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HELP

My beard algea is over running my tank, some bits are 6 inches long. I have checked phosphate and its about 0.8, my tank is 48" 40 gal, my lights are 80 watt and are on 10 hours a day. it is filterd with a fluval 204 and an eheim 2229. i dont over feed and I dont have a large fish stock at the momnet. What should I do???

I tried pulling plants out and removing the algea, but it returns the next day :-(

Hi,
This stuff, along with hair Algae, can be a real bugger
to get rid of.
Chieck this site, it should answer all your questions.

http://www.otocinclus.com/articles/algae.html

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

manage your water, by water changes, removes pho[hate, feed less, be carefull with additives with phoshate, dont put too much ferts and have a good day

You may also consider placing some fast growing plants in the tank. They will compete with the algae for "food" and hopefully win. Also decrease the light time for a while.

Chemically, try using a product called "algae fix." This is safe for plants and other fish. I have used it on a type of hair/beard/brush algae. It may take 2-3 weeks to get rid of it fully, but it works.

Good luck,
Alec

One more thing with the chemicals. If you don't fix the original problem, the algae will come back again.

Alec

whenever I have had either hair/beard algae the most effective remedy I tried was eSHa Protalon-707, although I hate the use of chemicals and plant hate most chemical in the aquarium this one always did the best job:

Is Beard algae the same as Black bush algae? If it is, I put two apple snails in a tank that was infested with it, and they have kept it under control and haven't touched the plants.

___________________________________________

If at first you DO succeed, try not to look astonished.

Easiest long term way is to grow the plants well, then you you don't need algicides which seldom work if ever.
I've yet to have a single algicide work in a controlled study on algae. Copper does, depending on the plants species, it can be used, but it's difficult because people over/under dose. The same it trrue for most algicides, they all effect plant growth if they hurt algae as well.
Most only address a very short term issue that could be dealt with by pruning and cleaning the tank up and not neglecting it.

You need to ask this question: why do I have algae?
Answer: poor plant health/growth.

Algicides are not plant nutrients or CO2.
Your goal is to grow plants, not kill algae, so focus on that, not algicides.

I have 15 years in this hobby seriously and work for the state controlling aquatics and doing research. I've tried everything and a few things and devices you've never heard of as well.

Your best bet is to focus on the plant's needs.
Save your money and don't waste it on this stuff, no one needs it and no you don't nded it to get over this "temporary problem or hump".
Your time is far better spent learning what the plants need and how to do that.

PO4 removers don't help plants, and algae can survive at PO4 levels beyond the range of any test kit any of you own.

I add PO4 to my tank to help grow the plants and I add a lot. But ...I focus on the plants and my tanks have been algae free for many years.

This focus can be done with non CO2 approaches and low and high light, the growth rates are different, but the plants are well provided for nutrient wise. Faster growth= more nutrient demand and less wiggle room on your methods.

Most folks that have trouble=&gt; CO2 (about 90% of the problems) and not enough NO3/K+ generally. Other main reasons: plain neglect, you need to prune and clean the tank often.

But when you see algae as an old timer, you don't worry of freak, you go in , prune, clean, clean filter, scrub things down, then do the large water change, rejust the CO2, dose the nutrients back and keep up on things, the algae goes away. Some trick are needed for certain algae species, blackouts for BGA, and GW(UV, Diatom filters are much more effective) but the rest is simply pruning and correcting the problems with CO2 and dosing.
Water changes + dosing frequently makes the dosing easy.
CO2 is the hardest thing to get right(hence the 90% of the problem part).

Regards,
Tom Barr