Heading Off BGA

imatrout

Prolific Poster
Apr 4, 2005
96
0
6
I tried something that worked well on BGA that I thought some of you might try. Like Tom sez, dose right and keep it away is the best precaution but until you get the ferts dialed in or mistakenly bottom out your NO3 try this:

I noticed in my tank that BGA would always start between the glass and the gravel along the bottom front of the tank and from there spread elsewhere. I got rid of it with a blackout, but it started comeing back a few weeks later slowly developing behind the front glass below the gravel line.

I didn't want to dose my big tank with Maracyn due to costs and effect on bia filtration and I didn't want to go through another blackout so this is what I did.

I bought some Maracyn tables and cut them with a razor blade into 1/8 's. I took tweezes and pushed the 1/8 tab pieces below the gravel between the glass and the gravel spaced roughly 2-3 inches apart. I dosed the entire gravel line with roughly 2 tabs (200 mg. each) and watched the results unfold before my eyes. The Maracyn takes a couple of days to dissolve completely and the slow release, right next to the BGA wiped it out completely over a few days.

I saved a lot of money ( I mean a lot! To dose a 150 gal with Maricyn per the packet instruction would cost $60+) I also stressed the bio filter minimally if al all. I literally eradicated the remaining BGA at the source in a 150 gal tank with 2 Maricyn tabs.

So if you ever see BGA growing against the glass below the gravel, head it off at the pass with a couple of Maricy tabs.
 

groovyfishguy

Prolific Poster
Mar 31, 2005
35
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6
Las Vegas
Re: Heading Off BGA

I've noticed a little BGA forming on the glass on my 180 in a 3 inch strip below the gravel line as well but nitrates are always 20ppm or higher. I wonder why it starts there?
 

fosteder

Guru Class Expert
Feb 3, 2005
123
0
16
Rochester, NH
Re: Heading Off BGA

I read a post (by Tom Barr) on another site about this. He gave a reason why, I can't quite remember what it was, but there was a reason. :D
The answer to the problem is to slope your gravel all the way to the trim of the tank. (at least that was what Tom said in the other post).
 

fosteder

Guru Class Expert
Feb 3, 2005
123
0
16
Rochester, NH
Re: Heading Off BGA

Also, if you are going to dose maracyn for the entire tank to get rid of bga, dose at half the package recommendations. I spent $9.95 to dose my 55 gal, and I had some left over. So you would be looking at 30ish instead.

That is a great tip about the gravel line application. I will have to remember that if it ever happens in my tank....
 

Tom Barr

Founder
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
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Re: Heading Off BGA

Blackout the gravel line.......

Simply put tape over it till it's dead, ambient light in the room is enough for it to grow there. You;ll see it on the side with the most light in the room.

Nothing is there to disturb it either.
Scraping it with a paint scraper once a week also helps.

I slope the gravel myself.

Regards,
Tom Barr