BBA Returning

[rrkss]

I just pruned off a few leaves of my Amazon Sword which had some BBA growing on the edges. Is it my CO2? I've tested it for at least 6 days to get an idea of it. Things occur as following.

CO2 is DIY CO2 which is changed every 4 days after lights out.

pH prior to lights on is 7.4
pH 1 hour after lights on is 6.4
pH prior to lights out is 6.0
10 minutes prior to lights out, my airpump switches on to start the process of degassing the CO2.

Tests have been consistent. Five days prior to this I had my HOB filter running keeping the pH at around 6.4 all day due to massive surface movement. I removed the HOB and directed the canister output to create surface movement. CO2 levels have been greatly increased as a result. Is this the trigger to BBA return? The BBA is a mild case. It is not nearly as bad as the infestation I had prior to using the Tom Barr method of planted tanks.

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: BBA Returning

As long as the CO2 is fairly stable and gets around the tank well, you should not have issues with BBA.

It's a CO2 issue and DIY users historically have most of the probelsm with BBA.

I did myself

But I solved the issue with good stable CO2.
The internal DIY reactors I have on the site here do very well with DIY CO2 sources. They where designed for DIY CO2 use.

Just keep after it and make sure the CO2 is good, good pruning etc.
Make sure you all the BBA you can see.
Add some SAE's also if possible.


Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[rrkss]

Re: BBA Returning

Thanks Tom for the reply. I think it was just the sudden increase in CO2 that shocked the plants but the algae seems to be under control.