help me please!
 
How long are you supposed to black out for?
Click to expand...
3-4 is common
Do you stop CO2?
Click to expand...
i wouldnt run it really no point with the black out.
Does lowering the temp a few degrees help as well?
Click to expand...
not that i know of
Do you do water changes during the blackout?
Click to expand...
nope

another idea for the BBA is taking them out and dipping them in h2o2. that will kill the bba.
 
another idea for the BBA is taking them out and dipping them in h2o2. that will kill the bba.
Click to expand...

I will try that with the java fern, it's got it the worst. Thanks!
 
Last edited:
i would do the EM dose then the blackout on the last 3 days of treatment... but blackout for 3-4 days is what you usually shoot for...
BGA is a photosynthesizing bacteria so the blackout will affect it but not guaranteed to kill it

if you dose EM make sure you dose the FULL amount... half doses will possibly cause the em to not fully die and make it resistant to the antibiotic and next time harder to eradicate
 
I just spend 5 hours making sure that the tank is completely pitch black. I am starting to get a little nervous that I might find everything dead when I take it all off.

I made sure the tank is very clean and the filter has new pads so that it will not clog when I am doing the black out. I made sure to feed the fish as much as they will eat so that they will have some food.

How many days should I do it?

will 3 days be able to kill it off?

I want to make sure that I really finish it off because I really don't want to see the stuff again to be honest.

MG or anyone that has done this successfully please give me any advice as to what I should do.

I know that I will be doing a 50% water change after the blackout.
 
I have done Black-outs a few times in my life (for different algaes--will not work for cyno!!)--it works great!!

I have a customer black-felt cover which I sewed together. Cover tank completely--no light at all coming in. Turn off lights, and CO2. Nice to have an airstone, but not needed. Feed well and do a large water change the day before.

Cover tank completely for 4-5 days---do not look or peak into tank!!

On the day of the "opening" feed well and do another large water change.

Then continue as if the black-out never happed. Usually==no more algae (again--will not work for cyno).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom