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BGA starting to appear

Discussion in 'Algae Control' started by Jeff Bodin, Feb 28, 2005.

  1. Jeff Bodin

    Jeff Bodin Junior Poster

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    I can't find anything in the forum on BGA (OK, so I know the forum is new...).

    I'm getting a little in my planted discus tank.

    50G
    kH = 3
    pH = 6.2
    CO2 =~50ppm
    NO3= ~10ppm
    Fe = TMG 20mls 3x week
    P = dosed at 0.05ppm 2xWeek
    K2SO4 = ~20ppm of K dosed at wate change
    Mg+Ca = 100ppm
    Ca = 65ppm
    6" Flourite
    4x55pfc@6K
    ~82oF


    Funny thing is it seemed to come back amazingly fast (did a 20g water change last night). I'd rather figure out where/why its coming from before I whip out the peroxide ;) .

    Thoughts and comments are appreciated.

    Thanks,

    - Jeff
     
    #1 Jeff Bodin, Feb 28, 2005
  2. Bill

    Bill Lifetime Charter Member
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    Re: BGA starting to appear

    Hi Jeff,

    I think the way Tom suggest to treat it is to.

    Clean the tank and prune as much as the algae as you can do a water change then add KNO3. Then black out the tank for 3 days with dark trash bags (make sure to keep all light from coming in), after that 3 days do another water change and add more KNO3.

    BGA comes when you have low nitrate.

    If I forgot anything I'm sure others can fill in the gaps.

    Bill
     
    #2 Bill, Mar 1, 2005
  3. Jeff Bodin

    Jeff Bodin Junior Poster

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    Re: BGA starting to appear

    I don't have a killer outbreak (yet) - so I'm not (yet) needing to "de-sheet" anything... It's starting to grow on the gravel and in the hairgrass, and a little on the sidewalls.

    I'm just trying to figure out where/why I'm getting it from. I've read many cases where BGA is a symptom of low NO3 - but I know MOFly that my NO3 hasn't dipped below 10ppm in weeks ( if anything, it's been between 10-20 ppm off and on for a while).

    Thanks,

    - Jeff
     
    #3 Jeff Bodin, Mar 1, 2005
  4. Gill Man

    Gill Man Prolific Poster

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    Re: BGA starting to appear

    Big water changes and use the opposite end of a siphon cleaning/vacuuming hose to suck out affected gravel and use it to power vacuum the hairgrass. Some plants don't like power vacuuming so take some care with delicate species. Add water while vacuuming so that you can do so uninterrupted.

    Your limiting nutrient for your plants appears to be phosphate. Your target should be 10% of your nitrate level. 0.05 ppm is way too low for all that light, CO2 and nitrate.
     
    #4 Gill Man, Mar 1, 2005
  5. fosteder

    fosteder Guru Class Expert

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    #5 fosteder, Mar 1, 2005
  6. Jeff Bodin

    Jeff Bodin Junior Poster

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    Re: BGA starting to appear

    I'm not worried about getting rid of it - I've done the darkroom thingy before and killed it in the past when things were out of whack.

    I'm wondering where/why it came from in the first place. CO2 and NO3 and all other parameters are in the norm (and have been). So where is it coming from? :confused:

    - Jeff
     
    #6 Jeff Bodin, Mar 1, 2005
  7. Tom Barr

    Tom Barr Founder
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    Re: BGA starting to appear

    You are assuming the K+ and the NO3 are in good shape based on what? A test kit?

    Kits lie, algae doesn't.
    Regards,
    Tom Barr
     
    #7 Tom Barr, Mar 1, 2005
  8. Jeff Bodin

    Jeff Bodin Junior Poster

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    Re: BGA starting to appear

    K based on dosing - was using KCl plus what little there is in TMG, now using K2SO4 to limit Cl (get some of that from CaCl).
    NO3 based on Lamotte.

    - Jeff
     
    #8 Jeff Bodin, Mar 1, 2005
  9. Wö£fëñxXx

    Wö£fëñxXx Prolific Poster

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    Re: BGA starting to appear

    Don't whip out the peroxide :mad:
    Get you're P04 reading up a bit, 0.05 is a bit weak for you're tank spec's, shoot for 1 to 2ppm
    Definitly increase C02.....
    What are the plant's telling you? listen to the plant's not some man made shake and read concoction :D
     
    #9 Wö£fëñxXx, Mar 3, 2005
  10. Tom Barr

    Tom Barr Founder
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    Re: BGA starting to appear

    Cleaned your filter lately?
    Comb, literally,, the hair grass, it responds well to this.

    Lightly vacuum any regions infested.
    I will keep coming back till you blackout it out and/or else remove some organic waste.

    You will not beat it with water changes alone, you'll need to do a very good cleaning and you can do sections, say 1/3 of the tank each 3-4 days and a water change and dose the nutrients right back afterwards.

    BGA and GW can be beaten rarely with the blackout or other methods, but it's generally rare. They are almost never beaten by adding more or less of any nutrient unless it's KNO3 with BGA.

    I'd suggest a good cleaning if you feel confident the other nutrient levels are in line. That's not a bad thing to do anyway.

    Regards,
    Tom Barr
     
    #10 Tom Barr, Mar 3, 2005
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