The Scapefu Podcast

Black Brush Algae (BBA) - How to kill it This is a first in a series on understanding algae that commonly plague our aquariums. We kick off the series with the infamous Black Brush Algae a/k/a BBA. News The Aquatic Experience in Chicago Aqvainnova - Dennerle - JBJ Tropica Shout out to Green Leaf Aquariums Lupy LED - theONE coming in the Winter of 2015 Get to know Black Brush Algae (BBA) Black brush algae (BBA) is one of the toughest algae to get rid of in the aquarium. It’s tenacious and can overtake and suffocate your plants in a matter of a couple of weeks if not controlled. It belongs to the Phylum Rhodophyta (Greek meaning, red plant) that includes 5,000 to 6,000 species of mostly multicellular, marine algae. There are 164 freshwater species mostly in the genus Lemanea and Audouinella. Black brush algae (BBA) is stiff bristle-like branched or unbranched similar to a coarse horsehair. You can recognize it in tight tufts on hardscape and will line the edges of your plant leaves. It’s also known ask black