How can i get rid of this?i have upgraded my lights dramatically so i know thats the reason.i have diy co2 but this crap is growing on the amazon swords,intake tubes,glass and sags.So is there anything that will kill it off?can i add more co2 or do a blackout?
I've got BBA UGH
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Red algae: Also called Black Beard Algae (bba), or Black Brush Algae. Short hairs (1/4" long), closely packed together. Appears dark green, black, or dark red. Grows on plant leaves, and sometimes on decorations/substrate. Often grows all around the edges of plant leaves.
BBA thrives in situations of high phosphates. Phosphates come from fish waste, excess food, and occasionally will be present in the water supply. The best way to eliminate BBA is to let the plants out-compete the algae for the nutrients.
In heavily planted tanks, BBA will often show up when the plants have used up all the nitrates. This causes plant growth to slow or stop, which leaves the excess phosphates available to the algae. By supplying extra Nitrate to a planted tank, we allow plant growth to continue until all phosphate is consumed. Then plant AND algae growth will slow/stop. As long as a usable (5-10ppm) level of Nitrate is maintained, the the plants will continue to use up the available phosphate, effectively controls BBA and other phosphorus-dependant algaes. See the article "Adding Nitrate to a Planted Tank" for detailed instructions on how to increase your Nitrate levels.
Very few fish will eat BBA. The most famous one is the SAE (Siamese Algae Eater). I've got 5 of them in my 75g. I added several BBA infested stems of Bacopa to the tank recently, and overnight, the SAEs had completely cleaned it. But even these amazing fish won't be able to control it you don't have the phosphate level under control. Another fish rumored to eat BBA is the American Flag Fish. In tanks with very large amounts of BBA, the BBA covered leaves should be removed once the phosphate level is controlled.
BBA thrives in situations of high phosphates. Phosphates come from fish waste, excess food, and occasionally will be present in the water supply. The best way to eliminate BBA is to let the plants out-compete the algae for the nutrients.
In heavily planted tanks, BBA will often show up when the plants have used up all the nitrates. This causes plant growth to slow or stop, which leaves the excess phosphates available to the algae. By supplying extra Nitrate to a planted tank, we allow plant growth to continue until all phosphate is consumed. Then plant AND algae growth will slow/stop. As long as a usable (5-10ppm) level of Nitrate is maintained, the the plants will continue to use up the available phosphate, effectively controls BBA and other phosphorus-dependant algaes. See the article "Adding Nitrate to a Planted Tank" for detailed instructions on how to increase your Nitrate levels.
Very few fish will eat BBA. The most famous one is the SAE (Siamese Algae Eater). I've got 5 of them in my 75g. I added several BBA infested stems of Bacopa to the tank recently, and overnight, the SAEs had completely cleaned it. But even these amazing fish won't be able to control it you don't have the phosphate level under control. Another fish rumored to eat BBA is the American Flag Fish. In tanks with very large amounts of BBA, the BBA covered leaves should be removed once the phosphate level is controlled.
I had it, on my logs and plants.I tried scrubbing them off, but they came back harder then ever.... I stopped using the stupid pre filters and found that they were causing this for me. when I stopped even charcoal , started using just floss in rolls I cut to fit It went away. there is a thread some where about how my tank cleared up. I can not say this will help you, I never did use co2. but I did find stuff on the pre filters with charcoal giving to much phosphate along with my water suply so when I stopped using them mine went away.
I had it in my 55 and I took out a lot of the leaves that had it and brushed off what I could. Excel worked for me but you will probably get mixed opinions about it.
I let my diy co2 run out and it came with a vengeance.
tanker
Josh Holloway--Be mine!!!
ok i started researching and came up with the solution.Let me know if this sounds like whats wrong.Ok here goes
I added enough light recently to my 29 to bump the lighting from 1 watt per gallon to almost 4 watts per gallon.i don't have alot of fish in this tank so the bioload is small.i started getting spot algae and BBA just recently after adding the lights.most of my plants are turning yellow and algae is taking hold and i have heard this can be caused by a nitrate deficiency.i have red that it will make older leaves yellow and fall off (which i got) and since there in no nitrates the phosphates build up and you have an algae problem.can i just add my liquid plant ferts (with sodium of nitrate) to boost my nitrate or will i need to buy some dry fert?i have also heard if you overdose on nitrate you will run low on another nutrient and will need to supply it as well.
I added enough light recently to my 29 to bump the lighting from 1 watt per gallon to almost 4 watts per gallon.i don't have alot of fish in this tank so the bioload is small.i started getting spot algae and BBA just recently after adding the lights.most of my plants are turning yellow and algae is taking hold and i have heard this can be caused by a nitrate deficiency.i have red that it will make older leaves yellow and fall off (which i got) and since there in no nitrates the phosphates build up and you have an algae problem.can i just add my liquid plant ferts (with sodium of nitrate) to boost my nitrate or will i need to buy some dry fert?i have also heard if you overdose on nitrate you will run low on another nutrient and will need to supply it as well.
1st thing to cure the problem is to get your water chemistry fixed. you have not given us you fert regiment. you need to stick to doing this on a regular basis what ever you use liquid or dry.
bump up your co2 levels asap.
You must kill the BBA fixing the cause will not get rid of BBA
there are two ways to get rid of BBA a 72 hr complete black out which means cover the tank completely no light at all. This can work not a 100%. combine this with excel dosing with a syringe directly on to the BBA will cure it.
the other is to double dose for 14 days the recommended dose on the bottle will also cure it. (faster if you can dose this right on the BBA with a syringe)
after you cure the BBA cut your photo period down to 8hrs till you get the balance back off light co2 and fertz.
Good Luck BBA can be very frustraiting and hard to get rid of
bump up your co2 levels asap.
You must kill the BBA fixing the cause will not get rid of BBA
there are two ways to get rid of BBA a 72 hr complete black out which means cover the tank completely no light at all. This can work not a 100%. combine this with excel dosing with a syringe directly on to the BBA will cure it.
the other is to double dose for 14 days the recommended dose on the bottle will also cure it. (faster if you can dose this right on the BBA with a syringe)
after you cure the BBA cut your photo period down to 8hrs till you get the balance back off light co2 and fertz.
Good Luck BBA can be very frustraiting and hard to get rid of