Fighting BGA and its winning :(

Gbark

Guru Class Expert
Jun 15, 2009
266
1
18
Hi,

I have been fighting a BGA out break for several months now.

The tank has been set up for 3 years.

I tried a black out for 4 days, which killed it off, but it came back.

I hoover it up every week but it just comes back.

I do a 50% weekly water change with RO water.

I have not changed my dosing schedule.

I have never had it in the 3 years that i have run the tank.

I keep CO2 stable.

I have changed my light fitting to a single 150w halide from 2x 24w T5's, i presume this is causing it.:mad:

Thoughts please :)
 

Gerryd

Plant Guru Team
Lifetime Member
Sep 23, 2007
5,623
22
38
South Florida
Hi,

So, bascially you increased the light intensity and PAR but did NOT increase ferts and c02?

I see a possible correlation here :)

Ensure your filters are clean as well as this has caused BGA for me in the past..Low nitrates can also be a trigger or possible cause...

How is your maintenance schedule? Plants grow over 3 years and c02 and ferts must be adjusted.'

Hope this helps.
 

Gbark

Guru Class Expert
Jun 15, 2009
266
1
18
Thanks for the reply,

I have learned that there is always room to increase the CO2, and i do keep it at the high end. I don't really want the CO2 any higher as it already keeps my fish on the lethargic side. I have not increased the amount of ferts, so maybe i should, i will do a sample for NPK before water change.

Organics in the water! i do clean my filter every week. Maybe i should add some carbon?

I know people get good results by dosing Hydrogen Peroxide or Myacin, but i want to kind of find out why it is occuring.
 

Gbark

Guru Class Expert
Jun 15, 2009
266
1
18
N=18ppm
P=1ppm
K=90ppm

work needed here i think. I am quite shocked at the K result, is this a problem?

I will do a few large water changes to reset tank this week.
 

Tom Barr

Founder
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
18,699
786
113
Not really.

Water changes, clean the tank better.
You might do a 3 day black out of use antibiotices etc.

Then clean more often.

Good current and surface ripple also will help reduce/remove organics(more O2).
 

Gbark

Guru Class Expert
Jun 15, 2009
266
1
18
I will clean and change water twice a week for a month and so, and i may try another blackout, going away for the weekend so that may be an ideal time to put a black out into effect.

I will report back.