redgal

It's growing on my java moss....and starting to spread! How do I get rid of it? I have two bettas in there. What is causing it?

Thanks so much
Kath

tomchitown

hi kath,
Algae of any kind needs food and light to grow. There is only one way to control algae and that is to control the food and light. Algae can come in on anything and will grow on everything.
Check your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate
Check for excess phosphate
Check for excess debris ie. dead plant matl. and fish poop
Check for direct sunlight or strong light in room
Check the time the tank light is on

redgal

Thanks so much.

It's for sure that blue-green stuff. But I have read it's actually a bacteria so now I am totally panicking.

I am not sure of the parameters - I forgot to check before I just did a water change. The lights are on for 10 hours on a timer. I have gone through my java and stringy moss and pulled out a lot of brown bits - guess that could have contributed to the problem.

I have done a water change and scrubbed down everything and added some phosphate removing media to the filters - will this get rid of it or do I need to get something special to clean it? Should I do a 5 day blackout? I did this when I had GWA and it got rid of it.

I have read about using antibiotics but I am worried about hurting my babies. But maybe I do need it. What does the antibiotic do, which one do I need and how do I use it?

Should I just throw away all my moss now? I don't think I am having much luck with it and probably makes my tank unhealthy. I think I must be doing something wrong. *sigh* I so would love a planted tank but I think I'm not experienced enough.

I think I'm going through every type of algae..GW, diatoms and now this slime

ER9