Real Bad Algae

dimebag983

dimebag983

AC Members
Feb 16, 2007
34
0
0
Hey,
In my 55 gallon I had around 3 watts per gallon 10 hours a day, using flourish excel, and normal flourish. About 4 days ago I noticed some algae on the bottom. The algae is green and grows like a blanket. It is covering my plants, is it harmful to them? I now have 1.5 watts per gallon on about 10 hours a day. The whole bottom is covered. Nitrate is about 5, nitrite 0, pH is 7.4. Anything I can add or what else could I do?
 
I have had not a trace of algae since getting some ramshorn snails.. of course, now I have ramshorn snails. :) My plants have never looked better though.
 
my ram would eat the plants
 
Does it look like this: http://aquariumalgae.blogspot.com/2006/03/blue-green-slime-or-smear-algae.html. If so, its cyanobacteria. It will suffocate the plants and can kill the fish, so I'd try to get as much out as you can. It also has a smell to it....so if it smells and looks like that picture, its Cyano. Some people recommend a blackout, but probably the easiest way to get rid of it is with Erythromycin, that is found in the fish med Maracyn.

I see your nitrates are low. Alot of times Cyano will show up with low nitrates, so I'd start dosing KNO3 to get it up to 10-15ppm. Increase the flow in the area of the algae, if its low and get some Maracyn.

I'm currently battling Cyano in my 5.5g and its a nasty algae....so good luck, if thats what kind it is!
 
Thanks. I'll try a blackout and Maracyn
 
i recommend removing as much as possible and doing a WC before and after the blackout.. that way the less there is, the less that could survive and keep growing.
 
I wouldn't treat with maracyn until all other options had been exhausted, and until you're absolutely positive that it is cyanobacteria.
 
Would a picture help?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom