Black Spotting on plants

[BenMorgan87]

2.6 Gallon Fluval Spec II
1.25" Flourite substrate
1 Anubias Nanas
3 small Crypts
2 small bunches of tall Java Fern

4 Juvenile or barely adult Red Cherry Shrimp + hard to count babies.
Using R/O water treated with Kent Marine R/O Right at 1/2 tsp per 3 gallons (the container I do water changes from is 3 gallons)

Lights: fluval lighting on 8-6 m-f and left on for the weekend as this tank is on my desk at work and I do not own a timer yet.

Temp: 78 (maintained by heater) - 80 F (heating is weird in the building, my desk gets quite warm so I actually unplug the heater during the week.)

The problem is that the anubias has black spotting on it's leaves that do not clean off. It's mainly on older growth. The crypts also have some of it on their leaves too. Is this BGA? Or something else like a nutrient deficiency?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/o24liesh3xqko ... .29.48.jpg


Thanks

[Diana]

I am not sure if it is BBA. Is it really black? The picture makes it look more green, for one of the green spot algae. Both sorts are pretty difficult to scratch off, you would probably damage the leaf before you removed much algae.

Here is a test:
Remove a leaf from the tank, and put it in a glass of water.
Add hydrogen peroxide to the water. If the algae turns pink, then it is BBA.
This is a way to kill the algae, but I am not sure how much H2O2 the shrimp can tolerate (thus, the test is in a glass of water, not the tank).

It does not look like nutrient deficiency.

I would start with a timer for the lights. Correct the light cycle over the weekend. That long 'On' might be growing some algae.

[BenMorgan87]

I think you're right. It helps to not be red/green color blind

The peroxide had no effect on the spots so it's safe to assume it's green or brown algae? I will get a timer as soon as possible. I noticed the algae is only on the older growth, is this any kind of indicator to the health of the plants?

The shrimp were particularly energetic today. I also saw the babies a lot today. They've been nearly invisible since they hatched, but they're strong enough to battle the current from the filter output and get onto the glass and leaves now. My coworker noticed them and used the company's high powered camera to snap a pic for you to enjoy:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/opeyvoc4j6hkke6/IMG_6985.JPG

Still very tiny! I have a couple of adult females (one of which was berried when I bought her, therefore the babies) that are strikingly bright red.

[kb46]

Great news with your shrimp babies - they are so cute!!!

I agree with Diana that it looks more like green spot algae than any other type. In my tanks I've noticed green spot algae on the glass where sunlight hits the tank. If you do get some sunlight on the tank you might try changing its location.

I noticed the algae is only on the older growth, is this any kind of indicator to the health of the plants?

No, unfortunately older growth on anubias is particularly prone to algae because it is such a slow grower and the leaves are around for such a long time. Also as a slow grower they need few nutrients in the water to do well - which makes life easy for those of us who don't want a high maintenance tank - but can make it tricky to balance algae which will take advantage of any "spare" nutrients in the water column.

The good news is that all the plants you listed are low light types and don't need the length of light each day you are subjecting them to. A timer is a great solution. In the meantime I would suggest leaving the light off over the weekends rather than on - all of your plants and shrimp will do fine in the dark for two days at a time.

If you feel you have room in the tank, you could also try adding some faster growing low light plants. Hornwort comes to mind as a good candidate because it floats and will shade the other plants a little, also helping prevent algae growing on the leaves. Other plants that may work are Rotala colorata, bacopa and Hygrophila polysperma (but you may find they need frequent trimming to prevent them taking over the small tank).

If the anubias is the only plant affected by the GSA, you could try moving the anubias to a more shaded position in your tank. (This may not be such a practical solution in a small tank like yours.)

HTH
Kylie