Furry Plants

[New Milton Stu]

I have noticed that some of my background plants (mostly the reed-like ones) have developed a "fur" over them.

Is this ok as it looks a little unsightly or can i get something to reduce this problem.

I do put a fertiliser liquid into the water and tablets in the substrate.

Any ideas on what the problem is??

I use a Fluval 404 filter with carbon and the white hula-hoop looking stuff as my mediums.....sorry at present can't remember what the white medium is called..lol...


The tank is well established and i have only noticed this problem in the last day or two....

 

[William]

Hi Stu!

The fur you describe is algae, is it a browny sort of colour ? I would suggest the algae is there because there is too much fertiliser in the tank. Reduce that load and you could also get an otto, to help eat the algae you already have

 

[New Milton Stu]

If i reduce the fertiliser what will happen to the fur i already have on my plants??

Will it die/reduce??

Or am i destined to have this on my plants??

 

[William]

The fur you already have is likely to remain on the plants unless you rub it off with your fingers.

If you get an otocinclus or a Siamesse Algae Eater they should take care of the problem for you;

You did not specify if it was just a planted tank because SAE's have a habit of sucking on the sides of other fish in your tank.

Is your tank in a window?

A bit of advice on oto's:

People often have trouble keeping newly purchased otocinclus alive. This is due to a number of reasons. First, most ottos are caught in the wild so they have to suffer long trips to get to the aquarium store. Then, often the stores do not take good care of the fish. They may keep them in clean tanks with nothing to eat but whatever prepared foods that the care giver dumps into the tank. Ottos prefer to eat soft algae and will not do well if they do not have any. So, by the time someone buys a few ottos, they are often weak and starving.

If they are then added to a tank without algae, they soon die. If the tank does in fact have algae, the ottos may eat most of that in short order and then starve, even with supplemental feeding. While ottos prefer to be in larger groups, it is important not to add too many to a tank. In a tank heavy with soft algae, 1-3 ottos per 10 gallons is fine but if the tank is too free of algae, it may not support more than one otto per 50 gallons. If you cannot support at least two ottos, do not get them as a single individual will waste away for lack of companionship. Often, after a batch of ottos are added, 20-80% of them die but the survivors may live for years since they have reached a sustainable population based on the algae and other food available. Die offs of new otocinclus are also common due to their desired good water quality and sensitivity to many medications.

 

[StiX]

What u need todo is get the plants growing, then the alge wont be able to settle and grow on the leaves, hw much light do u have? and how much plant growth do u get?

 

[Rose]

New Milton Stu read this article on Algae control This should get you pointed in the right direction as far as keeping it under control and what not. If you need more ideas or what ever let me know. Thanks. Rose

 

[New Milton Stu]

Rose & Co...

Thanks for the informative replies ...they have been more than useful!!!

Are Otto's a common purchase from lfs'....we have a large lfs near us but i'm not sure if i have seen any Otto's there...

I have a Pleco at the moment....will he be my saviour and rid me of my algae problem ???

I've also discovered that rubbing the algae off the leaves is not the easiest thing in the world!!!!

Should potted plants be removed and the algae rubbed off (is it easier this way??) or should i continue rubbing it off while in the tank...

 

[StiX]

U need to remover as much alge as possible (without damageing the plant!)

Otto's are pretto common, if u have the room 4-6 are good for alge (more if u have a large tank) , they may also be labled as 'midget sucker',their full name if i can remember is otocinclus affinus (not sure on spelling )

Plecos normally eat alge...depending on which plec and what type of alge.

 

[wetwetwet]

ottos are a fantastic little fish. I recently put 8 into my tank which have done a great job on the brown algae on leaves but unfortunatley don't go for the tufty stuff or the hair

 

[New Milton Stu]

I have just bought 4 Siamese Flying Foxes so this should solve the problem once and for all. As i left for work today in sunny London 2 of them were happily munching on some algae for breakfast,

One thing though...i have read that you should only have 1 flying fox per tank ...is this true??

Also when would be a good time to add fertiliser again to my set up???

Should i leave it for a while???

 

[wetwetwet]

Don't know about the fertaliser,

But as I understand it SFF's can be very intolerant of their own kind and similar species which can get worse as they get older.

Wait and see what happens

 

[New Milton Stu]

i have noticed that the flying foxes are staying at the bottom of the tank ..do they swim at all levels cos the algae is near the top of the tank....and they aint going near it!!!!