gda ?

Tom Barr

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Re: gda ?

Keep up on CO2, dosing and cleaning things, the large water changes should help from here on.

The routine above will rid you of the remaing algae with a little picking at it, manually etc.
If you squirt Excel in the tank after water changes, the rec dose for that, you will also hit the algae and knock it back faster as well, doing large water changes daily and excel dosing(the suggestions after the water change) is an effectyive method when combined with adding more CO2, maintaining good dosing of KNO3 etc.

Not many algae can survive that for more than a few days.
BBA, Staghorn, Hair algae, slime hair algae, everything except BGA, GDA, GW can be controlled very quickly with the above routine.

And we already know how to deal with the GDA, BGA and GW.

So pretty much every algae is licked without adding algicides(Excel is not really one in a way) and focusing on good routines/habits/dosing/CO2.

And it's the same old thing again and again. :gw

Once you learn this, you will be able to help most anyone grow plants and get rid of their algae issues, then they will like you:)

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

EssexPete

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Re: gda ?

Cheers Tom, your help and advice is much appreciated. Not only have you helped me rid my tank of at least 2 types of algae, you even provided a tip on how to make new friends :D

Best wishes
Pete
 

EssexPete

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Re: gda ?

Much to my dismay I seem to be growing GDA again. :confused:
Just as before there's a light dusting of green on the glass interspersed here and there with what I think is Oedogonium (a tiny spot on the glass with a single light green hair-like filament about 5-8mm long).
Having not touched the tank - apart from the usual EI dosing and 50% weekly water change - for 25 days I really hoped not to see this back again.
The only thing I've done since the GDA cycle completed is some severe plant pruning to give the fish some swimming space and add Excel as per Tom's suggestion.

Any ideas ?

Thanks
Pete
 

VaughnH

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Re: gda ?

I had to do two "life cycles" before the GDA went away. I assumed my problem was that I had scraped away some of the algae prematurely while making a water change, but it might not have been that. After my second "life cycle" I still had green glass, but it appeared then to be green spot algae, because it was much harder to remove, requiring scraping instead of wiping.

I am wondering if we are over-simplifying the issue by referring to this as GDA, when there may be several different algae that give what we call GDA, each with somewhat different characteristics. Tom?
 

EssexPete

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Thanks Vaughn - In a few hours I'm off to relax on a beach on the Greek island of Kos for a week - much needed due to all the stress of the new GDA outbreak :D

I done a 75% water change today and my neighbour will keep up the EI dosing while I'm away, the GDA can do its worst and hopefully there will be some advice here when I'm back.

All the best
Pete
 

Tom Barr

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Make sure to do a water change after any work on the tank, if you work on the tank and then don't do any water changes, GW, GDA etc can come back easily.

Regards,
tom Barr
 

VaughnH

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EssexPete;10663 said:
Thanks Vaughn - In a few hours I'm off to relax on a beach on the Greek island of Kos for a week - much needed due to all the stress of the new GDA outbreak :D



All the best
Pete
I must strongly reccomend that you give up the vacation and stay home watching the GDA grow. That should be the obvious decision for any of us.
 

Tom Barr

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Generally you need to stay on top of the tank and water changes etc after most algae related issues.

This can really help the plants grow in well and maintain high water quality.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

EssexPete

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Had a great time in Kos and got back to a very green tank !
Just as before, the glass is thick with GDA and hair-algae on the plants.

I followed the instructions given, and the only time I do anything in the tank (gravel vac and pruning) is on water chage day, so 50%+ gets changed weekly.

So, for whatever reason, the method didn't work for me.

The GDA has been undisturbed for 17 days now.
What should I do?
I'm still EI dosing and using Excel as Tom suggested.

Thanks
Pete
 

EssexPete

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no more ideas?

Has no one got any ideas as to how I should proceed from here?

I don't want to use an algicide, but I have enough eSHa Protalon-707 to treat the tank.
Is this recommended?


thanks
Pete
 

Tom Barr

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So you have waited it out now and are ready to clean?
If so, clean very well, and do a large water change fast.
Then do another and another, back to back.
If you have a UV or a fine filtration, use that as much as you can.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

VaughnH

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Tom Barr;10976 said:
So you have waited it out now and are ready to clean?
If so, clean very well, and do a large water change fast.
Then do another and another, back to back.
If you have a UV or a fine filtration, use that as much as you can.

Regards,
Tom Barr

Does UV kill the swimming zoospores? I have been wondering why it wouldn't since it kills most microscopic lifeforms. The dual quick water changes are to drain off as much of the scraped off algae as is possible? I'm asking because I am a couple of days away from cleaning up my latest GDA attack.
 

Professor Myers

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Does UV kill the swimming zoospores?

At the very least it corrupts the DNA. Generally Higher levels of U.V. radiation IE: 3X + causes the water borne algae to congeal enmasse allowing it to be effectively filtered out mechanically. Very much like alum in municipal water filtration without the side effects. HTH. Prof M
 

EssexPete

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Well its been quite a day!!

Started off at 10.00am, cleaned all the algae off the glass and pulled as many algae covered leaves as I could, I ended-up with a 2-gallon bucketfull of plant prunings, there was hardly any room for the fish to swim.
I vacced the gravel then done the 3 water changes as Tom suggested.
I left the tank for about 2 hours, vacced the gravel again and done another 3 changes.....
Done the EI dosing and added Excel..
Didn't realise how much hard work theis 'hobby' is..

I did wonder on the way if all the water changes will have a negative effect on the bacteria living in the wet/dry filter?

Not exactly how I planned my day off, but hey ho.. if its done the trick then it's been worth it.

I'll post an update in a day or two.

Fingers crossed

Pete
 

Tom Barr

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It is hard basic work when it comes to set ups, reworks and general revamping an abused tank.

Some are very naive about this.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

EssexPete

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Not sure why you think my tank has been abused.
Since starting with EI/CO2 I have followed your advice at every step.
And if following your advice is naive, then I suppose I must be....

Pete :confused:
 

VaughnH

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I just cleaned up my GDA today too. Big job, lots of plants tossed for having BBA, added 2X the water change dose of Excel as a back up plan. Now, lets see if it comes back in two days for me too.
 

Tom Barr

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EssexPete;11046 said:
Not sure why you think my tank has been abused.
Since starting with EI/CO2 I have followed your advice at every step.
And if following your advice is naive, then I suppose I must be....

Pete :confused:

No no.
That's certainly not the meaning intended.
Sorry if I implied as such.

I make mistakes when I use CO2, like everyone else.
That's more likely the issue.
If you dose consistenly 2-3x a week after, and the CO2 is really good, the GDA should not come back.

I will get GDA and I work the tank good and it does not come back.
I tried the wait method and it also worked.

You can do both but some folks have less success.
Still, doing both will maxmize the chances as well as staying on top of things.

Try scrubbing good and doing large water change and perhaps try the Excel there after. Not much is going to survive if you do say 80% water changes 3days in a row followed with Excel and blackout, no CO2 and good scrub each time.

Rather than snake oiling it, a intergrated approach will do much better and do no damage to plants and beat the heck out any species of algae.

Try this, it's a bit of work, but it'll beat the beejeesus out of the algae.

From there, just stay on top of things and do the water changes.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

EssexPete

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Thanks Tom and Vaughn

The wait method doesn't seem to have worked for me. I left it for 25 days the first time and 19 days the 2nd time and on both occasions the GDA came back in 2-3 days.
I do note that the gourami, of which I have about 10 constantly peck at the algae on the glass. Maybe they're loosening enough zoospores (?) to allow them to re-attach and re-start the cycle?

If I combine a wiat with a blackout as Tom suggests, how should I proceed?
Do a big water change then blackout for x days?
If so, what's x?
Alternatively, I've got 3 x 36W Triton tubes that I use in conjunction with 2 x 150W metal halide lamps. Is there any benefit from leaving the MH lamps off for x days ?

Thanks for your continued help,
Best wishes
Pete