Black Hair-Like Algae

[mikep]

I am having trouble with unsightly black hair-like strands growing from my plants, decorations & gravel. I've searched the internet for information but I am struggling to find any images similar to what I've got on my plants. Can anybody identify this?

 

[morgan]

I had that, it's a mess isn't it? Mine was due to overfeeding and now I have cut back it has nearly all cleared up. I like some algae as I have a pleco, an Orange Snail and the Mollies sometimes eat it. I used to have it hanging off all the plants and ornaments and growing off the gravel. I now just have a bit on the plants and a tiny bit of green algae on the ornaments. There is some stuff you can get from www.spectacularaquariums.com it is a natural product. I bought some but I did not use it as not feeding so much excess food sorted it out anyway. Also I have the light on for 8 hours only whereas before I left it on from 7 a.m. to 11p.m.

 

[mikep]

Thanks, I'll try cutting back on the feeding. I tried cutting back on the lighting and to be fair it has not been as bad, but I've recently increased the time the light is on as my reflector curled up and fell in and my plants seem to be suffering.
I have a pleco and a red tail shark but they seem to avoid the black stuff.