Hi, epiphytes have been there already for months so I don't want to mess up everything by removing them.
Definitely not suggesting that
@Matti as it will undo any adhesion to surfaces the Anubias has established in those months.
What I am now trying to find is to find a simple way of running the tank in balanced way.
Well, are the epiphytes the exception? Meaning, is everything else doing well?
If it is just the epiphytes (Anubias, Bucephalandra) suffering with BBA, with the Anubias displaying twisting and light veins, you have a very localised issue.
I rather have some BBA instead of the problems I faced with glut.
Well let’s see if we can cater to both before conceding. No BBA no glutaraldehyde.
Here’s an appraisal of the situation with the proviso that there’s still limited information about the area these plants sit. (Nudge… more photos and details of the affected area please 🙏🏽 What is the condition of the plants surrounding this area?)
Anubis is the name for the Greek god of death. Anubias sp. are usually placed in very dark, shaded spots in a tank with minimal light. Your photo:
Your tank:
Very nice scape by the way 👍🏽
Assuming that the first photo is the left mid ground area?
Path of your Co2 distribution in the foreground:
If it is the area on the left, your plants are positioned towards the middle line and half way up towards your light fixture. They are also next to your bazooka diffuser, the highest localised area of Co2 compared to the rest of the tank.
So… higher than desirable lighting for slow growers and abundant co2. Where are the nutrients to match the light and Co2 driving growth?
You can workaround this scenario if the roots of your epiphytes extend into the soil. High light/Co2/nutrient availability. Just non-mobile nutrients like iron to get to the plants and they’re in a high flow area. Water column dosing should take care of that.
Proof of concept:
The Buce and Anubias in the above photo are under two ONF Flat One units at 100% intensity. The Co2 mist from an in-line diffuser was directed from the outflow so that the area received a lot of Co2 mist. High light/Co2/nutrient availability. We can bend the rules for scaping purposes sometimes.
Your photo again:
The leaf fringes are disintegrating. The high Co2 availability, plus this decay, makes it ideal for BBA to take advantage. It’s existing in this plants imbalance.
Advice so far would solve the issue with the Anubias; more ferts, lower the lighting, improve distribution. However, you would be affecting the whole system to deal with a potentially localised problem.
This is why it is important to understand what is going on more widely with your system. It becomes troublesome to offer suggestions without adequate information. Your wants for the system are also a component. It’s important that these are explicitly expressed.
Assuming this is a localised issue…
You may laugh at this
@Matti but a possible fix could be as simple as checking if there’s some longer roots available and just tucking them into the soil. Then wait. A month goes by, more leaves start being produced, nip off the BBA affected leaves, let the new ones grow out.