blue green algae?

[lpn4]

Could someone let me know if this is blue-green algae? It covers some of my sand. I also have a hairy-looking growth on my baby tears. I currently have a sick fish, and am wondering if this algae is the culprit? I read that some type of blue-green algae let off toxins. I guess if this is the case, than the antiparasitic treatment I am using is useless.

 

[lpn4]

guess I got to include the pic...here u go. i also use fertilizer in this tank weekly, and have a diy c02 injection, with 2 5watt flourescent lights on for about 10 hours a day.

 

[aqua_chem]

I've never heard of BGA causing sick fish before....

BGA has more of a slimy appearance than hairy, unless you have two different things.

BGA is not a parasite, so it won't respond to your anti-parasite medicines. It is, however, a bacteria, and is vulnerable to antibacterials, such a erythromycin, the active ingredient of Maracyn I.

I can usually kill it by increasing nitrate levels. Increaseing flow in the area might also help.

 

[lpn4]

I was speaking of 2 different algaes, sorry for the confusion. The parasitic treatment I am using is for my puffer fish, who is wasting and has not eaten in 3 days. She is very sick. Hence, I am trying the parasitic treatment, since it had the most symptoms on the box that my fish is displaying. Melafix and the Pimafix did not state to cover anything internal. However, I was thinking that if my fish is sick due to the blue green algae, then the parasitic treatment would obviously not do any good. Also, how would I go about increasing the nitrate levels in the tank? My nitrates this morning were 10.