BGA - Aquarium Advice

Lonewolfblue · 11-13-2006, 04:28 PM

Now the question on BGA, if your nitrate levels are up, why does it keep coming back? Right now that's the only one I'm battling in my 29G. Got rid of all the rest, but even after blackouts, all's clean for about a week, then BGA comes right back. And I don't want to dose more nitrate, as my nitrate levels are pretty high. I've been dosing extra phosphate and potassium as well, and my CO2 is very good. Plants pearl like a mad house, and got good flow across the front of the tank, but the BGA just loves the gravel in the front of the tank and along the lower glass. It's real slimy, and stinks. I've got it cleaned up once again, but would like to keep it away for good.

I also read that it's really not low nitrates that cause BGA, but increased disolved organics, and they recommend adding carbon to the filter at the very first sign of BGA. I'm going that route right now, manually cleaned as much as I could and added carbon, and dosing to proper levels, if not a little more. Any thoughts on this as well?

rkilling1 · 11-13-2006, 04:44 PM

Don't forget about good circulation as well. Uping the NO3's wouldn't help if it isn't getting to the problem areas. I would go with adding Carbon as you are doing. Tom Barr has written that may people have seen good plant growth by adding carbon to their filters.

Lonewolfblue · 11-13-2006, 04:48 PM

The only think is can you ever over-do carbon? lol. Sometimes I wonder if I'm putting enough in, or too much, lol.

JRagg · 11-13-2006, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lonewolfblue

The only think is can you ever over-do carbon? lol. Sometimes I wonder if I'm putting enough in, or too much, lol.

Pretty sure you can't. It's sort of like a sponge. It can only soak up whats there. Putting tons of carbon in just means that it will last a little longer (since there's more carbon there to suck up impurities).

Too little just means the effects of the carbon won't last terribly long.

joannde · 11-14-2006, 06:13 AM

LWB - sorry about the BGA - I'm having the same issue. Its SO annoying and disgusting. I hadn't heard about the carbon - guess what I'll be doing in a few minutes

thanks for the tip !

11-13-2006, 04:28 PM	#1
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	BGA Now the question on BGA, if your nitrate levels are up, why does it keep coming back? Right now that's the only one I'm battling in my 29G. Got rid of all the rest, but even after blackouts, all's clean for about a week, then BGA comes right back. And I don't want to dose more nitrate, as my nitrate levels are pretty high. I've been dosing extra phosphate and potassium as well, and my CO2 is very good. Plants pearl like a mad house, and got good flow across the front of the tank, but the BGA just loves the gravel in the front of the tank and along the lower glass. It's real slimy, and stinks. I've got it cleaned up once again, but would like to keep it away for good. I also read that it's really not low nitrates that cause BGA, but increased disolved organics, and they recommend adding carbon to the filter at the very first sign of BGA. I'm going that route right now, manually cleaned as much as I could and added carbon, and dosing to proper levels, if not a little more. Any thoughts on this as well? __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

11-13-2006, 04:44 PM	#2
rkilling1 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NE ohio Posts: 1,775 Images: 50	Don't forget about good circulation as well. Uping the NO3's wouldn't help if it isn't getting to the problem areas. I would go with adding Carbon as you are doing. Tom Barr has written that may people have seen good plant growth by adding carbon to their filters. __________________ My 75 Gallon Planted Aquarium

11-13-2006, 04:48 PM	#3
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	The only think is can you ever over-do carbon? lol. Sometimes I wonder if I'm putting enough in, or too much, lol. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

11-14-2006, 06:13 AM	#5
joannde Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 1,724 Images: 6	LWB - sorry about the BGA - I'm having the same issue. Its SO annoying and disgusting. I hadn't heard about the carbon - guess what I'll be doing in a few minutes thanks for the tip ! __________________ 35G barebottom: 2 boesemani rainbowfish, 4 congo tetras, Low light plants (1.5wpg) attached to or planted in my own handmade ceramics - Anubia v Nana, Anubia v Barteri, Red Rubin Sword 2.5G - Spot (beautiful betta - Soft pink with red spots on his fins. Java Moss.

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