I really don't mean to beat a dead horse, and I know this subject has been covered many times, but I am at my wits end with the BGA issue. I don't want this thread to turn in to a "how to treat BGA in my tank thread". I know how to do this. I have followed every step of advice. I believe everything Tom has said in treating this. I have dosed KNO3 before blackout and after. There was NO light getting into the tank or filter or anywhere during the blackout. I believe that the blackout and KNO3 dosing killed the BGA in the tank. But it still returns. I know that the KNO3 levels in the tank were never low. I was dosing .25 tsp three times a week, never missing a dose (it is a 20 gal tank). Plant biomass is medium.
I have been told that you won't get BGA unless your KNO3 levels are low, but that once it appears it doesn't matter what the levels are, the only ways to get rid of it are Maracyn or blackout. I have done this. Tom has said that once you correct the issue (low KNO3) and kill the BGA it will not return (assuming you keep up with KNO3). So i am thinking the only logical answer is, that I am reintroducing BGA into the tank from an outside source. If I did everything correctly and had a BGA free tank with good NO3 levels and I added water with BGA already in it, would it thrive and multiply? If this is true, what is the most likely situation?
1. I keep adding it with a piece of equipment (python water changer, net, scraper). In my mind this is most likely. I will do a bleach wash of everything that goes into the water (I assume this will rectify this situation). Can BGA live without water? (the net was completely dry)
2. It is coming in through my water source. Is this possible using municiple water, wouldn't the chlorine kill it?
3. It is airborne......run for your lives. (I only list this to be ridiculous).
Am I missing something? Thanks for any ideas or suggestions.
I have been told that you won't get BGA unless your KNO3 levels are low, but that once it appears it doesn't matter what the levels are, the only ways to get rid of it are Maracyn or blackout. I have done this. Tom has said that once you correct the issue (low KNO3) and kill the BGA it will not return (assuming you keep up with KNO3). So i am thinking the only logical answer is, that I am reintroducing BGA into the tank from an outside source. If I did everything correctly and had a BGA free tank with good NO3 levels and I added water with BGA already in it, would it thrive and multiply? If this is true, what is the most likely situation?
1. I keep adding it with a piece of equipment (python water changer, net, scraper). In my mind this is most likely. I will do a bleach wash of everything that goes into the water (I assume this will rectify this situation). Can BGA live without water? (the net was completely dry)
2. It is coming in through my water source. Is this possible using municiple water, wouldn't the chlorine kill it?
3. It is airborne......run for your lives. (I only list this to be ridiculous).
Am I missing something? Thanks for any ideas or suggestions.