[Wet Thumb Forum]-little black algae balls - Fertilizing

otherguy · 02-20-2003, 10:28 AM

I have these little black algae balls starting to grow on my plants... What are they and how do I get rid of them.

otherguy · 02-20-2003, 10:28 AM

I have these little black algae balls starting to grow on my plants... What are they and how do I get rid of them.

Rex Grigg · 02-20-2003, 12:10 PM

I'd guess what you have is BBA, black brush algae. You need to keep your nutrients in balance, add CO2, prune out as much as you can. Some fish and critters will eat it. It's normally caused by high phosphates or sometimes high nitrates.

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otherguy · 02-24-2003, 02:30 AM

Is their any way to kill this stuff besides pruning or pulling out and doing a bleach bath??? Tested my phospate and it was at 0 and my nitrates were about 5 or so. One thing I think I am lost on is dosing traces. More so a regime. If you were me what kind of regime would you start with.

Brandon

75gallon tank, wetdry filter, pressurized co2, uv, flourite substrate, 220watts lighting

jpmtotoro · 02-24-2003, 08:15 AM

just reading your tank stats otherguy... UV... didn't someone once mention that UV sterlizers were detrimental in a planted tank for some reason? something about catalysing reactions of certain trace elements and nutrients thus stripping them from usability. also people wet/dry filters... i haven't used either one on my tank so i can't say much, but perhaps this might help someone else diagnose your issue.

JP

PS perhaps a few siamese algae eaters might help? i should be getting some in this week for my tank, i can let you know if they work like everyone says they do...

Rex Grigg · 02-24-2003, 02:34 PM

UV will reduce organic iron. You can get rid of most of the BBA by doing just like I said. Get your CO2 levels up around 20-30 ppm. You are going to need to dose Phosphates, increase your nitrates. Get some Flourish or TMG and dose that. I have really not noticed SAEs eating BBA. Some people say Rosy Barbs will eat it though.

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otherguy · 02-25-2003, 01:54 AM

I have all the stuff for dosing, fleet enema for phosphate, kno3 for nitrates, and I think I have a handle on dosing that stuff, but I was looking for some suggestions for dosing amounts of flourish.. Like say 5 ml 3x a week. JP the uv I only run at night it is on a timer. Plus the debates UV are endless. So I figured I have it, might as well use it, so in hopes of balance I run 50% of the time, I have noticed less fish deaths using it. Since my last message the phosphate is a 1 and the nitrates are at 10ppm. My ph is at around 6.7 or 6.8 and the kh is 4/5. Should I holding my ph around 6.6 If that is the case I better get a 100# bottle of co2

Brandon

75gallon tank, wetdry filter, pressurized co2, uv, flourite substrate, 220watts lighting