Evil black grey algae has taken over my tank.

[sharkbait]

My tank has been taken over by a dark grey hairy algae, growing on plants, artificial plants and even on my bogwood. The plants are looking pale and feeble. The fish don't seem too worried.
Anybody had a similar experience?
How do I get rid of it?
It would be nice if something would eat it, but nothing seems to be interested.

community tank 20 UK gallons, gravel bottom.
I have limited the light to six hours a day, but still it grows.

 

[The-Wolf]

oh dear,
you have the worst algea going.

It cannot easily be removed mechanically. Remove and discard the affected leaves. Equipment can be soaked in a 25% bleach solution, then scrubbed to remove the dead algae. Siamese Algae Eaters (Crossocheilus siamensis) are known to eat this algae and can keep it in check. A more drastic measure is treatment with copper.
be very carful using bleach and or copper as this can have seriouse effects on aquatic life.

good luck.

 

[sharkbait]

Eughhh...bleach. This sounds like it will have an effect on the fish far worse than the algae.
Does anyone know if siamese algae eaters will eat this dark grey stuff? My clown loaches and my red tail shark and pleco don't seem particularly interested.

Should I dump all my plants and scrub the bogwood?

Should I water change every other day 20%

Should I clean the gravel?