Something very strange.. any ideas of what it could be?.....

Discussion in 'Algae' started by Aqua, Jun 21, 2012.

  1. Aqua

    Aqua Discus

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2010
    Messages:
    716
    Likes Received:
    12
    Location:
    Cape Town
    Hi Everyone,

    So I have been having a major issue with BBA (black brush algae) in my main tank, I am aware of how well excel works to kill it, but since it was everywhere, I treated each item infested gradually and trimmed as much of the plants affected as I could...I have been soaking the wood riddled with it, in excel, first doing one piece of wood, that wasn't that bad, and then today did the other piece which was really really bad... now for the strange part... I have otto's which have been fabulous at keeping diatom algae at bay, and until today, they hardly touched the BBA, however, ever since I placed the wood back in the tank after soaking it in the excel, they have not stopped eating it! they are literally devouring it.. any idea's why this is happening? I'm certainy not complaining, but very intrigued as to why they would suddenly love it after it's been soaked in excel?

    Cheers,
    Candice
     
  2. Guest




  3. Sean J

    Sean J

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2009
    Messages:
    3,835
    Likes Received:
    36
    Location:
    Randburg JHB
    They are probably eating the dead, or dying BBA. It's not totally uncommon, I have heard of this happening before. But, ja, it's weird.
     
  4. OP
    Aqua

    Aqua Discus

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2010
    Messages:
    716
    Likes Received:
    12
    Location:
    Cape Town
    Yeah it started turning the pinkish colour quite fast, maybe it is also easier for them to get it off the wood now that its dying? just very glad to be getting rid of it finally :)
     
  5. ivan

    ivan Aquascaper

    Joined:
    May 24, 2011
    Messages:
    681
    Likes Received:
    15
    Location:
    Centurion
    dead BBA is softer than alive BBA, I have seen this with my ottos as well. ottos tend to keep with eating soft algae and leave the hard algae for us to combat.
     
  6. OP
    Aqua

    Aqua Discus

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2010
    Messages:
    716
    Likes Received:
    12
    Location:
    Cape Town
    Great, thanks guys, makes sense :)
     

Recent Posts

Loading...
Similar Threads - Something very strange Forum Date
My Office Tank Something Very Different Members Systems Sep 8, 2011
Something very wrong with my fish Advanced Topics May 13, 2009
ID: is this something I can feed my fish? ID Needed Apr 10, 2022
Water fleas, springtails or something else? Planted Tanks Nov 12, 2019
Something a bit different (beta tank) General Fish Discussions Oct 16, 2019
New Tank... something is missing... Full tank shots Jun 3, 2019
Something on glass General Fish Discussions Nov 21, 2017

Share This Page