Hello! I'm a new member!

[Matti]

Hello,
just joined the UKAPS!
Just by accident found this wonderful hobby about a year ago. I guess it was a video by George or by GreenAqua, cannot remember.
But I decided to have a try, and this is my tank after 8 months, a Dennerle 55.
My original idea was to have a simple iwagumi. But one thing let to another and the tank is now turning to some kind of a jungle-scape.
I've learned a lot, for e.g cracked the first tank but tightening the light holder too hard. I've had all the algae know to man, but now it is almost algae free. Almost, I have this persistent BBA on the Bucephalandra. I can keep it under control by spot dosing easygarbo, but I would not like to use it constantly. Any advice? What I think now, the problem with the buce could be too strong light? I think I have limited all other options: filtration, fertilisation, CO2.
regards, Matti
specs:
-Dennerle55
-Dennerle Scapers flo filter
-CO2-Art pressurized CO2
-two Chihiros C2
-3-4 pumps/week Tropica Specialised

​

 

[MichaelJ]

@Matti Welcome to UKAPS

Very nice tank! Very lush.

I have no personal experience with the Bucephalandra. I believe its a slow growing low light plant preferring shade and since they (looks like you have a couple there) are the only plants that are causing you trouble you might want to consider trimming them down (remove the leaves that are infected with BBA) and perhaps moving them to a shadier spot - the one there at the left corner seems more troubled by BBA than the one towards the center as far as I can tell.

Cheers,
Michael

 

[The grumpy one]

Welcome

 

[Karmicnull]

Lovely tank. I will echo @MichaelJ's diagnosis of too bright for the Buce. But then there is always something in your tank they isn't right. That's part of the rules!

 

[plantnoobdude]

I'd think more along the way of excess organics/detritus and improper co2/flow distribution. as you can see in Dennis Wong and many other people's tanks. They have par in excess of 200 yet also have algae free slow growing plants such as bucephalandra and anubias. I'd try up co2 to a more yellow/green through drop checker. and also try figure out flow. when I have issues with bba it's usually because of overly turbulent concentrated flow. perhaps try a spray bar. cheers

 

[MichaelJ]

Hi @Matti , @plantnoobdude and @Karmicnull are right on the money - the BBA is fundamentally caused by an imbalance in your tank most likely due to CO2/flow/light/maintenance issues. You should definitely post your issue in the Algae section of this forum (including the picture) with some more details, in addition to what you already provided, about how you apply CO2, when you turn on CO2 and off and your pH profile (if you made one), hours of light, fertilizer regime, how frequent and how much percent water changes you do... the more details you provide the better advice you will get ... I have no experience with CO2 injected tanks, but those are among the details the experts always want to know.
Cheers,
Michael

 

[Tim Harrison]

Welcome

 

[PARAGUAY]

Welcome to UKAPS nice tank 🙂

 

[sparkyweasel]

Welcome!

 

[Matti]

Hi, here's a closeup of the Buces, BBA bit all over. It's really frustrating as the tank is otherwise almost algae free. There is something wrong with the Buces, they grow really, really slow, and the leaves are too small.
What I'm now trying I try the increase the CO2 up to around 20mg. And reduce the amount of light, I've got two Chihiros C2-leds and I turned down the front light to 50%.
Let's see what happens

Matti

 

[Smidan]

I feel your pain, the bane of my tanks is the GSA all over the Anubias . Hopefully you get that sorted because those plants look great under those lights! Have you thought about spot treating with glutaraldehyde? Maybe it will save you having to trim those leaves now they're in a shadier place (though I'm unsure how sensitive buce is).

 

[Matti]

I am treating them with EasyCarbo which is glutaraldehyde. It works, you can see on the photo that BBA is turning purple and dying. But it only cures the symptoms and I don't like the idea of constantly adding chemicals to the tank. And it can melt the leaves if you dose too much.