Treating bba with excel AND CO2?

naturegrl

naturegrl

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Sep 29, 2008
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I have the dreaded Black Beard Algae. I've been doing lots of reading and it seems that excel will be my best bet in trying to get rid of the bba.

I had plants and co2 before but ended up pulling everything out when life got really busy. Now I'm starting up again but the bba is getting to all my crypts.

My drop checker is green so I'm assuming I'm in a safe level of co2.

My question is this. I want to treat the existing bba with excel, so should I shut off my co2 while I'm doing this treatment peroid?

How exactly would you guys suggest I do this?

Thanks!
 
oops, I meant black brush algae.... that's a goofy thing I've always called it....like the dreaded pirate in the tank...
 
Thanks, but that would mean that I would have to uproot these plants. Is there a way to do this without having to take the plants out of the tank?

I guess, mainly I need to know if it is safe to use excel while using co2? or do I need to modify the co2 or something?
 
naturegrl said:
Thanks, but that would mean that I would have to uproot these plants. Is there a way to do this without having to take the plants out of the tank?

I guess, mainly I need to know if it is safe to use excel while using co2? or do I need to modify the co2 or something?
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That depends on the plants. Some plants will melt if directly exposed to a strong excel solution. Stems and vals specifically.

A strong excel solution is the quickest way. However, simply doubling up on your excel dose will take care of it in time. The only other suggestion is just to pull off as much of the BBA as possible first.
 
I have battled BBA in my planted tank at time. C02 helps diminish it over time as they plants can use the C02 to outcompete it. The excel works in a different way -- it appears to have an algae-killing property of some sort (although that is not its stated purpose). You can simply try double-dosing the whole tank or you can try using a syringe to target specific areas. It's recommended you temporarily shut off the filter when you do that so more of the what you're shooting from the syringe goes to its intended target. If it's on an anubias, I do pull the whole plant up and dip the affected leaves in a part-Excel solution. Be careful, though. Too high a concentration will destroy the leaf. Do not put the roots in Excel.

I also remove much of it by hand or pull off affected leaves. SAEs will also eat it . . .
 
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