Algea....Is this BBA?

[Mzungu]

Here's one:

http://www.houstonfishbox.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=17975&highlight=peroxide

[lilmissruffcountry]

I have the same type of algea.

I am thinking I may have gotten it from you, but didn't want to say anything. As it started on the vals you gave me when I brought the cherry shrimp to you.....I have been fighting with it the whole time, an am ready to just throw all the plants away.....

[Somefishguy]

Dont thorw you plants away.

If need be take them out, and dip them in a hydrogen peroxide and water bath. Let them sit 10-15 mins. Rinse them well and replant. The algae will change color and fall off next day or so. Also make sure you scrub you tank down well after.

That is how I got rid of my BBA a while back ago

[lilmissruffcountry]

Here's one:

http://www.houstonfishbox.com/vforum...light=peroxide

Your always so helpful! Thanks!

[Mzungu]

Your always so helpful! Thanks!

You're welcome!!

[lilmissruffcountry]

Dont thorw you plants away.

If need be take them out, and dip them in a hydrogen peroxide and water bath. Let them sit 10-15 mins. Rinse them well and replant. The algae will change color and fall off next day or so. Also make sure you scrub you tank down well after.

That is how I got rid of my BBA a while back ago

I want to get rid of it all, but fear death of my fishes...m going to move everyone to a QT tank if I have time tonite, an dose the tank, let it sit over night, do a 50% WC, an then in 2 days dose again an repeat WC...hopefully it will all die, an I can put my fishes back. This stuff has been a nightmare. I can only hope that the H2o2 doesnt melt the vals, even though they seem to be the starter culprits...either way, this stuff has to go away some how.....

[fishboyt]

I am thinking I may have gotten it from you, but didn't want to say anything. As it started on the vals you gave me when I brought the cherry shrimp to you.....I have been fighting with it the whole time, an am ready to just throw all the plants away.....

Sorry about that. :( It just started off as the brown algea and got worse after I gave you the plants.

[lilmissruffcountry]

Sorry about that. :( It just started off as the brown algea and got worse after I gave you the plants.

Less plants in your tank allowed it to spike up....new light in my tank fed it an allowed it to take over...Don't worry, m not mad at you....just some very frustrating stuff....I'll tell you how the H2o2 thing goes...maybe it will work for us both!

[fishboyt]

Less plants in your tank allowed it to spike up....new light in my tank fed it an allowed it to take over...Don't worry, m not mad at you....just some very frustrating stuff....I'll tell you how the H2o2 thing goes...maybe it will work for us both!

That would be awesome! Maybe I will finally have a green planted tank!

[lilmissruffcountry]

K, I caught everyone that could be caught. There are about 20 guppy fry that I am not going to try to catch. Turned the filter, air stone, an power head off. Dosed tank with 65ml of peroxide, waited a few mins, turned power head ,an air stone on....we will see what happens. I don't see any "bubbling" yet, but it could be cause I am impatient too...

[Complexity]

You do not need to remove your fish when using Hydrogen Peroxide to kill BBA. You do need to remove the vals, however. Remember that Hydrogen Peroxide is H2O2 -- if you pull one of the O's, you'll get H2O. Water. Hydrogen Peroxide breaks down into nothing more than just water and oxygen.

I have treated tanks with Excel and Hydrogen Peroxide with fish in the tank, including Amano shrimp. I have double, tripped, and even higher dosed Excel with no problems.

Here's what I would do to clean out the BBA.

1. Remove the vals. When you pull them up, remove any and all leaves with BBA on them. If you have to cut off all of the leaves, then so be it. Once you've cleaned them up, put them in the QT tank.

2. Shut off the filters.

3. Physically remove all BBA you can. I've even used scoring pads (with no soap!) on wood in the tank with fish. It's a mess. But it won't kill the fish.

4. Do a water change, syphoning off as much of the loose BBA you can get. If you run too low on water, refill with fresh water and start syphoning out the BBA again. Keep refilling and syphoning until you get as much of the BBA out of the tank as possible.

5. While the tank is low on water, squirt Excel on all plants and decor that has or had BBA. I find it easier to do this while the water is drained low because the water won't wash the Excel off quite as fast. If you'd rather use hydrogen peroxide, do the same thing, but cut the lights off since hydrogen peroxide breaks down quickly with light.

6. If any plants are sticking above the water, cover with a wet paper towel so they won't dry out. Use water from the tank to moisten the paper towel.

7. Wait 15 minutes.

8. Refill the tank with water.

9. Turn on filters.

10. Repeat every night with Excel or hydrogen peroxide. Turn off the filters before treating. Use a syringe to squirt the Excel or hydrogen peroxide into the desired location. If using hydrogen peroxide, turn the lights off. Wait 15 minutes. Turn lights back on. Turn filters back on. Repeat the next night.

I have used major overdoses of Excel (far more than usually recommended for killing BBA), followed by a 50% water change. If I only triple dose, then I don't do a water change.

I have never lost a fish or shrimp doing this, but I have killed out BBA.

In the long run, you'll need to add CO2 or cut the lights way back or the BBA will return.

Once you have stopped treating the tank with Excel or hydrogen peroxide, replant the vals.

[lilmissruffcountry]

Did the H2o2 thing...with 1.5ml per gal. 3 days of dosing the tank, followed by 50% wc..the stuff is gone or dead...or both! All the fishes left in the tank(to fast to wanna be caught) did fine, all the plants are fine too. I have 3 different kinds of vals in the tank, so I couldn't use excel unless I uprooted everyone, this way if if don't work, I will try something more serious. Thanks for all the info guys!