Neil

SO here is a good sample of the brush Alge problem I have been having for some time now, nothing has affected it even the fishies nibbling at it.

midnightwolf

hmmm have you tried a Snail or maybe Ottos the love to eat alge maybe those would get rid of it. good luck.

Nate McFin

Brush algae is caused by low co2 levels. General rule for brush algae would be to clean out as much as possible and then spot treat remaining areas with Seachems Flourish Excel. Once removed increase Co2 be it through DIY, pressurized, or continued dosing of Flourish Excel.

Neil

Been using excel for over 3 months. going to take the plants and put them in peroxide this week and see what happens.
Dont want to add to the tank, 20gal and my resent 6 new rosy barb fry's already technical make it crowded.

Nate McFin

How long are your lights on and what is the wattage? The peroxide should help. Double dosing excel is not unheard of either but do so at your own risk...lol

Neil

20gal, 30 wats. . 8:30am to 5:30 pm with light interruption mid day for 45min. (no direct natural light)
use a full cap with each water change, did it weekly the last 3 times, tomorrow will be 9 days since the change.

Nate McFin

Lights look good. You do add the Flourish at 1ml per 50 glns every day to every other day as well as the larger amount during water changes right?
Either way the peroxide should help. It should turn red as it dies.

aquarist48

Aquarium Algae Control
Hello. Above is a link you may find helpful.
Ken

Neil

SO I had no luck with the Peroxide. I used 35%, in a bowl of 3L, 1 drop the first day, waited a couple days then 2 drops, then another couple days and added 4 drops and then another 4 drops, no effect. I then just left it another week to see if it would starve out, no luck, the leaves are a bit stressed but thats it.
I did a water change today and put them back in.

Attached Images

PC124752_BrushAlgaeAfterIsolation-1000.jpg (379.3 KB, 43 views)

Regal

If you get a little syringe for liquid medicine you can squirt it directly onto the algae in the tank. The algae will start to bubble right away and in a few hours it will die and turn bright purple. I've read about people using 1-2 ml per gallon but I just used a few syringes full (so like 15 ml) in my 55 gallon and the fish didn't even seem to notice. Of course, it will keep coming back as long as the conditions in the tank are suitable for it.

In my other tank I pulled out every plant that had any in it and added two SAEs and they seem to keep it in check. They're the only fish known to eat BBA.

Neil

Thanks! the other fish do nibble on it but not enough.

eiginh

Do all your plants have brush algae? Or only certain plants? An LFS told me that bba is also caused by fast currents and I noticed that most of my plants that were under my HOB had bba but the plants towards the right of it didn't. I agree with Nate about spot treating it with flourish excel. I also double the dose of flourish excel and my fish are doing great. Good luck!