Q: Kill algae without killing bacteria on biowheel ?
 

I have a well-functioning Marineland biowheel in a FW tank that seems to have
developed a brush algae problem. I am selling the tank and filter system and am
ready to take it down, but of course there is a lot of value in having a well
established biological filter. The question is whether the filter can be saved
without posing a risk of transmitting this problematic algae to the new tank. Is
there any practical sort of chemical assault that is worth a try ? Perhaps a
copper treatment ?

BTW, this brush algae seems to be destroying all the nice plants by gowing on
their leaves, and it is very hard if not impossible to remove without discarding
each affected leaf. That sort of treatment may be OK on a sword but not on an
annubias nana. I have maintained the tank well with biweekly 20% water changes and
gravel vacuum, and the nitrates are always in 10-25ppm range, phosphates less than
1ppm. No other tank of mine seems to have suffered this fate...

George Pontis wrote:
I have a well-functioning Marineland biowheel in a FW tank that seems to have
developed a brush algae problem. I am selling the tank and filter system and am
ready to take it down, but of course there is a lot of value in having a well
established biological filter. The question is whether the filter can be saved
without posing a risk of transmitting this problematic algae to the new tank. Is
there any practical sort of chemical assault that is worth a try ? Perhaps a
copper treatment ?

BTW, this brush algae seems to be destroying all the nice plants by gowing on
their leaves, and it is very hard if not impossible to remove without discarding
each affected leaf. That sort of treatment may be OK on a sword but not on an
annubias nana. I have maintained the tank well with biweekly 20% water changes and
gravel vacuum, and the nitrates are always in 10-25ppm range, phosphates less than
1ppm. No other tank of mine seems to have suffered this fate...

I wouldn't try transferring anything that you don't treat with bleach.
You should be able to establish filtration easily from another
algae-free tank with some old media or gravel. I've had had great
results getting rid of black brush algae by keeping siamese algae
eaters. They'll gradually nibble existing clumps down to black stubble
and keep new tufts from growing anywhere.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com