Black Algae *WINNING the BATTLE!* - Part 2

My experiment and battle with black algae continues in this, part 2, of how I’m attempting to remove it from my 55 gallon planted community tank. So, let’s take a trip to my favorite local fish store and pick up a black algae eating machine (at least I hope it is!).
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[@cathylocklin3215]

Your granddaughter is adorable.❤

[@BenOchart]

I’m under her spell 🤣🤣🤣👍🏻

[@naegwut]

Granddaughter is ❤

[@emailenroute_Macro_Algues]

Lucky grandson , he s getting great start with this contact with life and passion for life !

[@BenOchart]

Hard to tell at this age but she’s a granddaughter😉🤣👍🏻

[@NorthLVLowRoller]

Awesome video, my 6 yr old son loves to go to every pet store with me and look at all the reptiles. He doesn't really care for fish yet lol

[@BenOchart]

He’ll come around 😀👍🏻

[@droeksonfishkeeping]

Nice vid. I think you are on the right track with the SAE, just give it a little time.

[@sammyhudsonluvsjesus]

When I've had BBA. I just dosed Seachem Excel and it kills the algae in 1-3 weeks

[@BenOchart]

It that what Seachem Excel is for? Cool!

[@carlwagers9829]

Great video Ben! Make sure that gourami gets veggie food.... I learned the hard way...

[@paulpinho]

I had a similar issue with black hair algae. Chemical and physical cleaning did not get rid of it. I bought 3 Florida flag fish to put into my 55 gallon dwarf cichlid tank that is very heavily planted with a hairy algae bloom that came while I was on vacation. The florida flag fish ate about 90% of the algae in about 5 days. They still keep it low, but I have not been able to completely eradiate it from the aquarium.

[@BenOchart]

Did they harm the plants?

[@paulpinho]

@@BenOchart The Florida flag fish are still in the aquarium about 1 year now and have never harmed the plants. They are bit aggressive with getting at the food first during feeding so they are out compete the dwarf cichlids for food, it is why I won't add more than 3. But they are fine in the planted tank. No harm to the plants (anubias, amazon swords, java ferns, and cryptocoryne) they still pick on the remaining algae I cannot seem to get rid of or will start to grow back when nutrients are high in the tank. So as long as they are there they keep it maintained and not allow it to take over my tank.

[@mitchstavely1]

I have two SAE's in my 75 gal with no results taking care of the BBA. I also, have a Chinese algae eater in my 20 long with not much results with the BBA. Although, I won’t keep the Chinese algae eater in the 20 for long, I'm thinking about putting him in my pond as he's a little aggresive toward the other fish. I've been using some Excel with a little to no help, but BBA in a pain to get rid of. Always, great videos. Thanks.

[@HalfManHalfCichlid]

I don't see any new growth on the anubias. In my experience the BBA will continue until the anubias is putting out new leaves and shoots. Make sure you check your phosphates, mine were zero, constraing plant growth, until I checked the level. I have to add nitrates and phosphates to my heavily planted tanks- or the plants starve

[@jorgediaz8382]

I've tried the SAE and nothing I still have the black hair algea. Its the high flow but I need it in this tank. Now that I removed the plants from direct flow I'm getting better results. Ben thanks for the great videos

[@StratosLoft]

In my experience SAE are worthless they always wait for you to feed the tank as for eating algae forget it . I only had and have diatoms in both reef and freshwater aquariums because i over feed and keep my lights on to long . I find the best thing is to keep the phosphates under 1 Or algae will visit your tank . Best thing for me is to use removers like pads or better yet beads in a bag in good flow area Fluval makes pads for the FX filters but they get depleted very quickly. Testing is the main tool for you . Granddaughters are outstanding I have four of them now they are much older the oldest is 20 years old the youngest is 10 . Take care 😊

[@daveylarson2060]

Ben have you consider reducing the flow in the tank? Or is it needed for the fish in the tank? Granddaughter is cute !!!!

[@BenOchart]

Yes, I turned the internal filter so it hits the back of the tank. I might just pull it out altogether. We’ll see.

[@todddiedrich9106]

I had problems with BB algae in planted tank I put Otos and nerites snails and a flying fox witch looks like Siamese but are less aggressive when they get older algae got better over time and plants exploded and grew taking over tank always trimming I’ve heard both flying fox and Siamese eat less algae as they get older peroxide works the fastest

[@BenOchart]

Perfect outcome where your plants are using up the nutrients Ann the algae dies back 👍🏻😀

[@jenniferhigbee3147]

I know your experimenting, But I had a huge issue and ended up spraying them with plants and wood with hydrogen peroxide and that worked! You put a sprayer on a bottle works great you can spray under water or pull out or do during water changes

[@paulone65]

i sure hope so.

[@Jerry-lj3cf]

I had black beard algue once and I just cut the light off and cleaned it up with a soft bottle brush and it eventually was gone.

[@Boss-zo4lw]

Nerites do a amazing job, always on the go. SAE are hit n miss for me and prefer to be in a group of at least 3. Otos are so cute but are overrated, they tend to clean big leaves mostly. They all help when together just dont forget to top thier food up but not too much or they will get lazy, afterall why work for food if its given to you on a plate. A mention on the Nerites, they are not hermaphrodites as alot will tell you, if you buy one put it in a container for awhile first see if it lays eggs, if it doesnt then you have a male and job done, they really are fantastic workers. PS Why does KZbin keep unsubbing me!!!

[@razinfishes1918]

Good video. I recently had a leaking planted tank so I got a 40 breeder setup and replanted everything now I'm struggling with the black beard alges. Which I didn't have in the leaking tank. So the fight continues! Question I've never used phosphate pad so what does it do to help algae?

[@carlwagers9829]

Make sure you turn down the flow in there, in my experience and from what I've herd gourami's don't like a ton of flow!

[@BenOchart]

I’m thinking of just using that sponge filter and turning off the internal filter.

[@carlwagers9829]

@@BenOchart that's a good idea. Anyways, good luck on the qt tank!

[@bigjay1970]

Your granddaughters watching too much Jersey Shore with Pauly D!😇🤪 Hey Buddy!😁 look up hydrogen peroxide for this condition it works wonders.

[@BenOchart]

I’m proud to say that none of us have ever watched a single episode 🤣

[@bigjay1970]

@@BenOchart Type in Pauly D and Yo Buddy and I'm sure it will come up!🤪 it's his tagline so to speak 😝 can't say he hasn't made Millions saying it!🤯

[@elaineluikart5459]

Every one says honeys are mellow. I've seen more complaints to the opposite? I tend to think a gourami is a gourami

[@michaelhanewich245]

SAE didn't work for me years ago. He just got big and became a bully to my mbuna believe it or not.

[@BenOchart]

I believe it

[@ravenspurlin5361]

Nope. You need flying Fox to get the BBA.

[@BenOchart]

The BBA is all gone now 🤷🏼‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️