Black Beard Algae vs Seachem Excel

HI Everyone,
I finally decided to spot treat some of BBA with Seachem Excel, one to find out if it works and two to see for myself what happens.

Thought I'd share a photo of what BBA looks like 72 hours after being targeted with Seachem Excel.

You can see what normal healthy BBA looks like above, and below the dieing red BBA

If you're going to try this approach, ensure you don't overdose your tank with Excel... if you have a large area to clear, then I suggest doing a little at a time (you can dose daily or every second day).

 

Thanks for posting the photos Ryan,

I'm currently dosing with Excel (33g long tank) also to remove some BBA and I'm having the same results as you. It's working just as yours is working. Using a syringe to spot treat the BBA is wonderful! I can get so much of it treated while staying a little under the recommended dosage. I'm dosing every 2 or 3 days.

Too, getting to the root of the problem, I've added black aquarium backing to both ends of the tank and changed the lighting. I'm not seeing any new BBA growth.

Thanks again!

Ken

 

Agreed Ken. It is important to get to the root problem, I'm not seeing much in the way of new growth, in fact, it has started to die off naturally, but wanted to try the Excel method as it is my choice of carbon (CO2) anyways.

Which raises a second thought, if you are using CO2 (DIY or other method), be very careful adding Excel to the tank as well.

Too, I have corrected the original statement, the photo is 72 hours (3 days), not 36 hours later as originally posted.

I also use the syringe method, during my Sunday PWC, I targeted the BBA in tank, no need to remove the affected area from your display.

 

Does it work on other algae, too? I fear I imported some algae with my Cryptocoryne.

 

Syringe method, glad I read this thread. One of my tanks has BBA, I shall start spot dosing!

 

Hello,

I do not have any other algae issues so I can't say how well it would work on other types of algae. Any other types of algae (mostly diatoms) have been taken care of by my Bristle Nose Pleco.

Ken

 

Thanks for posting the photos Ryan,

I'm currently dosing with Excel (33g long tank) also to remove some BBA and I'm having the same results as you. It's working just as yours is working. Using a syringe to spot treat the BBA is wonderful! I can get so much of it treated while staying a little under the recommended dosage. I'm dosing every 2 or 3 days.

Too, getting to the root of the problem, I've added black aquarium backing to both ends of the tank and changed the lighting. I'm not seeing any new BBA growth.

Thanks again!

Ken

Ken, if you don't me asking, what is the purpose of adding black aquarium backing to both ends of the tank?

 

Ken, if you don't me asking, what is the purpose of adding black aquarium backing to both ends of the tank?

It helps keep ambient light from entering the tank from the sides and behind, thus limiting the amount of light the tank gets to the aquarium lights

Does it work on other algae, too? I fear I imported some algae with my Cryptocoryne.

I don't believe it works on other algaes. Because BBA thrives with unstable CO2 (carbon), directly dosing seems to 'saturate' the BBA with carbon, which causes it to die off.
Certainly worth trying on other types of algae. Let us know what happens if you try it. (Be sure to identify the algae)

 

Interesting I am having no luck with excel and bba. Granted it isn't that dense, just a few tufts on my plants and driftwood. I have tried spot treating but never in excess of the normal tank dose.

 

I don't believe it works on other algaes. Because BBA thrives with unstable CO2 (carbon), directly dosing seems to 'saturate' the BBA with carbon, which causes it to die off.
Certainly worth trying on other types of algae. Let us know what happens if you try it. (Be sure to identify the algae)

I'll try to remember to do that.