Cyanobacteria?

pittipuppylove

Okie dokie, that makes sense with the fertalizer.

Yup, I shook the bottle for at least two minutes and out gassed the tap water before testing, but I'll test again tonight to see if that result is consistant. I currently have the API water conditioner, so I'll shop around and pick up a bottle of Prime as well as some stem and floating plants.

Thanks!
Leah
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pittipuppylove

Sorry to bring this back up acain, but the bacteria seems to be persisting still and is growing all over the floating plants. Should I rinse off the plants to remove it? I'm afraid that the bacteria is covering the roots and therefore getting the nutrients before the plant is.

Byron

It can take some time to get cyano under control. Persistence is the key. Every water change, remove as much as you can with your fingers and ensure it is siphoned out of the tank. It will usually sink to the substrate after being removed from plants, and then at the end you can vacuum the substrate.

Reducing the organics is key too. Clean the filter media, regular water changes, minimal feeding, vacuum the substrate (dig into it). I know this latter is not usually done with planted tanks, but here there is obviously an organics buildup and it has to be removed. And light must not be beyond the level needed to balance the nutrients for the plant load.

Byron.