Well here is an update! I noticed and learned some cool stuff.
The main Buce in the photo below was algae-free for 2.5 weeks, then it got some ... at the same time near the bottom of the rhizome, got some tufts (I removed one of those but couldn't get to the other one).
Interesting note on this guy: I never pulled him out to treat with h202 ... I only cut off old leaves and removed any bad ones since he rooted into my wood.
These Buce:
3 leaves in ... all algae free. These two I cut AND treated the entire rhizome and roots with H2O2 dip until I felt it was good enough (not long).
I mentioned that the buce were infested with BBA when I got them - the spores are still in that first one. I may just observe that little guy or pull him out and treat.
😡😡
It came back!
😡😡 The gravel got some GSA/maybe tiny bba on the front ones ...
😡😡 ... not sure what the root issue is here, I have upped the phosphates in my tank ... interestingly only the front half gets the issue ... I might just remove some rocks from the scape fully and replce it with sand
😉.
One issue is now it is on the wood:
I am certain this is from old conditions and the spores got inside of it during the dark days.
I am a bit of a loss as to how to treat this - every water change I am spraying some H2O2 on the wood areas which are exposed - but I am not sure here ... of course grow healthy plants to beat algae woot ... then my hardscape gets it lol.
I had some thoughts:
add some amano, 1 SAE, 3x otto (already have 3 of these)
Side note:
I lost many of my shrimp due to co2 ... long story short:
1) black rim on my tank prevented skimmer from working properly; I thought it was broken
2) removed it
3) organic scum built up
4) Gaseous exchange limited
5) O2 level drops
6) Shrimp die/otto got fainty
All this to say, surface scum inhibitting gaseous exchange is real.
Skimmer is back on - all is great.
Overall, I am happy with plant growth and coverage, but I am not sure how to deal with this residual algaes. Last time I dosed excel, I lost my gobies ... this was either from high CO2 and/or reduced O2 levels from excel.
Any advice on what you would do would be great!
Full shot:
Cheers,
Josh