goggles2

well im back from a long hiatus but im back with a persistant problem...

my 5g betta tanks is suffering form a horrible green slime infestation and NOTHING seems to be working

ive tried...

blackouts (my java ferns starting dying before the slime gave in)

complete scrub down (it just grows back everytime)

cleaning snail (it died i suspect from the high temp bettas require)

live plants (the slime seems to be strangling my java ferns rather than the java ferns out competeing the slime)

im really at wits end with this one any help would be useful

however i also have a slight hair algae infestation in my big community tank as well that is under control but slightly unsightly

similar solutions tried to no effect once again


plz halp!

Amanda

Maybe some ottos would eat it?

mathas

Does this "slime" peel off, almost like it's a mat? When you remove it from the tank, does it have an intense odor?

Does it look like the picture here of cyanobacteria?

Amanda

Ew. That's all I have to say.

goggles2

no ottos arent an option i have a very mean crowntail betta and no room for tankmates

and yes im 99% sure its greenblue cyanobacteria

mathas

PFP had a nice long fight with this type of algae/bacteria a while ago, there's some information about possible causes/cures in her thread about it.

If all else fails, there was a recent thread at plantedtank.net where members have claimed a product called, aptly enough, "Blue Green Algae Remover" was successful. There's a link in the thread on where you can order it, but I tend to agree with one of the posters in that thread; "what caused the algae in the first place? If you don't correct that, chances are, it will come right back once the "magic juice" wears off".

goggles2

hmmm some good info there thanks mathas

ive already tried some of the solutions there and no luck but we shall see

worst comes to worst ill medicate

agabr123

wow....good luck with your tank! that's an insane amount of algae!

goggles2

update!

well blackout FINALLY seems to be taking effect unfortunately my java ferns are dying too but hopefully the algae gives out before they do

im tempted to transfer my plants to my other tank but i dont want to contaminate it too

would a bleach dip be sufficent to kill it? also whats the optimal ratio of bleach to water for this?