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  1. George Farmer

    How I deal with BBA - no chemicals

  2. George Farmer

    I love BBA

    I'm spot dosing it on that branch. :)
  3. George Farmer

    I love BBA

    Shall I take a close-up for all you BBA fans!? :)
  4. George Farmer

    I love BBA

    A lot of discussion about BBA, which is great... Sometimes it can look good. Funnily enough this is the only area in the tank with it. choc2 by George Farmer, on Flickr
  5. George Farmer

    Can I bleach plants to kill BBA?

    I think there's plenty of reports of bleach dips on the web. I recently bleached all of my hardscape with great success. But obviously I didn't have to worry about killing plants... Good luck. Please report on how you get on. It will be interesting for others to learn too. :)
  6. George Farmer

    Persistent Trouble Maker

    Yep, diatoms. Very common in new setups. Manual removal, more frequent and larger water changes, and an algae crew should see it off in a week or so.
  7. George Farmer

    is it weird to actually like some algae?

    That is nice algae. Looks like Cladophora, which is becoming more trendy with many UK scapers. If it were a black colour... Not so nice, like BBA.
  8. George Farmer

    Take a deep breath...

    Hi Rob Your current lighting sounds ok to me. The strips are 12w each, roughly equivalent to a 24w HO T5. Over 125 litres with good CO2, circulation, nutrients and maintenance, this is ideal lighting IME. I wonder if Clive is confusing your lighting with mine, as they are the same brand, just...
  9. George Farmer

    Which phosphate remover?

    Do you really need one? Plants are a wonderful phosphate remover! :thumbup:
  10. George Farmer

    Salicylic acid

    Apparently this is the active ingredient in the relatively new anti-algae product, Easylife Algexit. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salicylic_acid It makes interesting reading.
  11. George Farmer

    BGA/Cyanobacteria Again... Help required.

    Sounds like you're doing all the right things. Is the tank exposed to much natural light, especially hitting the substrate through the glass? Most BGA starts from the substrate, then spreads above if the conditions allow. You could also try dosing more NO3. Consider some KNO3 from our...
  12. George Farmer

    Cyanobacteria, How do I get rid of it?

    Clean your filter and as much BGA as possible. Turn off CO2 and perform 72hrs blackout. 50% water change and filter clean again. Don't worry about PO4. The Arcadia lamp is fine for plants. Only change it if's not your taste.
  13. George Farmer

    BBA and liquid carbon

    Hi Stephan and welcome to UKAPS - great to have an experienced guy like you on board. I really enjoy your blog! No, not all of us are NA-only folks! Personally I like all styles as long they're executed well.
  14. George Farmer

    Blue Green algae between between the substrate and glass

    BGA between the glass and substrate is very common. The vast majority of BGA starts off in the substrate and obviously it receives its light through the glass. Like Andy says, tape can be very effective. I no longer use it (from an aesthetic perspective), but ensure build-up is minimised by...
  15. George Farmer

    PFK algae reduction article.....

    It does appear to contradict some modern planted tank methodology but it's not aimed at this readership, as Supercoley has observed. If anyone is not happy with the content in PFK articles then consider writing into the editor. This is what I did quite regularly before I became a regular...
  16. George Farmer

    Hairgrass Algae ID

    Give everything a good prune. Clean all algae off rocks etc. Do 2x 75% water changes one after the other right after the pruning and cleaning. Clean your filter. Try dosing 3ml TPN+ per day and up the CO2 slightly. Is the CO2 getting all over the tank? Carry out 3x 50% water changes per...
  17. George Farmer

    algae ID please

    Never seen anything like it! Could it be fungi?
  18. George Farmer

    Algae id....and help getting rid please.....

    Hi Ben I can't see the pics on this computer but also consider plant growth and its affect on the dynamics in your tank. As the plants grow their nutrient requirements may increase. They also block flow/CO2, as they fill the water column by growing. I would start by losing your midday burst...
  19. George Farmer

    Eradicate algae altogether from the tank - Theory

    OK, let's clear a few things up... :) Tropica's 1-2-GROW plants are guaranteed algae free because they are grown from cells in a sterile laboratory environment. I've been in the lab. We had to go through all-sorts of procedures to ensure we didn't contaminate anything. Tropica's regular...
  20. George Farmer

    Eradicate algae altogether from the tank - Theory

    Great post, Clive. I quite like nuisance algae. It's a warning sign that you're doing something wrong. When you're doing things right, you don't get any. It's part of life's rich tapestry. Imagine life without nuisance algae. UKAPS would be about 10% of the size it is now!!! :lol:
  21. George Farmer

    The Importance of GH Booster.

    Exactly as I thought, Darrell... :lol: (And that's why you're an expert!)
  22. George Farmer

    The Importance of GH Booster.

    Could testing for Ca give an indication of Mg if you knew the GH?
  23. George Farmer

    Overdosed Flourish Excel - Nightmare!!

    Sorry to hear about your woes, Steve, but thanks for sharing with the UKAPS community. Undiluted Excel sprayed directly on to most living things will likely do much harm, as you've learnt the hard way. A technique I have used is to drain the tank, then carefully paint on Excel with a small...
  24. George Farmer

    The Importance of GH Booster.

    I would say it's a simple case of nutrient deficiency, prior to the GH Booster being added. Dave's water was so soft that it was lacking Mg, Ca and possibly K. GH Booster contains these nutrients.
  25. George Farmer

    Algae in non-planted tank

    +1 from me, Tom! :D
  26. George Farmer

    The Importance of GH Booster.

    Great post mate and thanks for sharing. Glad you eventually sussed out the problem. Who would have thought the solution lay in observing female hair!? :lol:
  27. George Farmer

    Algae in non-planted tank

    So limiting NO3 and PO4 in a non-planted tank has no bearing on limiting the triggering of algae? What nutrients do trigger algae in a non-planted tank? Just NH3/4?
  28. George Farmer

    Algae in non-planted tank

    Phew, that's a relief!! :)
  29. George Farmer

    Algae in non-planted tank

    Hi Tom I'd say although you're not reading ammonia with your testing, it doesn't mean there isn't some there to feed the algae, especially as your feeding regime is 'ideal' for small ammonia spikes. So the ammonia is safe levels for the fish, but the algae is able to utilise it. I'd consider...
  30. George Farmer

    Green water in tank with filter being cycled

    Paul, what colour is the water in a white bucket/sink?
  31. George Farmer

    Green water in tank with filter being cycled

    Could be just staining from the Aqua Soil Amazonia. I've had the same in my latest set-up. 2x 50% water changes per day should clear it nicely.
  32. George Farmer

    Algae are nutrient scavengers

    Salient point!
  33. George Farmer

    Algae are nutrient scavengers

    Lack of water circulation around the actual ceramic plate, pehaps. Typically they're recessed in a glass housing. I've experienced the same. They're usually white too, that attracts more algae.
  34. George Farmer

    green dust algae :(

    Phew! Thank goodness I don't get algae... :mrgreen: Seriously though, interesting topic guys. Thanks for contributing. I look forward to following this, as I'm sure Mr Rubilar will reply soon enough.
  35. George Farmer

    green dust algae :(

    Found it... http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/foru ... s-gda.html
  36. George Farmer

    green dust algae :(

    The link does not work, as it does not include the full URL.
  37. George Farmer

    scubing green spot off

    Hi ch_rubilar and welcome to UKAPS! Thanks for the links. I've edited your APC link as the original did not work.
  38. George Farmer

    scubing green spot off

    Increasing PO4 is only part of the solution. Unless there is effective circulation then in my experience GSA is inevitable no matter your nutrient control.
  39. George Farmer

    HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE.

    Nick16 - I suggest you stop posting in chilled84 threads. If you continue to antagonise in the manner that you have been doing so you will have your posting rights withheld. chilled84 - Rather than create new threads to bump issues from already existing threads, simply bump your original...
  40. George Farmer

    Yet another staghorn problem

    Some (Graeme for one) have good experiences with this leaner NP dosing technique i.e. effectively diluting the NP but keeping the trace content.
  41. George Farmer

    Yet another staghorn problem

    Hi Dave How are the circulation levels in your tank? Poor circulation can trigger BGA, especially with low nitrates. Poor circulation also mean that your CO2 may not be effectively distributed, resulting in algae issues. Your dosing seems very lean. What lighting do you have? In a 260...
  42. George Farmer

    ID my algae please.

    There are loads of different varieties of cyanobacteria (BGA). It sounds like a rarer form. Remove some and smell it. If it smells strongly it's likely BGA.
  43. George Farmer

    Algae images required

    No probs mate. Always good to see more algae pics!
  44. George Farmer

    Algae images required

    Thanks, guys. I no longer require any photos, but it's great to see these anyway!
  45. George Farmer

    Algae images required

    Thanks for all the replies. I have induced most forms of algae myself in my 60cm over the last week so I'll be using that for photos before I do the stripdown. Amazing what double lighting, no CO2 or other nutrients can do over a few days... It proves a few points for my next article too...
  46. George Farmer

    Getting lots of hair algae

    All the best with the new set up, Tom. Every cloud has a silver-lining and so I'm sure you will produce something special.
  47. George Farmer

    Algae images required

    Thanks, guys. I can't view any images right now but will get back to relevant members when I can.
  48. George Farmer

    Algae images required

    Yes. No, they won't be 'abused', or used again without notice. Thanks. That would be appreciated, if you did.
  49. George Farmer

    Algae images required

    Does anyone have any decent photos of algae - close-ups or tanks riddled with it, please? In particular I'd like BGA and BBA. A 'nice' aquascape with obvious algae would be great too. Post 800 x 500ish pixel shots on here and I'll PM you if I can use them. The originals need to be high...
  50. George Farmer

    Blue Green Algae & ADA Bacter 100

    Agree with Garuf. Try 72 hours total black out. No peaking or feeding. Turn off CO2 and provide more aeration if you can.
  51. George Farmer

    Erythromycin

    Yep, works well on BGA but not other 'algae' (BGA is not algae). No apparent side effect either. Black-outs are generally regarded as the best immediate remedy for BGA, but in combo with erythromicine, it doesn't stand a chance.
  52. George Farmer

    Getting lots of hair algae

    Hi Tom Aqua Soil should stop producing ammonia by now. Have you tested for it? Most algae issues are CO2 related, assuming all other aspects are ok (plant biomass, enough nutrients etc.) as you probably know already. What CO2 set up do you have?
  53. George Farmer

    What causes green spot algae,hair algae and some causes....

    Hi Graeme I don't know if one can link certain attributes to specific algae forms but I can generalise... Too much light for too long, poor nutrients and underplanting are no.1 cause for newbies. Tanks don't need high lighting levels to grow plants well, if CO2 and nutrients are appropriate...
  54. George Farmer

    should i use an algaecide?

    BGA won't likey respond to algaecide, as it's not an algae. Consider more circulation, especially at the infected areas. Blacking out the substrate line with black tape works well IME. This is where BGA starts so by blocking light to the substrate, BGA cannot spread. Manually remove as much...
  55. George Farmer

    bga

    Welcome to UKAPS! Sorry to hear about BGA. It's a PITA, I know. What NO3 are you dosing? BGA tends to do well in low NO3 conditions. Try blacking out the substrate line. BGA originates from the substrate IME. If you deprive the light at source then it shouldn't spread. Consider more...
  56. George Farmer

    Dusko's Algae Guide

    Nice one, James. Always one step ahead, as usual, my friend. ;)
  57. George Farmer

    Dusko's Algae Guide

    Let us know how you get on mate. I read somewhere that plants have an 'easier' time using it for their N source than KNO3. I'm no biochemistbotanist though... But I know I don't get algae. ;)
  58. George Farmer

    Dusko's Algae Guide

    Hey Clive, Did you know that the N source in Tropica+ liquid is NH4NO3? Is that classed as dosing NH4?
  59. George Farmer

    Dusko's Algae Guide

    Some of you may have seen this. For those that haven't - http://www.aquariumalgae.blogspot.com/
  60. George Farmer

    Algae an unhealthy leaves

    Poorly plants also leech ammonia/ammonium - huge algae trigger.
  61. George Farmer

    Algae ID and Help!

    Hi mate Good to see you on here. :D Staghorn is super common after a tank re-do, like yours. I'd remove the worst leaves. Keep up your routine and it should clear once the tank becomes established and the plants mature. IME a stable CO2 is more important than 30ppm CO2 with lower light and...
  62. George Farmer

    JBL Algol

    That's interesting, James. Did you spot dose the affected areas?
  63. George Farmer

    Spirogyra and Amano Shrimp.

    Lots of water changes and spot dosing Excel with your black outs should nuke it.
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