VinsonMassif Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 I have bad blue/green algae in one of my tanks. I have to break down the tank next week and start again with new substrate. There is so much of the bga that it has infiltrated the entire substrate layer and it looks like the surface of the moon, with humps and hollows, only bright blue/green. I need to sterilize the filter equip. in the tank and want to treat all the plants with Hydrogen Peroxide. I will brush and wash the majority of it off before I soak the plants. I have a 35% solution of H2O2. What strength solution do I need to make up to soak my plants in? For how long do I need to do it for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 You will probably kill your plants. It is about balance. The blue green is in every tank, it only takes over when the balance is not right. Rinse your plants in water and remove all you can then set the tank up again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oeminx Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Have A look at http://www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/aquainfo/algae_peroxide.html http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/H2O2 From the aqurium Wiki Concentrations of around 60ml of 3% H2O2 (30ml of 6%, 15ml of 9%) in a 250L (55 US gals) tank directly applied (usually via a syringe) slowly over 5 minutes onto a clump of algae will kill it and then rapidly be diluted and converted into harmless oxygen and water. Observe the results and wait 48 hours before applying any more. Plants may be effected. So i think if you made a 1-3% solution and soak the plants in there for 5-min. but i have never tryed it so no guaranties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 I think he is talking about blue/green algae--cyanobacter. rather than black beard algae. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oeminx Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 yes i understand, but these supply safe levels which don't seem to harm plants. So trying these levels and seeing if they get rid of bga might be worth trying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted January 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Thanks guys. I will try a low dose on the swords. If they die I have a lot more to replace them with. I will be careful with my other plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 I have tried using peroxide to control bga and it has worked sometimes but more often doesn't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navarre Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 Or instead of using Hydrogen Peroxide you could just airate your tank for a month and see how it goes? If it is Beard alge then small amount direct to alge rather than plants. Or over there VM youcould use rain water instead of teh stuff that comes out of taps or if you are on atank check for no dead possums or sheep in the creek (been there done that...lol, mine was soot from potbelly stove lands on roof then rain washed into tank...lol) HTH Navarre Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted January 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Or instead of using Hydrogen Peroxide you could just airate your tank for a month and see how it goes? If it is Beard alge then small amount direct to alge rather than plants. Or over there VM youcould use rain water instead of teh stuff that comes out of taps or if you are on atank check for no dead possums or sheep in the creek (been there done that...lol, mine was soot from potbelly stove lands on roof then rain washed into tank...lol) HTH Navarre Hi Nav, My tanks are aerated. It isn't beard algae. The pH of the water is <5.5 and ~ 30ppm CO2. Our roof is too dirty to use rain water from that unfortunately. I was talking to a scientist who informed me that erythromycin is the only effective treatment for BGA. Plus it doesn't affect the biofilter. So I will look into that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navarre Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 erythromycin will and does kill some plants as well tho so be carefull with that. Nav Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 It can also kill the filter. I lost a tank full of killies using it but on other times it had ben OK. Furan 2 also works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.