What kind of algea am I?

[Jen]

This is what is slowly taking over my tank. Any ideas as to what it is, and how I can get rid of it?

Thanks!

 

[The-Wolf]

hair or possibly beard algae

 

[Ami]

Staghorn algae!

Mr Miagi just gave me this link to help ID another algae that I seem to have:

Plant Geek

 

[Bloo]

I don't think it's staghorn. I think it's a type of hair algae

 

[Jen]

Do you think it would be worth it to just pull the whole plant out in order to get the leaves off? I can just reach the bottom of the tank, and I can't see where my hands are to get just the affected leaves. I don't want to destroy the roots, but I want to keep this controlled.

 

[shuhu]

I suggest you wait until someone here gives you some advice

 

[Mr Miagi]

Id remove the infected leaves.

You could try and scrape them clean, but that would just increase the chance of spreading it further. So id take out the infected leaves and let the plant re-grow!

I dont know of any algae eater that tackles taht stuff. Anyone?

 

[George Farmer]

Oh dear.

Try the practical actions as listed in my algae article. Note that in your type of set-up i.e. high light and CO2 then the info regarding NO3 and PO4 levels are not as relevant. I actually suspect it has been caused by a lack of nutrients, macro or micro. Are your nitrates still very low?

I've heard that livebearers i.e. Mollies, Platies will eat hair algae if hungry enough. SAEs may work too.

 

[Bloo]

I have been struggling for weeks with that blasted hair algae now
I've been pruning away diligently but the next morning it's back in it's full glory again.
I'm now sick and tired of my stubbly hairy Vallis and have bought a whole new set (that's all I have in this tank) and am about to give the tank a good clean - pluck out all the old Vallis and replace with new.
I'm also going to try my own CO2 mix to up the rate and see if that works.

 

[Jen]

Ok. here's what I'm doing.

lights - 4 hours on, 4 off, 4 on.
feeding every third day
30% weekly water change
Ferts - seachem flourish and flourish excel weekly after the w/c

My nitrates are 0. I'll buy a phosphate test today, and a bunch of fast growing plant since I'm going to pull my val out.

 

[Jen]

Would buying a few more fish help with the added waste/nitrates?

 

[jimbooo]

oh dear, i cant id it but i do have the damn stuff in my 12G. i think my fresh water tube is due replacing as it looks more blue than it should be. if it's not that then i have the same problem as you.

tip for getting the right leaves out: grab the tip of the effected leaf, pinch it either side with finger and thumb, hold the top of the leaf with the other hand and run your hand down the stem till you reach the base, pinch tightly and pull with finger and thumb whilst pushing on the "crown" with your middle finger to save uprooting the whole plant. (i'm an expert now due to 7 swords in a 12G, not my brightest idea to date)

 

[Jen]

Just tested the water for PO4, and it looks to be just under 0.5mg/l

 

[George Farmer]

Would buying a few more fish help with the added waste/nitrates?

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Bad idea I'm afraid. The ammonia/ammonium that is produced prior to converting to nitrate is also a major algae trigger. Dosing KNO3 is much safer and has the positive side effect of dosing potassium too.

You PO4 level is fine. Try to get you NO3 to at least 10ppm.

It is worth remembering that too little nutrients can cause algae as well as too many nutrients. The key is finding the balance. With a health plant density (plant bio-mass), good lighting and CO2 then you should aim for these levels -

CO2 - 30ppm
NO3 - 10 to 30ppm
PO4 - 0.5 to 2ppm
Fe - 1ppm?

You may have noticed a lot of talk on EI (Tom Barr's Estamative Index). This method of fertilisation would be ideal for yourself. Read through the EI journal for more info http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=101550. There will also be an article pinned soon on EI (courtesy of zig).

 

[Jen]

tip for getting the right leaves out: grab the tip of the effected leaf, pinch it either side with finger and thumb, hold the top of the leaf with the other hand and run your hand down the stem till you reach the base, pinch tightly and pull with finger and thumb whilst pushing on the "crown" with your middle finger to save uprooting the whole plant. (i'm an expert now due to 7 swords in a 12G, not my brightest idea to date)

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Thanks for the advice Jimbooo, but unfortunately I can't have both my hands in the tank at the same time without recreating the scene from Deuce Bigalo where the girl in the fish store gets the snails for Deuce... only there would be a lot more wet on me than her. lol. I just have to feel it out and try to look through the top of the tank to see the right leaves. It's not easy, but hopefully I won't have to do it for long.