We all know it and most probably hate it... Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:07:48 +0000 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:07:48 +0000 Tropical Aquariums SA https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/forums/algae.78/ Sun, 05 Jan 2025 11:38:57 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/controlling-encouraging-where-gha-grows.39201/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/controlling-encouraging-where-gha-grows.39201/ invalid@example.com (LilMissMurder) LilMissMurder
I have a crazy notion to use GHA to simulate a field of grass in microscale on the substrate, but am not sure whether this can be achieved without crazy amounts of effort keeping it away from everywhere else in the tank. Can this be done?

Thanks!]]> 6 Mon, 30 May 2022 15:59:25 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/myth-busters-algae-edition.37599/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/myth-busters-algae-edition.37599/ invalid@example.com (Shabir) Shabir @Lord Vader this afternoon I've decided to put 2 products that I have to the test. I will use this thread as a journal to post updates so I can also keep track. The products are as follows;

1. APT Fix
2. Seachem Excel

This study was inspired by spot dosing one tank with apt fix on a spot of BBA and 18hrs later it looked like tank 2 which I dosed no more than 5 hours ago with excel, also the same BBA.

I currently have the following...

Myth Busters - Algae Edition]]> 14 Tue, 20 Jul 2021 04:53:00 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/fish-tank-algea.36488/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/fish-tank-algea.36488/ invalid@example.com (mohammedismailayub8) mohammedismailayub8
Sent from my FIG-LX1 using Tapatalk]]> 10 Fri, 26 Feb 2021 16:50:21 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/algae-out-of-control.35817/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/algae-out-of-control.35817/ invalid@example.com (kruger1356) kruger1356
Algae out of control]]> Wed, 03 Feb 2021 09:16:30 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/morimo-moss-ball-babies.35675/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/morimo-moss-ball-babies.35675/ invalid@example.com (Trompie 04) Trompie 04
Been noticing for quite some time now there are small moss balls in my shrimp tanks.

I tried counting now but there are way more that 20 small moss balls.

Some are 2cm in diameter and some slightly smaller.

Just thought I'd share

Sent from my LM-G810 using Tapatalk]]> 4 Fri, 30 Oct 2020 09:53:51 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/hydrogen-peroxide-bath-for-bba.34971/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/hydrogen-peroxide-bath-for-bba.34971/ invalid@example.com (2time) 2time
I tried searching but didn't find any info for this instance.

So I have a pretty bad outbreak of BBA on my crpyts and anubias and want to treat it with Hydrogen Peroxide but not sure on the dosage, strength and time frame. I plan on doing a reshuffle with my tanks so will be removing all the plants and soaking them.

Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.]]> 20 Mon, 22 Jun 2020 20:04:19 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/diatomes-killing-me.30333/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/diatomes-killing-me.30333/ invalid@example.com (Shrimp lover) Shrimp lover
Diatomes killing me]]> 6 Fri, 19 Jun 2020 13:28:49 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/black-crud.34392/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/black-crud.34392/ invalid@example.com (Anine) Anine
it doesn't look like black beard algae. it's literally a hard black crust that is very hard to scrape off.

I have however tried several anti algae muti's, including something that's supposed to kill cyanobacteria too. Tank is lightly populated]]> 9 Sun, 24 May 2020 02:39:13 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/citric-acid-show-and-tell.28517/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/citric-acid-show-and-tell.28517/ invalid@example.com (f-fish) f-fish
The experiment: anubias and buce that has loads of nasty algae, lets see if they recover.

14g of citric acid, 1.2l of water - soak for 10 min....

Citric Acid - show and tell]]> 52 Mon, 04 May 2020 14:12:20 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/splosht.34141/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/splosht.34141/ invalid@example.com (Gerhard Kzn) Gerhard Kzn
Anyone using this product Splosht.?]]> 1 Sun, 09 Feb 2020 20:44:47 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/algea-eaters.33740/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/algea-eaters.33740/ invalid@example.com (Swerwer) Swerwer 34 Tue, 17 Dec 2019 07:38:58 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/greenspot-hassles.33559/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/greenspot-hassles.33559/ invalid@example.com (Logz) Logz
I have been working hard for the past year on algae growth on my drift wood for the aesthetic point, which is going smoothly. However, I now have the issue thanks to a major loss of power that I had to put my tank in the sun for a few days to keep my plants alive. Now my acrylic is looking like something out of a Jackson Pollock painting when he was very heavy handed...

So the short to...

Greenspot hassles]]> 11 Sun, 29 Sep 2019 18:59:40 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/erythromycin-for-cyanobacteria.32853/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/erythromycin-for-cyanobacteria.32853/ invalid@example.com (Ane) Ane Can anyone tell me where I can find Erythromycin?? I found this product https://www.aquariumcoop.com/products/api-e-m-erythromycin but not in SA it seems.

Has anyone been able to get their hands on Erythromycin? Even tablets? Will the pharmacy sell to me without a prescription?]]> 50 Sun, 29 Sep 2019 16:59:03 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/bba-aeration-and-vitamin-b12.31959/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/bba-aeration-and-vitamin-b12.31959/ invalid@example.com (f-fish) f-fish
I stumbled onto the thread about BBA here https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/what-exactly-causes-bba-part-2-bacterial-imbalance.38375/

Since allot of it made sense and I had a BBA issue I decided to change 3 things in the affected tank.

1) add two small SAE's
2) increase fertz
3) Add a truck load of aeration 24x7


My BBA was extensive and the BN's did nothing to curb the growth....

BBA, aeration and vitamin B12]]> 15 Sun, 25 Aug 2019 15:09:16 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/string-algae-infestation.33127/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/string-algae-infestation.33127/ invalid@example.com (Taufeeq) Taufeeq
String Algae infestation]]> Tue, 13 Aug 2019 16:06:41 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/driftwood-issue.31899/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/driftwood-issue.31899/ invalid@example.com (johan008) johan008
It's been a while ...hope this in the correct section.

I got some grapevine and is busy soaking it. I noticed some white fluffy stuff all over them. I know someone recently posted something similar but I can't find the post.

Can someone maybe tell me what it is or direct me to the post or what I can do .

The piece is not in a tank nor is there any fish it's just a container where I am growing some plants until they are strong enough to go to my...

Driftwood issue]]> 7 Sun, 22 Apr 2018 02:50:47 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/is-black-beard-algae-bad-for-a-tank.26890/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/is-black-beard-algae-bad-for-a-tank.26890/ invalid@example.com (Inky1980) Inky1980
I don't have a photo of it, but I have a lot on a large piece of wood of what I suspect is Black-Beard Algae (it looks exactly like the algae in the link below):

http://aquariumalgae.blogspot.co.za/2006/06/black-beard-algae-bba-red-brush-algae.html

The thing is, it has grown on a huge piece of wood in my tank and actually looks nice, but I'm worried that it's not a good thing to have. I haven't noticed any issues with my stock, and everyone in the tank seems happy, so...

Is Black-Beard Algae bad for a tank?]]> 7 Thu, 19 Apr 2018 05:27:13 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/what-is-this-algea-killing-device-twinstar-sterilizer.30783/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/what-is-this-algea-killing-device-twinstar-sterilizer.30783/ invalid@example.com (Zippy320) Zippy320
So I came across this device online , I read that it can be used to combat algae problems , Its some sort of water sterilizer .

Does such work? What exactly is it sterilizing ? Does it destroy the fertilizers and such that I add to the tank ? Or specifically targets algae , spore n such .

I have also read that one could make this themselves and it looks pretty easy to do .

Would really appreciate and opinions on this and has anyone here used such a device?...

What is this Algea killing device ? Twinstar Sterilizer]]> 1 Thu, 19 Apr 2018 03:43:41 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/what-is-this-algea-killing-device-twinstar-sterilizer.30784/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/what-is-this-algea-killing-device-twinstar-sterilizer.30784/ invalid@example.com (Zippy320) Zippy320
So I came across this device online , I read that it can be used to combat algae problems , Its some sort of water sterilizer .

Does such work? What exactly is it sterilizing ? Does it destroy the fertilizers and such that I add to the tank ? Or specifically targets algae , spore n such .

I have also read that one could make this themselves and it looks pretty easy to do .

Would really appreciate and opinions on this and has anyone here used such a device?...

What is this Algea killing device ? Twinstar Sterilizer]]> Sat, 27 Jan 2018 15:39:05 +0000 https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/spirulina.30429/ https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/spirulina.30429/ invalid@example.com (Chris Collins) Chris Collins
Was a little bit of a pest to find a live culture in South Africa though.

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