Beard Algae?

[This Old Spouse]

This black stuff (algae? fungus?) appeared on two of my live plants and I don't know what it is. Can anyone help? The closest I could find was beard algae, but I don't know if it's harmful, how to get rid of it, etc. Sorry about the poor photo quality ...




pH is 6.5
Nitirite 0
Nitrate 40
ammonia 0

These numbers have stayed consistent for many weeks. Help?

 

[ZoddyZod]

yep, looks like black beard algae. Only way to get rid or it is by manual removal and it's stubborn stuff.

Not sure what causes it but one of the plant experts should be along to help.....

 

[ian]

yep, agree with Zoddy, that's BBA. This stuff thrives on unstable C02, it has nothing to do with test kit stats. It's not harmful but IMO one of the unsightly algaes. It will also set down where flow is at it's lowest in a tank. Stabilise C02 and up the flow if it's causing you bother. Is the tank high lit or low light?

 

[This Old Spouse]

First off, it's on the 2 plants right next to my filter! So I'm going to assume that's not the problem. The light is 2 18" 15w fluorescent lights. And how would I go about stabilizing the CO2?

 

[RadaR]

And how would I go about stabilizing the CO2?

Are you adding any?
If not, then you have to look at decreasing your lighting. Also check your water change regime.

 

[This Old Spouse]

I'm not adding any. The only thing I do to my tanks is a 20% water change every two weeks and use dechlorinator. The lights are on from 6 a.m.-10 p.m. with a two-hour shutoff in the afternoon. Is this too much light? They are 2 15 watt 18-inch fluorescent lights in the 55 gal. Frankly I don't even know if this constitutes high or low light!

 

[ian]

wow, you have the lights on for way to long! The siesta period doesn't really help either. If you using live plants we really say 10 hours max and ideally 8 hours. That is a low light tank, but still to much light, in the way of time. I would probably up the water change to weekly and down the lighting.

 

[RadaR]

That's 14hours! Far too much.
Also, there's no point in doing a siesta.
Have your lights on for 8hours straight. Your long photoperiod is sure to be the reason for the BBA.
You have low light mate, but like I said, the excessively long photoperiod really helps the algae. Plants dont actually need more than 10. Some people have their lights on for 6hours.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Wow. That doesn't seem to be enough light, especially way up north where we only have 10 hours of daylight during the winter. But I'll give it a go and see what happens. Thanks!