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northtexasfossilguy · 06-09-2009, 06:16 PM

The algae grows when the plants don't. You need to have a good amount of three things: light, CO2, and other nutrients.

The best thing that I ever did to my 30 gallon, my first tank, was to use hydrogen peroxide with a turkey baster and blast the stuff. It will kill it all, and its really fun, just remove the shrimp or other livestock while you do it just to be safe, you could do a water change at this point also. Snails will eat some of the slime if you let them.

You need at least 1-2 watts per gallon of water of light, and it is so much easier to put it on a timer and let it run itself. 12-14 hours of light.

You probably need CO2, and you can do this yourself very cheaply.

Change your water after you do the hydrogen peroxide just for the sake of hopefully removing some of the algae.

Try using fertilizer in a small regular dose after you do this. Something with iron, or you could use the tablets. It may not be necessary however.

If you have cryptocorynnes and they wilt and look dead after the hydrogen peroxide, leave them alone and they will come back over a month or two. Pick off the leaves that have the BBA.

You might cut back everything that has the BBA on it as well. You can cut some things to the roots and they will come back, but try and be frugal about it, as you might kill your plants too.

You could also run a UV sterilizer.

06-09-2009, 06:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
northtexasfossilguy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Arlington, Tx Posts: 253 iTrader Ratings: 0 Plant Points: 15250	Re: mayday The algae grows when the plants don't. You need to have a good amount of three things: light, CO2, and other nutrients. The best thing that I ever did to my 30 gallon, my first tank, was to use hydrogen peroxide with a turkey baster and blast the stuff. It will kill it all, and its really fun, just remove the shrimp or other livestock while you do it just to be safe, you could do a water change at this point also. Snails will eat some of the slime if you let them. You need at least 1-2 watts per gallon of water of light, and it is so much easier to put it on a timer and let it run itself. 12-14 hours of light. You probably need CO2, and you can do this yourself very cheaply. Change your water after you do the hydrogen peroxide just for the sake of hopefully removing some of the algae. Try using fertilizer in a small regular dose after you do this. Something with iron, or you could use the tablets. It may not be necessary however. If you have cryptocorynnes and they wilt and look dead after the hydrogen peroxide, leave them alone and they will come back over a month or two. Pick off the leaves that have the BBA. You might cut back everything that has the BBA on it as well. You can cut some things to the roots and they will come back, but try and be frugal about it, as you might kill your plants too. You could also run a UV sterilizer.