Horrible Hair/bb Algae

[jonny-5]

Hello all,I have had a read around the site and not found much in regard to my little prob....so here we go.
I have a 40 U.K Gallon tank which has the usual community fish in(as in my signature) it has Fluval 4 and Fluval 2 Filters,temp is 25oC,NitrAte is almost 0ppm(to low to get a reading).NitrIte is 0ppm and P.H is 6.8-9.I do a 25 % water change weekly and use Nutrafin Plant Gro for a few weeks until my plants establish thenselves.It has various slow growing plants in there,with 1 x 40 watt and 1 x 15 watt Flourescent tube lighting.I know the plants will be slow growing anyway as i only have 1 WPG.Now the prob i have is Hair/BB Algae ive took out the plants that were ruined by it and replaced them with new and washed all my ornaments and removed most of it by hand....it just keeps coming back twice as thick and in just a few days! So i went out and bought some Green X Phosphate tea bag things for the filters and they have prob been in now for about a month and ive not seen any change in the Algae if anthing its got worse...Please help

 

[InaneCathode]

Theres no real difference between algae and regular plants. Algae is uglier, thats about it. They both use nutrients available in the water and they'll both compete for those nutrients. Plants, being somewhat complex, generally dont grow as fast as algae (like your hair algae) so the algae ends up taking over without fast growing plants to out compete the algae.

Think of it as a war inside your tank. The algae is winning, and has been winning for a while now. The more nutrients you add (plant fertilizer) the worse the algae gets because it's in the best position to use it up. Its pretty much a waste of money to keep replacing plants, the algae has pretty much already won.

What i'd suggest you do is remove all of your plants and (someone help me with what this is now) nuke the algae with some sort of aquatic herbicide. Sterilize your plants the best you can (again, someone help me on how to do that), replant them, and along with them get as many fast growing plants as you can possibly obtain. Java fern, duck weed and so forth. I think your lighting would be ok, but look into making a co2 fermenter to increase your co2, as your plants will use whats in your tank up fast. At this point, it'd probably be wise to kill as much surface agitation as you can as it drives off co2.

 

[BHornsey]

Hi,

The best way to kill off algae is a 3 or 4 day blackout. Leave the plants in. Just cover the tank with something that will shut out the light and leave it. The fish won't be affected; three days without food isn't a problem.

Then you need to find out what is stimulating the algae as it may return. Best to head into the Planted Tank Threads, lots of useful info there.

Brian

 

[George Farmer]

Theres no real difference between algae and regular plants.

Where did you hear that? They are very different indeed.

The best way to kill off algae is a 3 or 4 day blackout.

Blackouts are generally only effective against BGA (cyanobacteria). It will have little affect on BBA in particular.

Most algae issues are a result of poor plant growth, brought about by too few plants and/or inappropriate growing conditions. Fix these and algae won't be an issue.

 

[jonny-5]

Been out and bought even more plants for my tank it is now filled and ive discarded or cleaned up the decor with bb algae on.So hopefully these new plants will use my wasted lighting energy up,denying the algae any light!! Will see how i get on,thanks for the advice

 

[shafty]

keep us updated on how it's going, I'm having the same problem. Did you bleach dip the plants?

 

[jonny-5]

no i cut the leaves off the plants with the algae on and threw away the ones that were to bad to keep! I wouldnt chance using bleach

 

[shafty]

yeah, I dipped mine today. It seemed to help but I'll have to see how the plants hold up. Also bought some hygro to help eat up the exra nutrients befor the algae does. Does Co2 have and effect on algae growth?

 

[jonny-5]

Yes i do belive it Co2 does have an effect.I was reading a few posts in other topics on the site,Anyways my BB Algae hasnt come back yet so more plants must be doing some good.I took a few cuttings out of my other tank and they have already sprouted leaves and its not even been a week since i replanted them yet!! Top Job

 

[shafty]

The bleach dip seemed to work. The plants are growing like crazy and I threw in a few more otto cats and they seem to be doing a great job. hopefully it stays this way!

 

[InaneCathode]

Theres no real difference between algae and regular plants.

Where did you hear that? They are very different indeed.

http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algae

Touche though, blue green algae is partly bacteria