a bad hair day for hair algae

[Silikube]

Wow, that's some heavy misting going on there Mr. Tyrone!

 

[foo]

Does H2O2 create bubbles in solution?

I tried the Excel method this week on my tank (3 times normal dose). Killed all my GDA, staghorn and BBA. Works really well, but would most definitely not try in a tank with sensitive fish.

[Andre]

Unfortunately Excel does not seem to kill clado outright.  H2O2 does

[foo]

Yeah, I know! I've tried 

Luckily I don't have clado!  (touch wood)

[wearsbunnyslippers]

hey foo, you want some?

[foo]

Lemme think about that for a second...
 

[tyronegenade]

The bubbles are formed as part of the chemical reactions:

2H2O2 --> 2H2O + O2

Ideally we want: H2O2 + (organic chemical) --> (organic)-OH + (chemical)-OH, that is the destruction of the fatty acids, protein and DNA of the organism but once in the presence of Fe2+ and Cu2+ the first reaction predominates which is what gives all the bubbles (or O2). The bubbles form because the H2O2 destroys the cell membrane and allows access to the Fe in the cell. If you see bubbles is because the algae is roasted  Mwhahaha!

It was quite a spectacular show. The bubbles persisted for more than an hour (probably more as I switched the tank light off to go to bed).  The pygmy swords are not looking wonderfully happy right now but they are still alive. No sign of clado and the sand substrate looks so clean.

The effective ingredient in the Excel is glutaraldehyde. This is formaldehyde's big brother and we use it in the lab when we want something fixed good and proper. It is the last thing I would put into my fishtank.

[foo]

The effective ingredient in the Excel is glutaraldehyde. This is formaldehyde's big brother and we use it in the lab when we want something fixed good and proper. It is the last thing I would put into my fishtank.

Says the man with the fizz pop for a fish tank 

[tyronegenade]

Hey, the fish were having a ball. I might do this again just for fun. At only R8 a pop its cheap entertainment for all. Heck, for that show I hope the evil stuff makes a come back so I can kill them again.

[Silikube]

The last thing you would put in your fishtank? Would that be after nuking it with peroxide?  

Is that not pretty much the same stuff used for bleaching hair?  

I'd rather stick to Seachem's Diabolical Excel, thank you very much!

 

[R.C.]

An interesting read:

Hydrogen peroxide versus algae.

[tyronegenade]

Well, to my horror on Monday I discovered a raft of hair algae spreading forth its evil green tendrils from a patch of Riccia. This patch was quickly removed and hope that will be all. Seems the H2O2 is only a control measure and not a cure to this malady. The hair algae waits in our tanks, waiting to make its move...

Otherwise, I'm still hair algae free and the plants beginning to look nice. The sudden increase in the GH (between 60 and 120 ppm) in my tap water and the ensuing high pH hasn't made life easy for the plants. My pH is at about 7.6 meaning I have a 3%:97% CO2:HCO3- ratio which isn't ideal. The bicarb feeders are doing very nicely but other more picky plants are not. Such a high bicarb level favours algae and verily, I see a lot more green algae build up on the glass and plants etc... I am thankful that the hair algae hasn't exploded!

I now have to give serious through to getting an Ancistrus or some Twig/whiptail cats to keep the green fuzzy stuff in check.

What I would really like is a solution to my high pH and GH but I'm not prepared to tinker with the pH.