Algae... What Is This Type And How Do I Get Rid?

[sophos9]

Hi

I have only suffered from one type of algae, it a green hairy branched type that grows from a small dot... It grows pretty rapidly and looks like green hair?

Can anyone help with what type this is and the best way of getting rid of it?

Cheers

 

[jollysue]

Two things control algae: light schedules and feeding moderation. Break up your light regimen into blocks--say four hours in the morning and four in the evening.

Then also reduce the wasted food.

If the algae is really bad, turn the lights off for a few days--even a week. This will bring it under control and then put the lighting on a schedule.

I am not sure of names here. There is a hair algae, but I'm not sure.

Of course most algae eaters will eat green algae: for instance otos and BN Plecs. But light control is the best, imo.

 

[sophos9]

Two things control algae: light schedules and feeding moderation. Break up your light regimen into blocks--say four hours in the morning and four in the evening.

Then also reduce the wasted food.

If the algae is really bad, turn the lights off for a few days--even a week. This will bring it under control and then put the lighting on a schedule.

I am not sure of names here. There is a hair algae, but I'm not sure.

Of course most algae eaters will eat green algae: for instance otos and BN Plecs. But light control is the best, imo.

Hi

I have tried reducing light and reducing waste, all of which do not change the growth of this green hair... I have got a clown plec and 2 bristlenose ancistrus and they dont touch this stuff...?

 

[jollysue]

Have you tried turning the lights off for a week? Is the tank near a window?

Is this the stuff that grows on the leaves of plants and everything!?

I have black and green hair algae. II control it by managing the light.

I went to the plant section to get it ID'd with a pic. Those folks know their plants. Maybe some one watching will help. There is black hair algae that I have been told only a SAE will eat but I found them hard to locate.

 

[Gnatfish]

Have a read off this.

http/www.plantgeek.net/article_viewer.php?id=9

Two things control algae: light schedules and feeding moderation. Break up your light regimen into blocks--say four hours in the morning and four in the evening.

Thats not strictly true. Plants also control algae. Theres a pinned topic in the planted section, which is quite useful.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=106371


Basically if plants are growing well, algae doesn't like it. So if you do everything for your plants then the algae will be greatly reduced probably not existent.

If you have anymore questions its worth posting this in the Planted section.

If the algae is black short and hairy its probably BBA, which as far as i am aware only SAE eat.

zig did a interesting experiment with this type of algae

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...&hl=syringe

 

[jollysue]

Thanks, Gnatfish.

 

[Gnatfish]

No problem. I'm not saying your wrong, i just added a bit

 

[jollysue]

My thoughts exactly. Good info. What I was hoping for sophos.

 

[sophos9]

Thanks for your help, this has been continued in the planted section