What Algae is this ?

[Bloo]

Over the past couple of weeks, this stuff has started growing on my lovely Vallis
I thought it was hair (thread) algae, but now I'm not sure.
How do I get rid of this little pest ?

KH 11
PH 7.4

It's a 20 US Gallon with 1 "Arcadia Freshwater" and 1 "Arcadia Original Tropical" (15W each = 30 W total).

1 Hagen CO2 System

Sand substrate with Liquid Ferts and a couple (only 2) of those black sticks that came with the original Hagen CO2 System.

 

[superjalami30]

beard algae i thinks.
I bought a few siamese flying fox's and they took care of it.
My problem stemmed from a nutrient problem so I got that under control as well.

Wooo weeee, theres one helluva thunder storm happenin' here in good 'ol thunder bay!!!

 

[Bloo]

Thanks - beard algae was perhaps my second thouht.
I'd rather not buy Flying Foxes as they get rather big. I could possibly put in some otto's if that would help ? But ideally I'd like to solve the problem instead.

 

[superjalami30]

I'm still confued actually about what type that is.
Some say black beard, brush, or hair algae.
heres a link with pics of algae types, the one you have, and that I had looks most like the "fuzz algae" on this site.

http/www.aquaticscape.com/articles/algae.htm#hair

Either way I presume your using ferts in your tank then?

If so you may have a nutrient problem, either too little of one or two much of one or many.
Do you have any test kits to measure your ferts?
If so, you can start there.

I've read so many theories and ways to get rid of beard algae I went permanently crossed eyed

I found this article to be the best IMO:

http/www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_algae.php

I'm not sure about where you live, but here the LFS allows people to return fish when they get too big and exchange them for smaller ones again.
I do this with my plecs and siamese flying fox's.
As for otto's, I've heard they may eat beard algae, I have 3 of em but havent seen them eat it yet.

 

[iggy01]

Bloozoo, do you know your nitrate / phosphate readings? Also, are you able to keep your CO2 at a stable level?

You might be better pinching that bit of vallis off and pruning any other plants that have algae on them.

Good luck!

 

[zig]

Try and up your co2 levels, you currently have about 13ppm, 25-30ppm is good.

 

[Bloo]

I'm really not sure how I can up it ? Keep in mind the Hagen CO2 system brought my PH down from around 8.4 to 7.4 in a matter of days (and killed my one very expensive plec - I think the drop was far too quick).
So how could I possibly up it even more apart from adding another CO2 unit ?

 

[Bloo]

Bloozoo, do you know your nitrate / phosphate readings? Also, are you able to keep your CO2 at a stable level?

You might be better pinching that bit of vallis off and pruning any other plants that have algae on them.

Good luck!

Nitrates are usually around 40. I don't have a phosphate reading - but if it's worth it, I'll buy a test kit.
My CO2 level stays dead level - apart from when the sugar mix solution gets to the end of it's "life" and the output is less.
I've tried pruning all the bits with this algae on them, but perhaps I should trim a litte more aggressively ? It's odd because not all the leaves have it on them and it only appears on the top sections.

 

[Sime]

So how could I possibly up it even more apart from adding another CO2 unit ?

are you using the sachets made for the unit? if so try making your own. more yeast will make more bubbles so you could try that.

about 1 level teaspoon of bi-carb, the normal sugar level and a heaped teaspoon of yeast will give you a higher reading. I use that and am up in the high 20's somewhere on last check.

edit: sorry just saw about your nitrates too - you could do with lowering them a bit more realy. try some realy fast growing plants in there if you can fit them, alternativly you could try a pouch of Nitra-Zorb or more water changes.

Simon.

 

[Bloo]

Oops sorry - the nitrates in that tank is actually somewhere between 5 and 10 - not 40. (40 is my other heavily stocked tank !)
This 20 Gallon is over filtrated and way understocked.

Yes I've been using the sachets - how long does your own DIY mixture last ?

 

[Sime]

the sachets are not much goo to be honest.

if you use more yeast, it makes more bubbles and a higher CO2 level, but for less time. so it's getting the balance right.

I'd say the mix above lasts about a week before it needs changing. I don't like to let it slow down too much as a constant level of output will make the algae less able to take hold.

 

[Bloo]

Thanks - when this mixture runs out, I will try making my own.

In the mean time, Jimboo or gf225, any idea on the type of algae it is ?

 

[houndour]

hi bloozoo, i have this on my vallis too...and on other plants. Also it does tend to be more prominant at the top of vallis...where there's more light.

I think its black brush algae.

it's a pain isn't it? I like Simes idea of it being when the CO2 levels go low. I'm guilty of not changing my co2 mixture often enough.

 

[Bloo]

As far as I understand, this pic below is BBA (Black Brush Algae) - not at all alike what I have. This BBA seems as though it appears in soft clumps and is velvet like.
Mine is fine long strands with very clear branches.
I'd just like to get to the bottom of what this exactly is I'm dealing with.....

 

[houndour]

fair enuf. my black brush algae doesnt look exactly like that then. I must have 2 types of black algae.

Is your hair like algae black? It looks it from the picture. Just checking.