Hi:

I've tried running the CO2 from 5PPM to 30PPM. You're right having it
higher and more plant growth helps, but the BBA still does not go away. It
just slows down. I have no problem with any other kind of algae. Just BBA.

Blackout will have no effect. The doc in the Krib and elsewhere says same
thing. BBA will just go dormant. People have taken out rocks with BBA on
them, let them dry in air 6 months, then put them back in water, and the BBA
starts right back where it left off. This stuff is HARD to kill. The only
thing that kills it is Chlorine or Copper Sulphate. Even Copper takes 3-5
days to kill it. Chlorine only takes minutes.

Water control can help or make things worse, but it will never get rid of
it. You could put a rock with BBA in distilled water and the BBA will not
die. Probably just go into hibernation and come back when there are
nutrients around.

The only way I see to kill BBA without killing the plants is Chlorine or
Copper. I've tried everything else. It's time to sterilize the tank.

I'm just kicking myself that I did not sterilize the plants and rocks in
Chlorine when I set this new tank up 2 months ago. I had the perfect
opportunity then to start off with a clean tank. That would have been the
perfect time to get rid of this BBA. Now I see no choice but the hard way.

Thanks, Chris.




"Happy'Cam'per" wrote in message
...
Hi Chris

You need to check your co2. There's not enough.
Instead of going the chemical nuking route, just do a 3 day blackout. Get
your lighting, co2 and nutrients back up and manually remove as much of
the
stuff as you can.

--
**So long, and thanks for all the fish!**


"Chris_S" wrote in message
...
Hi:

I'm fed up with my Black Beard Algae. We've had it for the last several
years, but never had it before that. Obviously it came in on some
plants
or
fish. I've tried all the usual things like SAEs etc. and water control,
but
nothing gets rid of it.

Recently I just setup a new 100G tank with brand new gravel and new
water.
There was no phosphate in the water at all. Yet the BBA on the plants
which
were put in the tank still grew. From what else I read, and from my
experience, any water that will grow plants will grow BBA. You cannot
get
rid of it with water control.

So, I have come to the decision that killing it all in the entire tank
system is the only real solution. From what I read either Chlorine or
Copper will do it. Chlorine seems to work much faster. What I plan to
do
is:

- Remove all the fish from the tank
- Poor in 5G of Chlorox Bleach (1/20).
- Mix it up and let it circulate in the tank for 5 minutes.
- Drain the tank, refill with water, drain tank, and refill again.
- Put in anti-Chlorine.
- Put fish back in.

I know it will kill my bio in the filters, but that is easy to regrow.
I
may loose some of the plants, but I don't care if the BBA is gone
forever.
After that I will rinse all plants in Chlorine before putting anything
new
in.

Any other suggestions or advice?

Thanks, Chris.