RM a bit more on light bulbs (NO florescent and CF types) Ok then giver tyhjis method a try to kill off Black Algae
"AquariumFatasies" wrote in message
...
Carol.I forgot about this method, as its been a long time since I did
it, but if you want to knock out the dreaded black algae and do it
relatively quickly use hydrogen peroxide. Black algae (type that
literally covers plants leaves etc) can not handle any kind of
oxidizers........(potassium permanganate or hydrogen peroxide are two
such oxidizers) Get a 99 cent bottle of HydrogenPeroxide of ther
normally available 3% type, and fill a 50 or 60 cc syringe (less
needle) with it. Lacking a large syringe you can use smaller 10 or 5
cc syringes but you'll have to fill and refill the syringe a lot more
times. You can probably also use a turkey baster. HP will also kill a
few forms of other algae as well but will not hurt multiple celled
plants or any fish..........
Anyway fill the syringe and then flow HP out by slowly depressing
plunbger to allow it to flow around and on the leaves of affected
plant. Bubbles will start to form almost within a few seconds or
so...and the black willstart to disentegrate and be killed in the
process.........You may need ot use 150 to 200 cc (ML) of HP and that
is not a problem, in a tank of even 20 gal capacity. The bubbles are
nothing more than oxygen filled and the only by product formed with HP
is oxygen and water......neigher of which is harmfull to a
fish.Remember HP is used to counter act a PP treatment so you already
know its harmless to fish if its not over done and 150-200 in a 20 is
not a problem................If more is needed wait a day or two and
reapply another 150-200 cc of HP to affected area. Yuo can apply it
directly in the water column as well but it takes a lot longer than
direct application to an affected plant. I would however remove as
much or many leaves of a black alagae covered plant as feasible, if
its really really bad, but even remmving the elaves is not really
necessary if your willing to dose a few times with direct application
as the plant will clean up just fine and kill the algae in the
process...........of course yiou can always use PP, but it is much
riskier when used in a fish tank among tropical fish than in a koi /
goldie pond or tank........
===================================
Thanks! :-) I can pick that up on my next trip to town. I also have PP
but as you said, that would be too risky with TF, especially all these small
tetras I have.
--
RM....
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö
|