Algae Cleaning Tips

[Plecc]

I have a few different species of anubias that have been in my tank for quite some time now.
A long time ago i had a bit of an algae outbreak, for some reason the anubias attracted most of it on their stems and leaves.
The rest of the tank and ornaments cleaned up easily during regular cleaning, not knowing if i could do anything about the algae on my plants i decided to leave it hoping my plecos would sort it out for me.
Unfortunately they don't appear to like like this type of algae, and now its beginning to make the tank look really messy.

Is there any way i can clean them up?
They all have quite tough waxy leaves, i can clean them by hand buy not sure what with?
I also use flourish excel, which i think, if overdosed can be used to treat algae problems.
But does this just kill the algae leaving it still attached or total remove it?

 

[oneblondebrow]

What type of algae is it?

I recently had an influx of Brown Algae so got myself some Oto's who have started cleaning the tank and plants nicely (and they are still juvenile)

 

[Plecc]

At first it was a thin dark green lightly fuzzy algae,
but now its turned into small brown tufts with tiny sucker feet, possibly a different type of algae, but it looks dead.
Thanks for the suggestion, but i cant really add any more fish as my tank is well stocked with a growing family of BN plecos.

 

[kaivalagi]

Have a look here, it should help: http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm

Sounds like hair algae to me, I have some and have found it hard to control. Too much sunlight, too much "on" time for the lights or excess feeding/ammonia can contribute towards it...a water change, then a few days of no feeding along with a "blackout" may help....?

 

[Plecc]

Thanks,
Very helpful link, i think it started out as a bit of hair algae,
but now looks just like the 'Black Brush Algae'
It even says overdosing with flourish excel will clear it up.
sorted, i will give it a try.

 

[kaivalagi]

Thanks,
Very helpful link, i think it started out as a bit of hair algae,
but now looks just like the 'Black Brush Algae'
It even says overdosing with flourish excel will clear it up.
sorted, i will give it a try.

My algae looks like BBA too but I think it's still hair algae that has discoloured and thickened over time...

The excess excel thing is to give your plants a boost I think so they out compete with the algae

Best thing to do before you start any treating of the water is to remove as much of the stuff by hand...if it's on your plants you can remove, clean it off the leaves and put back

 

[blackers92]

Plecc could you please let me know how you go, because I have the same problem and also have flourish, how much is an "overdose"?

i would of thought excess fertiliser would promote algae growth

 

[chesterscot]

I have cleaned anubias with a toothbrush lightly as the leaves are tough
scot

 

[Mikaila31]

I would not really recommend overdosing excel as that can lead to problems. If you want you can try spot treating it. You using a blunt syringe or pipett and recommended dose, but slowly inject it at the troubled areas. This will hopefully work, but you defiantly run a risk of it killing the plant as well. Some of my plants can't even deal with excel at recommended dosage.

 

[blackers92]

yeh I dont think i will do it Mikaila31, it just doesnt seem right to overdose

 

[snowflake311]

Take all bad leafs out. Cut them back. Scrub all decor you can. Then do extra water changes cut back on feeding and that should help. I would not use more excel just use the same amount also addeding a powerhead for more water movment can help. Dead spots can cause algea.

 

[Plecc]

Thanks for the feedback all,

I decided to give the tank a big clean up today,
pruned out the wost leaves and attempted to clean the other old leaves, but not with too much success,
it was hard to tell where the worst of it was as soon as the plants were out of the water, the patches i could see were almost impossible to remove without harming the plant.
fortunately the stems and some older bits of bog wood cleaned up really easily, using a tooth brush and a nail brush for the bog wood.
On some of the larger plants i trimmed some of the roots back as well to help new growth.
Think i will prune out any remaining dirty leaves in a few month after some fresh shoots have grown.
So i cleaned all the glass down, turned my sand and gave it all a really good vacuum.
and put in some new plants.

Left the filter until last, popped the top and yippee, the whole thing was full of baby plecos.
eventually managed to get them all into my nursery tank, just over 50 i think.
Had no idea my BN's had a fresh batch, always a bonus.