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Bluegreen algae control
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>Date: Mon, 2 Feb 1998 13:57:29 -0800 (PST)
>From: Roxanne Bittman <rbittman at spock_dfg.ca.gov>
>Message-Id: <199802022157.NAA21839@spock.dfg.ca.gov>
>To: aquatic-plants at actwin_com
>Subject: Bluegreen algae control
>
>Several weeks back I posted a question about BG algae control; noone
responded.
>I searched the archives and reread Sears and Conlin and finally decided to
try a
>couple of things:
>
> Treat the tank with Erythromycin first to get rid of the BGs that are
>already there.
>
> Add KNO3 to maintain a nitrate concentration of about 10mg/l until the
>phosphate levels go down. Phosphate levels had been too high, in the
0.2mg/l
>range and above.
>
>I'd resisted this approach for too long since I was trying to avoid
medicating
>the tank and adding nitrates seems so counterintuitive since it feels like
you
>are polluting your tank on purpose.
>
>Anyway, it's been two weeks and there is no BG algae to be seen. There is
>virtually NO algae of any kind right now. What I did:
>
>I medicated with Maracyn (erythromycin) at the recommended dosage (200mg/l
for
>five days) on the package. The BGs disappeared after day 3 or 4.
>At the same time, I added KNO3 (in the form of "stump remover" found at the
>local hardware store; sure hope that's all it is) to maintain a conc. of
10mg/l
>(for me this meant adding about 1/4-1/2 tsp per week to my 40g tank).
>
>I am hoping that the BGs won't return so long as I maintain a balance
between
>the amount of phosphate and nitrate in the tank.
>
>By the way, at first I tried for 6 weeks to get rid of the BGs by cleaning
the
>tank more often (manually removing the BGs), changing half the tank
volume/week,
>and adding Jobes plant sticks for palms and ferns to the substrate. The
Jobes
>might have worked on their own, since they contain nitrates, but it was
too slow
>for me and you all know how fast BGs can multiply...they were getting out of
>hand. They had gotten particularly bad on the Riccia I had attached to
wood; I
>had to actually remove this completely and throw it out.
>
>The bad side of medication? - One plant has shown signs of sensitivity:
>Micranthemum micranthemoides. The books say this plant is sensitive to
>"trypaflavin." What IS trypaflavin? Is it a related antibiotic? Anyway,
its
>new leaves turned white and growth has slowed significantly. I hope it will
>recover over time; any experience with that out there?
>
>Maybe this will help others...
>
>Roxanne Bittman
>
>