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I am not sure where this post belongs. I posted in the the planted section but the only answer I got isn't right.

I have some kind of microorganism or algae or something in my 55g. It is all over my plants and the glass. It is stringy and fuzzy looking. In the planted section I was told it could be dead hair algae...but it can't be because I cut off the leaves of a couple plants that had the stuff on it and the stuff came back. When you wipe it off a plant you can see it go into the water. I have no idea what it is and what to do about it.

Whatever it is, it is killing my dwarf chain sword. Like I said above, I have tried cutting off affected leaves and taking the clumps out of the water...but it returns. I wipe the glass and it comes back.
What is it?? Does anyone have any idea? And what can I do to get rid of it?
Would something in the water cause this stuff? It is not in my 10g or 5g that has plants from the same place and the same water. I use tap water and dechlorinate it. I use plant ferts every so often (maybe once a week).

If you need any more info just ask. I hate the way my tank looks and it is driving me crazy!:%)]:|[/font][/font][/font]


Pictures:




edit: trying to make pictures smaller...

Last edited by GirlieGirl8519 at 11-Jan-2006 20:14

Last edited by GirlieGirl8519 at 11-Jan-2006 20:16

Last edited by GirlieGirl8519 at 11-Jan-2006 20:18

*Kristin*

How fast does it come back after removing it?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

It comes back pretty quickly...like within a couple days. If I don't mess with it...it gets stringy..like in the picture. Otherwise it is in big fuzzy clumps on my plants.

*Kristin*

How often do you do water changes?
How much?
How much lighing? Watts and time...
Fish load?
Plant load?
CO2?
Dosing? What, How much, when?

Give us the low down....

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

How often do you do water changes?

I try to do a 25% once a week...but sometimes it is once every 2 weeks. I recently did a 50% water change because I was dosing Kent Marine RX-P for ich (changed the water to get the rest of the meds out) and trying to get the fuzzy stuff gone.

How much lighing? Watts and time...

I have 2x65w compact fluorescent bulbs...for 2.36 wpg. I leave the lights on for about 12 hours a day...sometimes a little more depending on when I go to bed.

Fish load?

I have 8 head and tailight tetras, 4 rummynose tetras, 8 corydoras sodalis/trilineatus, 6 panda cories, 3 yoyo loaches, 1 otto, 1 BN, 1 angelfish, 1 german blue ram

Plant load?

wisteria, rotala indica, an ozelot sword, dwarf chain sword, dwarf sag, crypts wendtii, bacopa caroliniana, java fern, an anubias nana

CO2?

No CO2

Dosing? What, How much, when?

Liquid ferts...once or twice a week: Flourish (5 mL), Excel (5 mL), Nitrogen (about 3 mL), Potassium (10 mL), and Iron (5 mL) (all Seachem).
In the beginning I was following the dosing plan on the Seachem website...but I have fallen behind. I also didn't want to dose ferts while dosing the meds...because I thought it would be too much stuff in the water.

About 3 weeks ago I used Kordon's Ich Attack for a few days before switching to Kent Marine RX-P which I used for 13 days (7 doses).
The fuzzy stuff was there before that though...but seems to have gotten worse since the meds were used.

The filter is an Aqua Clear 70 with sponges and carbon in it at the moment.
The light fixture is Coralife...if that helps any.

Last edited by GirlieGirl8519 at 11-Jan-2006 20:51

*Kristin*

Whats your....
Nitrate
Nitrite
and
Ammonia?


Maybe up your Excel. I personally beleive that you can't over do the stuff. As for what the stuff is I dont really know. Its new to me. I am just trying to get all the factors out in the open.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

The algae appears to be a type of red algae aka beard or brush algae. The category contains many varieties or variants in appearance. You may have received the spores in you had stocked the aquarium with fisyh from an lfs who had the spores in their gill membranes or intestines.

Very few fish eat this type of algae with the exception of the Siamese algae eater (Crossocheilus siamensis). Icreasing the micronutrients may have an impact on its growth rate as your plants gradually outcompete the algae.

A quicker means of killing the organsims is to dip your plant foliage in a solution of 1 part bleach to 19 parts of water for no more than two minutes.

Last edited by Bob Wesolowski at 12-Jan-2006 13:02

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Bob: Thanks...I was actually about to ask if dipping them in bleach would do any good. I have been wanting to rearrange anyways...and thought about the bleach. I will definitely try that this weekend.

How big do Siamese Algae eaters get? I know they like to be in groups. I don't think I've seen them around here though...or else I would run out and get a few.

I will try to the 1 part bleach dip and see if that has any affect. Also I will try to wipe the stuff off outside the aquarium and see if that helps to keep it controlled. It just scatters in the water when you wipe it off inside and really doesn't do anything to get rid of it.

Wings: Ammonia is 0, Nitrite is 0, and Nitrate is 20ppm, pH is 7.2. I will also try using my ferts on a regular basis and maybe use a little more of Excel than usual.

*Kristin*

How big do Siamese Algae eaters get? I know they like to be in groups. I don't think I've seen them around here though...or else I would run out and get a few.

Hello all long time viewer of this site first time replyer.
The siamese algae eater can grow upto 3 inches although rarly can get bigger. I would only put 1 in to a tank as they can get rather agressive with there own kind as they get bigger.I once had three in a 30G and the one killed the other two.I have never seen the stuff in the pics before so i can't guarantee they will eat it but all the ones i have kept eat most algae at an awsome rate.

I didn't think Siamese Algae eaters were aggressive. I have always heard they needed a small shoal.

I'm not doubting your info, but are you sure you didn't have Chinese Algae Eaters? They are very aggressive, especially with age. Sometimes stores sell them as just "algae eaters".

Bob: What should I do for my crypts? I am going to dip the other plants in the bleach solution tomorrow. I am afraid to take out the crypts though. Should I just risk them melting? I really want that stuff gone. I guess I could just order more next week.....not sure.

Last edited by GirlieGirl8519 at 13-Jan-2006 16:57

*Kristin*

Check your phosphate, I had similar stuff and found my phosphate was 10 ppm. I reduced it and its almost gone.

"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man" Simpsons

I am ordering a phosphate test kit this week. What is a good phosphate remover, if indeed phosphate is high? And what is the normal level, if there is one, of phosphate?

*Kristin*

Ok, its been a week since I took all the plants out and dipped them in bleach...19 parts water to 1 part bleach. They all looked great until a few days after...then the algae stuff came back and now the plants are dying. I lost all my Echinodorous Tennellus and most of my Bacopa. I have had it with my 55g. Everytime I look at it I get so frustrated and stressed...I am at the point now where I just want to cover it up so I can't see it. It is that bad.

I have been using my ferts religiously and increased the dose of Excel I use and nothing is happening. Things went from bad to worse.

Besides the furry stuff in the pictures I have little green 3mm hair like things all over my gravel, on some plants, and even on a couple snails . Also I just noticed what looks like some BBA on my DW. AHH! This tank will be the end of my aquarium hobby...

Does anyone have any more suggestions about what I can do to get rid of this stuff? I will try anything. The bleach didn't work. I have plants ordered and I thought they would be here today...but I was wrong. I have no idea when they will come. I hoped adding more plants would help outcompete the algae...but I also hope they won't also die. Help!

*Kristin*