Hello again PJ...
Aquarium plants are tropical and used to long hours of daylight. You can run tank lights up to 14 hours a day. I'd say that would be the maximum for good growth.
B
+1 in this, I've found there is a fine balance with lights, ferts and plants, one does not simply leave lights on for 14 hrs problem free. Not saying it can't be done but it would require much trial and error to get there..Ummm no. Don't do this at all or you will for sure be making a thread about why tou have algae in every inch of your tank. 6 hours is perfect or you can try 8 hours
Thanks guys! I have water sprite, java fern and swords, they're all getting algae on their leaves!
Algae eaters will not eat BBA. Otocinclus catfish will, until they discover your plants taste better, after which they will suck the tissue right out of the leaves. Honestly, myself and another friend got BBA in our aquariums and the only way we killed it was to remove everything and heavily shock the tank with chlorine. We both lost everything. I'm not saying it's the only option, but light and phosphates play a role, start there. Catfish are fine for other types of algae, but not BBA.
Hello again PJ...
Aquarium plants are tropical and used to long hours of daylight. You can run tank lights up to 14 hours a day. I'd say that would be the maximum for good growth.
B
BBA always has two things in common. Too much phosphate and wrong or worn out wavelength lighting. What kind of bulb? How old is it? Until you get the BBA taken care of, you can forget the plants. That stuff is horribly parasitic.
Algae eaters will not eat BBA. Otocinclus catfish will, until they discover your plants taste better, after which they will suck the tissue right out of the leaves. Honestly, myself and another friend got BBA in our aquariums and the only way we killed it was to remove everything and heavily shock the tank with chlorine. We both lost everything. I'm not saying it's the only option, but light and phosphates play a role, start there. Catfish are fine for other types of algae, but not BBA.
This is why I don't join forums.
Some in the industry are spot treating BBA with hydrogen peroxide and having documented success. I am not familiar with the method enough to speak to it. Research may be in order.