Hi
I'm at my wits end with trying to get my 55 gallon planted tank straightened out after a major outbreak of BBA. After a 20+ year break in keeping fish I came back in to the hobby 7 months ago with this tank. The focus is now 5 young hungry discus and of course, plants.
The BBA started when I purchased the 5 discus 4 months ago. I was told by the shop clerk that the discus needed 7.0ph water (as required by the breeder). He recommended Seachems Neutral Regulator. After several weeks of 30% water changes with this product, I started seeing some new algae, which turned out to be the dreaded BBA. I purchased a phosphate test kit and was shocked to find levels off the chart, 10.0ppm. I did several water changes then figured out that the whole problem was the neutral regulator! Did I feel stupid!
I found this forum about 2 months ago and started getting all my dry chemicals together to do the EI dosing method. I've been out of work with a work injury since 4-25. After several surgery's on my elbow I have had way to much time on my hands to spend entirely to much money! It may be coming to an end soon. Anyway, 3X a week I dose1/2 ts KNO3, 1/8 ts K2SO4, 1/8ts Plantex+B, 10ml Seachems Fe. I do not dose Phosphate as my tap water is already .5ppm and I'm feeding 5 hungry young discus. At 50% water change I use 3 TBS of Seachems Equilibrium and Acid /Alkaline Buffer as my tap water is moderately soft with a 6.8 PH. I just started Seachems Excell, have been dosing on the heavy side for 2 weeks now. Have been using the EI method for 4 weeks.
For lights I have a 4x65w PCF fixture set about 4 inches above the tank. One circuit has 2 65w 5200k bulbs which are on 10.5 hours, other circuit has 2 65w 6500k bulbs on a 5 hour mid-day burst. I just bought the timer for the lights a week ago.
Substrate is a 50/50 mix of Flourite and Eco-complete.
Current tank parameters
PH7.0
Nitrate 20ppm,
PO4 2.0ppm
FE .2ppm,
GH9
KH5
temp 82- 83
I do not have a drop checker yet, but I am dissolving CO2 in at a rate of 1 bubble a second with no excess. That's about the max for my DIY chamber and pump. Also I do have a magnum 350 cannister using a Seachems Purigen bag/ floss, with 2 bio-wheels. I know the bio-wheels are not good for CO2 retention.
All the plants have some BBA that seems to come and go. I have tried to trim as much as possible, even removing some and dipping in a bleach/water solution. Also having some current problems with green thread algae in high flow areas.
My red temple is about to croak, Micro-sword is all but gone. Cabomba and Water Sprite are coming back, they are the only plants that seem to showing any good growth since starting EI. Amazon Swords are doing OK despite BBA on many of the leaves. Glosso was added a week ago and seems to be taking hold OK. Red crypt growth is weak, have lost many of the leaves. Anubias Nanas have some new growth but BBA is still holding on them. Jave ferns are completly covered with BBA, I'm making some progress removing the stuff.
I had a nice clean tank with decent plant growth several months ago before this BBA stuff! What do I need to do, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Sorry this ran on so long.
Bob
I'm at my wits end with trying to get my 55 gallon planted tank straightened out after a major outbreak of BBA. After a 20+ year break in keeping fish I came back in to the hobby 7 months ago with this tank. The focus is now 5 young hungry discus and of course, plants.
The BBA started when I purchased the 5 discus 4 months ago. I was told by the shop clerk that the discus needed 7.0ph water (as required by the breeder). He recommended Seachems Neutral Regulator. After several weeks of 30% water changes with this product, I started seeing some new algae, which turned out to be the dreaded BBA. I purchased a phosphate test kit and was shocked to find levels off the chart, 10.0ppm. I did several water changes then figured out that the whole problem was the neutral regulator! Did I feel stupid!
I found this forum about 2 months ago and started getting all my dry chemicals together to do the EI dosing method. I've been out of work with a work injury since 4-25. After several surgery's on my elbow I have had way to much time on my hands to spend entirely to much money! It may be coming to an end soon. Anyway, 3X a week I dose1/2 ts KNO3, 1/8 ts K2SO4, 1/8ts Plantex+B, 10ml Seachems Fe. I do not dose Phosphate as my tap water is already .5ppm and I'm feeding 5 hungry young discus. At 50% water change I use 3 TBS of Seachems Equilibrium and Acid /Alkaline Buffer as my tap water is moderately soft with a 6.8 PH. I just started Seachems Excell, have been dosing on the heavy side for 2 weeks now. Have been using the EI method for 4 weeks.
For lights I have a 4x65w PCF fixture set about 4 inches above the tank. One circuit has 2 65w 5200k bulbs which are on 10.5 hours, other circuit has 2 65w 6500k bulbs on a 5 hour mid-day burst. I just bought the timer for the lights a week ago.
Substrate is a 50/50 mix of Flourite and Eco-complete.
Current tank parameters
PH7.0
Nitrate 20ppm,
PO4 2.0ppm
FE .2ppm,
GH9
KH5
temp 82- 83
I do not have a drop checker yet, but I am dissolving CO2 in at a rate of 1 bubble a second with no excess. That's about the max for my DIY chamber and pump. Also I do have a magnum 350 cannister using a Seachems Purigen bag/ floss, with 2 bio-wheels. I know the bio-wheels are not good for CO2 retention.
All the plants have some BBA that seems to come and go. I have tried to trim as much as possible, even removing some and dipping in a bleach/water solution. Also having some current problems with green thread algae in high flow areas.
My red temple is about to croak, Micro-sword is all but gone. Cabomba and Water Sprite are coming back, they are the only plants that seem to showing any good growth since starting EI. Amazon Swords are doing OK despite BBA on many of the leaves. Glosso was added a week ago and seems to be taking hold OK. Red crypt growth is weak, have lost many of the leaves. Anubias Nanas have some new growth but BBA is still holding on them. Jave ferns are completly covered with BBA, I'm making some progress removing the stuff.
I had a nice clean tank with decent plant growth several months ago before this BBA stuff! What do I need to do, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Sorry this ran on so long.
Bob