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blank 04-10-2004 07:45 AM

72-Hour Blackout Cure for Algae is Rubbish
 
Well, after 72 hours of total darkness in my 4' aquarium I removed the
covers and:
thankfully, the fish are all still alive,
most of the plants are fine (java moss has suffered),
a bit of the algae has gone, but most is alive and healthy.

So to those advocating 72 hours of darkness as a guaranteed algae cure I
say: Nonsense, it is a myth. Don't bother even trying it. I did, and it
doesn't work.



Tasslehoff Burrfoot 04-10-2004 10:25 AM

Umm, not sure if you did your homework beforehand or just got bad advice
from someone, but it only works for about 95% of BGA's(Blue-green algae) and
greenwater type algae. It will probably not work for
brown(diatomic)/film/spot/fuzz/hair/thread/staghorn/BBA inc.(red types).

"blank" wrote in message
...
Well, after 72 hours of total darkness in my 4' aquarium I removed the
covers and:
thankfully, the fish are all still alive,
most of the plants are fine (java moss has suffered),
a bit of the algae has gone, but most is alive and healthy.

So to those advocating 72 hours of darkness as a guaranteed algae cure I
say: Nonsense, it is a myth. Don't bother even trying it. I did, and it
doesn't work.





Dick 04-10-2004 11:36 AM

On Mon, 4 Oct 2004 15:45:03 +1000, "blank" wrote:

Well, after 72 hours of total darkness in my 4' aquarium I removed the
covers and:
thankfully, the fish are all still alive,
most of the plants are fine (java moss has suffered),
a bit of the algae has gone, but most is alive and healthy.

So to those advocating 72 hours of darkness as a guaranteed algae cure I
say: Nonsense, it is a myth. Don't bother even trying it. I did, and it
doesn't work.

Reassuring to know fish can survive 72 hours without food isn't it?
I tried the darkness routine for only 48 hours to treat Ich. Didn't
work for that either, but I feel better about missing a couple of
feeding times.

dick

blank 04-10-2004 11:48 AM


"Dick" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 4 Oct 2004 15:45:03 +1000, "blank" wrote:

Well, after 72 hours of total darkness in my 4' aquarium I removed the
covers and:
thankfully, the fish are all still alive,
most of the plants are fine (java moss has suffered),
a bit of the algae has gone, but most is alive and healthy.

So to those advocating 72 hours of darkness as a guaranteed algae cure I
say: Nonsense, it is a myth. Don't bother even trying it. I did, and

it
doesn't work.

Reassuring to know fish can survive 72 hours without food isn't it?
I tried the darkness routine for only 48 hours to treat Ich. Didn't
work for that either, but I feel better about missing a couple of
feeding times.

dick


absolutely i have been biting my nails for 72 hours non-stop and my
wife has been even more uptight but all is well, which is very reassuring
except it doesnt kill the damn algae anyway it was an experiment i had to
try and thank god no harm has been done



Cichlidiot 04-10-2004 03:16 PM

In rec.aquaria.freshwater.plants blank wrote:
absolutely i have been biting my nails for 72 hours non-stop and my
wife has been even more uptight but all is well, which is very reassuring
except it doesnt kill the damn algae anyway it was an experiment i had to
try and thank god no harm has been done


Fish do perfectly fine for 3 days without feeding unless they are young or
already ailing. Mouthbrooding cichlids go weeks without eating while
holding a clutch of eggs for example. Anyways, since darkness did not work
for your algae, perhaps you should be reconsidering what kind of algae you
have. Of course, microscopic examination would probably be needed to made
an absolute ID, but if you could post pictures (overall tank shot and
closeups are good) to a webpage, perhaps more directed cleanup suggestions
could be given.

[email protected] 04-10-2004 06:20 PM

"blank" wrote in message ...
Well, after 72 hours of total darkness in my 4' aquarium I removed the
covers and:
thankfully, the fish are all still alive,
most of the plants are fine (java moss has suffered),
a bit of the algae has gone, but most is alive and healthy.

So to those advocating 72 hours of darkness as a guaranteed algae cure I
say: Nonsense, it is a myth. Don't bother even trying it. I did, and it
doesn't work.


For BGA is certainly does, I've never claimed it works with other
algae.
You did not do something right as far as my advice if you were trying
to cure BGA algae.

If you follow the advice it, does work.
If you do not, I cannot help you.

If 3 day blackout kills or otherwise harms plants, there would be no
mail order plant vendors.

Regards,
Tom Barr

Dick 05-10-2004 12:16 PM

On Mon, 4 Oct 2004 19:48:53 +1000, "blank" wrote:


"Dick" wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 4 Oct 2004 15:45:03 +1000, "blank" wrote:

Well, after 72 hours of total darkness in my 4' aquarium I removed the
covers and:
thankfully, the fish are all still alive,
most of the plants are fine (java moss has suffered),
a bit of the algae has gone, but most is alive and healthy.

So to those advocating 72 hours of darkness as a guaranteed algae cure I
say: Nonsense, it is a myth. Don't bother even trying it. I did, and

it
doesn't work.

Reassuring to know fish can survive 72 hours without food isn't it?
I tried the darkness routine for only 48 hours to treat Ich. Didn't
work for that either, but I feel better about missing a couple of
feeding times.

dick


absolutely i have been biting my nails for 72 hours non-stop and my
wife has been even more uptight but all is well, which is very reassuring
except it doesnt kill the damn algae anyway it was an experiment i had to
try and thank god no harm has been done


At least you tried. Algae takes lots of trying. There are many types
and causes. To get any useful suggestions you will have to post more
specific information about your tank, light schedule and power, fish
population, feeding habits, etc.

dick

Nick Wise 12-10-2004 04:49 PM

Dick wrote in message . ..
On Mon, 4 Oct 2004 19:48:53 +1000, "blank" wrote:


"Dick" wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 4 Oct 2004 15:45:03 +1000, "blank" wrote:

Well, after 72 hours of total darkness in my 4' aquarium I removed the
covers and:
thankfully, the fish are all still alive,
most of the plants are fine (java moss has suffered),
a bit of the algae has gone, but most is alive and healthy.

So to those advocating 72 hours of darkness as a guaranteed algae cure I
say: Nonsense, it is a myth. Don't bother even trying it. I did, and

it
doesn't work.

Reassuring to know fish can survive 72 hours without food isn't it?
I tried the darkness routine for only 48 hours to treat Ich. Didn't
work for that either, but I feel better about missing a couple of
feeding times.

dick


absolutely i have been biting my nails for 72 hours non-stop and my
wife has been even more uptight but all is well, which is very reassuring
except it doesnt kill the damn algae anyway it was an experiment i had to
try and thank god no harm has been done


At least you tried. Algae takes lots of trying. There are many types
and causes. To get any useful suggestions you will have to post more
specific information about your tank, light schedule and power, fish
population, feeding habits, etc.

dick


A blackout does no good if your tank's nutrients are still out of
balance. You need to get those in line, or the algae will never go
away. You have to treat the source.

Geezer From The Freezer 13-10-2004 01:46 PM



Nick Wise wrote:
A blackout does no good if your tank's nutrients are still out of
balance. You need to get those in line, or the algae will never go
away. You have to treat the source.


I agree with this. I would've personally done some scrubbing on more built
areas, done a major water change and then tried the blackout. Probably
for longer than 3 days, whilst not feeding the fish. They'll pick up
any loose particles.

Ali Day 13-10-2004 02:00 PM

Nick Wise wrote:
A blackout does no good if your tank's nutrients are still out of
balance. You need to get those in line, or the algae will never go
away. You have to treat the source.


I agree with this. I would've personally done some scrubbing on more built
areas, done a major water change and then tried the blackout. Probably
for longer than 3 days, whilst not feeding the fish. They'll pick up
any loose particles.



Always worked for me.



Geezer From The Freezer 13-10-2004 03:47 PM



Ali Day wrote:

Nick Wise wrote:
A blackout does no good if your tank's nutrients are still out of
balance. You need to get those in line, or the algae will never go
away. You have to treat the source.


I agree with this. I would've personally done some scrubbing on more built
areas, done a major water change and then tried the blackout. Probably
for longer than 3 days, whilst not feeding the fish. They'll pick up
any loose particles.


Always worked for me.


On diatoms?

Ali Day 13-10-2004 03:57 PM


"Geezer From The Freezer" wrote in message
...


Ali Day wrote:

Nick Wise wrote:
A blackout does no good if your tank's nutrients are still out of
balance. You need to get those in line, or the algae will never go
away. You have to treat the source.

I agree with this. I would've personally done some scrubbing on more

built
areas, done a major water change and then tried the blackout. Probably
for longer than 3 days, whilst not feeding the fish. They'll pick up
any loose particles.


Always worked for me.


On diatoms?


Yep on a 4 week old seeded tank, but whether it was the darkness that killed
it off, or the plants and filtration kicking in and using up the available
resources could be debated I suppose.

A




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