Strange Algae Growth, Is It Normal?

[LRPRESTO]

Hi! I started a 45 gallon tank about two weeks ago and all I have in it are two glass fish and some shells and a fake banzai tree. I have noticed the algae growing on the tree is a green, long string like algae. It looks almost like fine yarn or hair and it is growing fast. Is this a normal algae and how do I keep it from growing? Thanks for your help!

 

[celaeno]

can you tell me where you got the fake bonsai tree?

 

[LRPRESTO]

I got it from Petco. It was in a box and had to be put together.

 

[Bignose]

Hi! I started a 45 gallon tank about two weeks ago and all I have in it are two glass fish and some shells and a fake banzai tree. I have noticed the algae growing on the tree is a green, long string like algae. It looks almost like fine yarn or hair and it is growing fast. Is this a normal algae and how do I keep it from growing? Thanks for your help!

You got this one yourself, sounds an awful lot like hair algae to me.

You should try all the same things for all algaes, are you over feeding? are the nitrates high? are the lights on for too long?

I think the best solution for algae always trying to grow real plants, since real plants will outcompete the algae and the algae will go away on its own. The second best solution would be to get some fish/shrimp to consume the algae. There are not too many fish that will eat hair algae, true Siamese Algae Eaters are one and Florida Flag Fish is the other I can think of immediately. (There are others, but someone else is going to have to post them, since I can't think of them right now.) The absolute last rest, in my opinion, would be chemicals. But, I personally really hate the idea of adding chemicals to a tank.

Personally, I get a little bit of hair algae once in a while, and I just pull it out every week with my water changes. It really ins't a big deal.

 

[LRPRESTO]

where does "hair algae come from? I am in the process of using AmQuel plus (it says it removes nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, chlorine & chloramines) and Cycle in the tank as sugested by the fish people at my LFS.

 

[celaeno]

I got it from Petco. It was in a box and had to be put together.

i've read bad reviews about it. do the branches really break loose by themselves and float to the top?

do you have to bury the tree underneath the gravel to prevent it from floating?

 

[Bignose]

where does "hair algae come from? I am in the process of using AmQuel plus (it says it removes nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, chlorine & chloramines) and Cycle in the tank as sugested by the fish people at my LFS.

The spores for algae can be carried in the air, and there is probably some in your water. Unless you keep a sterile clean room, like the once Intel uses to make microprocessors, algae and all life is going to find a way to use water.

AmQuel plus doesn't remove nitrate and ammonia, it temporarily changes it. It comverts into a form that is not as dangerous for the fish, but is still usable by bacteria and algae. So, it is not a permanent solution.

Answer these questions for me:

What is the nitrate reading in the tank? Of your tap water? Is the tank cycled? (Just to make sure you know what cycled means, does your tests for ammonia and nitrite read zero every time?)
How frequently and how often are you doing water changes?
What are all the inhabitants of your tank? What is your feeding schedule like? Is all the food consumed in 1 minute, 3 minutes at most?
How long are the lights on for? How many watts are the lights? Does the tank get prolonged exposure to direct sunlight?

 

[LRPRESTO]

I got it from Petco. It was in a box and had to be put together.

i've read bad reviews about it. do the branches really break loose by themselves and float to the top?

do you have to bury the tree underneath the gravel to prevent it from floating?

I have learned if you take it apart for cleaning you had better have the directions with you still because it is very hard to get everything back where it was. I have had the branches come off and float to the top of the tank too. It also needs to be anchored or the whole thing will float. So it's not the best thing I have ever used. Right now it is just taking up space until I find what I am looking for (I don't know what that is yet but I will know when I see it !)

 

[LRPRESTO]

Answer these questions for me:

What is the nitrate reading in the tank? Of your tap water? Is the tank cycled? (Just to make sure you know what cycled means, does your tests for ammonia and nitrite read zero every time?)
How frequently and how often are you doing water changes?
What are all the inhabitants of your tank? What is your feeding schedule like? Is all the food consumed in 1 minute, 3 minutes at most?
How long are the lights on for? How many watts are the lights? Does the tank get prolonged exposure to direct sunlight?

I brought a sample to the fish store (I don't have the test kit) Fish guy said the nitrate was very high, ammonia was high too but he said the AmQuel would take care of it. I just started the tank two weeks ago and only have my two ghost fish in it. I feed them once in the morning and once in the afternoon. I only give them what they will eat in a minute or two. I usually turn the lights on in the morning (around 9am) and turn them off before I go to bed (usually 10pm) The light is a fluorescent tube light. The tank gets very little sunlight. I am trying to cycle this tank before I stock it with fish. (I'm still not sure what kind of fish to get- something fun and colorful) Thank you!

 

[Amunet]

Just stop using that Cycle stuff... it doesn't work.
Make sure to go out and get yourself a test kit right away. Not the strips, but liquid testers.
And since you have fish in your tank, be sure to do water changes every day or every other day depending on how much ammonia is building up.... which comes back to you getting a test kit hehe.
I have some hair algae in my tank as well.. I've just been shutting the light off earlier and I just vacuum/pull it out by hand.

 

[strange_screams]

those chemicals, only exasterbate the problem, they make the symptoms temporarily go away and sometimes even make your biologicals crash because it take away there food. if the problem isnt that serious then do 10 to 20 percent water changes every day or other day, its its gotten bad then do up to a 50 percent water change ever couple of days, algea will slowly go away, but if all the algea dies all you'll do is cause another algea bloom after the dead algea starts to rot

 

[newtotropical]

Hi,
Your lights are on for to long. 8-10 hrs a day max, try running them for 4 hrs then a hour break then back on for 4 hrs. You can buy a simple plugin timer which in the UK are approx £10.00. This will help.