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So far the only algae I've had is the stuff BNs and otos take care of Now I'm presented with a new fish-keeping challenge in my planted 10g. There is a 15 watt bulb on the tank, tank temp is 76°, the tank receives no direct sunlight, and I do weekly water changes. I'm getting grey/brown/green algae on my plants that looks like hair. There is also some on other plants that appears green (or it could just be picking up the plant color), and that looks almost like velvet.

Can anyone tell my why I'm getting this and how I can get rid of it?


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Does it look like this? I love the appearance on my wood and my caves, but it just so happens to grow on my valisneria too. .

From a scientific perspective, does anyone know, by appearance, what kind of algae this is?



Cory_Di attached this image:


Last edited by Cory_Di at 19-Nov-2004 10:28[/font]

Last edited by Cory_Di at 19-Nov-2004 10:28

Hmmm, hard to say. I took some pics, I know there's reflection and water spots but I was just trying to show what the algae looks like:






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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

Cory: My first guess would be BGA---which is a real pain.

Theresa: Staghorn algae has my vote.

Last edited by Cup_of_Lifenoodles at 19-Nov-2004 11:05

Naw - that's not blue-green algae (cyanobacteria). Actually, I've been told by many that the velvet green algae I have is actually a sign of a healthy aquarium

I've actually been purposely cultivating it. I've been meaning to stick an english or irish looking cottage in there so the roof would coat with green velvet . It's sooooo pretty . And, the otos love it.

The BGA I've seen is very soft, very fast growing, and is indeed a pain to eliminate. I am dealing with it in my nephew's tank (and it is red, as some BGA's can be). I'm going to clean his tank one more time until it is pretty much spotless of it, then hit it with erythromycin once and for all. I don't want big traces of it in there as dying or dead BGA is highly toxic to fish.

Theresa, that looks like beard or hair algae??? I have some that looks like that on my plants too. I got it from plants I brought home from a local chain petstore (who later acknowledged they had a serious algae problem). I didn't see the fine strands on the plants until they started to happen in large numbers in my tank. With no co2, it flourishes .

Do you use co2 by any chance? I believe it can help by enabling your plants to grow faster, whereby they take up the nutrients before the algae can feed on it. This chokes it out or keeps it at bay. I don't know that you can fully eliminate it versus controlling it.

I have been adding Flourish Excel to my tank as an alternative to co2, and I sense that the plants are winning over the hair/beard algae. I can't remember which of these two are the really hard stuff that sticks to the leaves so bad it damages them if you try to pull it off. .

Last edited by Cory_Di at 19-Nov-2004 11:17

Last edited by Cory_Di at 19-Nov-2004 11:18

Yep cory_di by no meeans has cyno...it looks more like cobwebs and smells.

I second the hair alge, I've been told that like BBA it is somehow linked to irregular CO2 levels, as in it appears if you're lax about replacing the mix. I'm not sure I fully believe this as I had the black algae show up in a non-CO2 tank .

One thing I do remember is that toothbrushes are aparently very useful for removing hair algae.

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My cories use it as a place to nap. They look so comfy sitting among the velvet green

Picture number three has an excellent example of "Beard Algae" in the background. This form of algae grows on plant leaves. It's bright green, and individual strands have fine texture but it grows in thick patches much like a green beard, growing up to 4 cm. It does not indicate poor water quality, but it grows very fast and overtakes the tank. It cannot be removed mechanically. See this picture:
http://www.freewebs.com/thefishgirl/algea.htm&h=480&w=640&sz=188&tbnid=824SDAOmX9UJ:&tbnh=101&tbnw=134&start=1&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522hair%2Balgae%2522%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN

Picture number two is "hair algae". See this picture:
http://www.freewebs.com/thefishgirl/algea.htm&h=480&w=640&sz=188&tbnid=824SDAOmX9UJ:&tbnh=101&tbnw=134&start=1&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522hair%2Balgae%2522%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN

If you like platies, try a couple and see if they like the hair algae.

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

Awww - links didn't work for me.

See if this link works:

http://www.aquaticscape.com/articles/algae.htm

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

It works fine. Good link with good pics.

What kind of algae do amano shrimp eat? Are amano's the same as "ghost" shrimp or is there a difference? I've see ghost shrimp for sale in my area, but not amano (within a few miles of my house, that is)

Purportedly they are good for hair algae. Unfortunately, they prefer leftover food... Try platies before amano shrimp.

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