Onoma1
Member
While away on hols for two weeks my light for my first tank (https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/for-those-at-the-back-of-the-class.56326/page-2#post-568150) was knocked off and the tank stayed in darkness for 12 days.
On my return it was clear of algae, however, the MC and hair grass carpet was in tatters. This tank isn't a wonderous thing of beauty, however, I quite like it. The Co2, ferts and lighting seemed in balance before I left for hols. I have a decent 'clean up crew' of 14 ottos and a few shrimp from @Steve Buce. I was dosing TNC complete at 5 mils a day before I left and have continued to do so.
I cleaned out all the dead material, replanted the carpet from some MC from a rock in the tank (it seemed to have survived on the rock but died in 'carpet') added some Crypt Parva (to increase plant mass) -a 'panic buy' from Pets at Home and have given it three major water changes in the last two weeks (80%).
Within two days of the light being on the BBA started to grow. I cleaned away any leaves infested with BBA (on daily basis) and cleaned it off glassware and the skimmer. I also noticed that the stems aren't growing as expected and added some ADA long food tabs at the base of some of the larger plants to stimulate further growth.
What was initially a sIow battle which I thought I had a chance of winning once the tank settled down now looks like an impossible task - I am now facing an explosion of BBA. Yesterday I had cleared it, twenty four hours latter the tank is infested with the stuff. I have attached a few photos below.
I tried the trick of dunking Buce into a dilute Excel following Jurijs, however, just killed them off, preserving my reputation on the forum as the resident buce killer.
At this point the substrate will be fairly exhausted so should I just salvage the plants (while most are clear of BBA) and go for a complete new rescape?
Alternatively, should I persevere and either go for lean dosing and then follow Filipe's advice using excel or should I continue with high doses of ferts be patient and try to 'outgrow' the BBA?
I cleaned the rocks (manually) two days ago and syphoned off the algae - they are now covered again. I could spot dose with hydrogen peroxide, however, the real problem is the plants. Is the manual removal of leaves infested with BBA helping or just weakening the plants?
I have 10 days or so to sort this before I go into an intensive period at work and will be away and won't be able to do much with the tank.
Any advice is welcome!
On my return it was clear of algae, however, the MC and hair grass carpet was in tatters. This tank isn't a wonderous thing of beauty, however, I quite like it. The Co2, ferts and lighting seemed in balance before I left for hols. I have a decent 'clean up crew' of 14 ottos and a few shrimp from @Steve Buce. I was dosing TNC complete at 5 mils a day before I left and have continued to do so.
I cleaned out all the dead material, replanted the carpet from some MC from a rock in the tank (it seemed to have survived on the rock but died in 'carpet') added some Crypt Parva (to increase plant mass) -a 'panic buy' from Pets at Home and have given it three major water changes in the last two weeks (80%).
Within two days of the light being on the BBA started to grow. I cleaned away any leaves infested with BBA (on daily basis) and cleaned it off glassware and the skimmer. I also noticed that the stems aren't growing as expected and added some ADA long food tabs at the base of some of the larger plants to stimulate further growth.
What was initially a sIow battle which I thought I had a chance of winning once the tank settled down now looks like an impossible task - I am now facing an explosion of BBA. Yesterday I had cleared it, twenty four hours latter the tank is infested with the stuff. I have attached a few photos below.
I tried the trick of dunking Buce into a dilute Excel following Jurijs, however, just killed them off, preserving my reputation on the forum as the resident buce killer.
At this point the substrate will be fairly exhausted so should I just salvage the plants (while most are clear of BBA) and go for a complete new rescape?
Alternatively, should I persevere and either go for lean dosing and then follow Filipe's advice using excel or should I continue with high doses of ferts be patient and try to 'outgrow' the BBA?
I cleaned the rocks (manually) two days ago and syphoned off the algae - they are now covered again. I could spot dose with hydrogen peroxide, however, the real problem is the plants. Is the manual removal of leaves infested with BBA helping or just weakening the plants?
I have 10 days or so to sort this before I go into an intensive period at work and will be away and won't be able to do much with the tank.
Any advice is welcome!