Help I Got Black Hair Growth In My Tank....

[Myfishlike2rock]

Hi I have a problem with black hair growth on a plant and has progressed to my other plants and rocks. How can I get rid of it?

I have a 127 Litre tank [tropical] with 13 fish, rocks, real plants and gravel
I have a tetratec ex700 filter and a powerhead filter [was using powerhead but got both on till the ex700 has it's own bacteria] also a 100watt heater and two air stones.

 

[fluffycabbage]

hiya - how long are your lights on for? and what bulb(s) do you have? algae is more often that not caused by too much light. do you dose any fertilisers?
ive had this a couple of times, and it was only remedied by a complete blackout for 3 days, then no more than 3 or 4 hrs light for a week, then no more than 6 hrs every day since then. i also use ferts, have a fully stocked tank and about 25% plants, with approx 1200lph filtration.

ps what fish do you have in there? airstones dont need to be on in a planted tank unless there is medication in the tank how many plants do you have?

 

[Myfishlike2rock]

Hi thanks for the reply fluffycabbage.

My lights are on for about 11hrs and the bulb is a 25watt water plant aquarium lamp. I have not used any fertilisers as yet. My fish are 2 gouramis, 6 tetra, 5 guppies [3 female 2 male]. Not sure on the filteration but have a powerhead 402 and tetratec ex700 working, tank temp is about 26/27 oC. I have 5 plants in the tank 2 leafy low and 3 tall plants.

 

[fluffycabbage]

Ok - well firstly you need to do a complete blackout - do not turn the lights on at all for at least 3 days. Algae needs light to grow. From then on dont put them on often at all, until the problem is resolved. Then no more than 6 hrs is a day, or you risk it starting again. You may wish to consider using Flourish Excel, which i (and others) have found works well at controlling that particular algae. Turn off at least one of the airstones too, theyre not needed if you have real plants

 

[ian]

Just doing a blackout will help in the short term, but if you don't change a few things in your tank it will soon be back. BBA occurs when the C02 levels are to low or the C02 fluctuates. I would turn the photo period down to 8 hours, turn the air stones off, some will say these won't make a difference, as C02 and 02 work OK living side by side, however if the tank isn't being injected with C02, you're going to displace the C02 you do have. You shouldn't need any added C02 in your tank, just see how it goes.

 

[RadaR]

Blackouts wont really work on BBA. This type of algae is good at storing starch.
Undoubtly you have BBA because your lights have been on for too long. Cut the lighting down to 7hours a day. Manual removal and spot dosing with exel will clear the BBA up quicker.

 

[Myfishlike2rock]

Thanks for the help guys it's much appreciated. I got BBA from a plant I got from a friend that was in his tank though I usualy had my light on for 11 hrs [as it was the advice in a book I read about aquariums] but have shortened that and we have manualy cleaned the offending plant [it was the worst] and the rocks and did the blackout thing and seems to be good so far

What is the Exel stuff ?

 

[fishy55599]

i have this and was told to get a co2 system to get rid of it and not too long lighting

 

[RadaR]

What is the Exel stuff ?

Seachem Flourish Excel is a liquid carbon (glutaraldehyde) product that also contains a slight algaecide property.
The addition of carbon will also increase the demands for nutrients though.

 

[Myfishlike2rock]

i have this and was told to get a co2 system to get rid of it and not too long lighting

Hope not was hoping not to need to use Co2 light is on a timer now for 6hrs instead of 11hrs .

What is the Exel stuff ?

Seachem Flourish Excel is a liquid carbon (glutaraldehyde) product that also contains a slight algaecide property.
The addition of carbon will also increase the demands for nutrients though.

Will have to get some of that soon [and somthing for the plants] will need to wait for that though as one of my guppies is about to drop anytime.

Thanks for the advise and info everyone .