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	Help with Blue Green Algae.
JQW Fish Addict Posts: 869 Kudos: 758 Registered: 09-Apr-2003	Hi everyone, Just recently I discovered blue green algae developing in both my 55G and my 15G. They are now in patches that are slowly covering up the entire substrate. What is the cause of my blue green algae problem? Current water parameters are fine in my standard. Take my 55G for instance. Light: 80W Temperature: 30 degrees celcius pH: 6.8 Nitrate: 5ppm Heavily planted with all kinds of sword plants No fertiliser, feed with flakes and frozen blood worm. Fish: 4 angels, 1 discus, 6 platies, 2 cories, 1bn If you can help, would be very much appreciated. Cheers, Jimmy
Posted 17-Feb-2006 09:02
LITTLE_FISH *** Little Fish *** Master of Something Posts: 7303 Kudos: 1997 Votes: 670 Registered: 20-May-2005	Jimmy, No fertiliser That could be already the quick answer for the 55G, you gave it yourself. You may have created (actually, you for sure did) a nutrient imbalance and as such algae found a niche food source (Nitrates from fish waste) that the plants cannot use because other important nutrients are not added. Unrelated to the above, I have experienced BGA when there was none or only very little current in a particular part of the tank. Is that the case in your tanks (in the spots where the BGA ocurred first)? Hope this helps a little, Ingo Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Posted 17-Feb-2006 22:41
JQW Fish Addict Posts: 869 Kudos: 758 Registered: 09-Apr-2003	Thanks Little Fish! That was a quick answer. I'll go down to my lfs and grab some liquid fertilizer. Cheers, Jimmy
Posted 18-Feb-2006 08:54
LITTLE_FISH *** Little Fish *** Master of Something Posts: 7303 Kudos: 1997 Votes: 670 Registered: 20-May-2005	Jimmy, Make sure you remove as much of the BGA as you can. The less you have in the tank the easier it is to avoid it in the future. I know of 2 (maybe 3) ways to eliminate it: 1) first of all do as mentioned above, remove by hand and with the vacuum 2) then give the tank between 3 and 7 days of a black-out. 3) or use Maracyn as instructed on the package for 4 days straight (I don't think you have that product available Down Under though) 4) and the maybe is based on the low current possibility. Add a small powerhead that carries current into these areas You could also hope that your manual removal was sufficient and only take one of the actions mentioned above when it comes back. Hope this helps, Ingo Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Posted 18-Feb-2006 11:45


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