BBA and H202/Excel

Petex

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Hi,
few weeks ago, I received from a guy a new moss covered with BBA.
I dipped the moss into a 1:10 Easy Carbo solution and putted it after doing so back to tank.
Unfortunatly doing so has not killed the BBA and the algae still starts to spread around. :D After some testing I figured out that for some reasons my EC bottle didnt work well - so, I ordered now Seachem Excel.
Otherwise, I also see that H202 spotthreatments kills BBA quickly, so I am not sure what is the better solution?

Overdosing Excel or H202?
I guess 2-3x overdosing Excel should work, but at last I am not sure what will do more harm to sensitve plants/moss. So, how much ppm H202 would be required into the watercoloum to kill BBA? Will it work with just 1ml/gal or is something high around 2-3ml/Gal necessary for BBA?
 
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Tom Barr

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IME, mosses take a real beating from excel or H2O2. Algaefix worked great for hair algae.
BBA, I think low light and Excel dosing at 2x the suggested amount in a cup with CO2 bubbling in it, and same tank water might work fine.
 

Petex

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Hi Tom,
thanks for the reply, I´ll try it in a cup with excel - but how long should the moss sit in the cup and dosing daily 2x Excel, there too?
And should I do anything with the tank? The algae had spread here and there few tiny ones on the substrate. This things do not grow any fast or big - but I am affraid that this stuff could perhaps after several weeks "highjack" any slow pace plants. This BBA has a green colour, is there any difference between the bigger black ones?

pinsel.jpg
 
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Tom Barr

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If you can rotate the gravel on top with gravel from below, this will bury all the BBA covered gravel grains.

For small issues, the Spot treatment method works well, a fine tipped dispenser works best.

Turn the filters and powerheads off, apply, then wait maybe 5 minutes.
If you do this daily fro a few days, this should be plenty to kill off any visible BBA.
For moss, I tend to pick a few nice algae free moss pieces, then throw out the rest of the moss.

But if you throw it out, it's also worth trying various BBA killing methods.
You could treat the entire tank with a 2x dose, then take some of that water, place in a cup and in the dark for awhile, then do the same with H2O2.
Moss rarely gets BBA, I'd just pick off what I could.
 

Petex

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If you can rotate the gravel on top with gravel from below, this will bury all the BBA covered gravel grains.
thats really a sweet und simply good working idea. :D

About the Excel, I received today a bottle - but was without dosing instruction.:p
I guess the dosing is not the same like with EC. How much ml daily for a 100L tank is Excel stock dosing?
 

Petex

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Hi Tom,
I am since 5 days dosing your recommended mls and spothreated.
There are no new BBA growing and the BBA seems to be a little bit weaken, but the Excel didn´t make the BBA fully die (like H202).
BBA seems to be very stubborn stuff.

You mentioned API algaefix, will this only work on hair algae or did also work on BBA, too?
 

fplata

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If you spot dose algae fix on bba it will kill it, too much excell will kill your moss


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Tom Barr

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Petex;93244 said:
Will algaefix be more safe for moss and can it be used for any short dips outside the tank?

Algaefix is fine when used as directed for mosses and liverworts. I have not used dips, but you can try at your own risk.
 

fplata

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I have tried dips on Anubias and they are doing ok. Not sure about mosses


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Petex

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What dosing have you used for Algaefix Dips?
Most Moos is dead (H202/EC destroyed it) and was thrown away, but I have a little piece left and want to try it there with Api.
 

Tom Barr

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I just used the standard dose based on the label, not a concentrated amount(bad idea to do that).

So say 1 ml per 2 Gallons, or whatever is says on the later.

It will take a week or so, and 2-3 doses perhaps(done every 3rd day etc).
 

Petex

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Two hours ago I received the stuff. :)
(API isn´t availible in Germany and had to order it from USA, the shipping was to my surprise really fast. )
Label says 1ml (=14drops) for 38L. So, I putted the moss into a small 2,8L box and dosed 1 drop like the label suggests (for 3days).

but one last question,
it seems to contain Busan 77 which is a pesticide, so how long will this stuff last in the water colomn "and" will it stick on plants?
Is it safe to putt the moss later (after treatment) back to a tank with shrimps ? Or will moss/plants "carry/hold" the pesticide inside the cells and be badly contaminated for some time?
 
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Petex

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The BBA is meanwhile 100% gone in the tank.
(1,3ml Excel dosing like Tom recommended fixid it, I dosed 3weeks long)

And ok, I putted weeks ago some moss and few healthy algaes in a 2L waterbox.
I tread 14days this waterbox with API algaefix.
This is what happens:
1. BBA is uneffected
2. Clado seems a little bit affected, but not fully destroyed.
Honestly, I am litte bit dissapointed - I thought API algaefix would do more bang for the money.:confused:
 
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