Algae Problem - Advice Needed

Good Day,

Over the last 4 weeks I have forayed into the world of the planted tank with my 85l aquarium. It is medium light (about 2WG) and has a DIY CO2 system. Over the last 2 days I have developed a strange algae on the tips of my Java fern and Amazonian Sword, which looks like a black fluffy substance. I initially thought it could be BGA, but the description in the pinned topic describes it as slimy, whereas mine does not have that appearance.

Any ideas a) what it is, or b) how to get rid of it?

I'll try and upload some pictures when I get a chance.

Thanks,

Adel

Adelphie said:

Good Day,

Over the last 4 weeks I have forayed into the world of the planted tank with my 85l aquarium. It is medium light (about 2WG) and has a DIY CO2 system. Over the last 2 days I have developed a strange algae on the tips of my Java fern and Amazonian Sword, which looks like a black fluffy substance. I initially thought it could be BGA, but the description in the pinned topic describes it as slimy, whereas mine does not have that appearance.

Any ideas a) what it is, or b) how to get rid of it?

I'll try and upload some pictures when I get a chance.

Thanks,

Adel

Click to expand...

Sounds like a hair algae.To try and get rid off it try doing two 25% water changes per week which will help water quality and hopefully control the algae.Planting with fast growing plant like Ludwiga and using floating plants will help by using up the excess nutrients the algae is growing on.

It is either BBA or staghorn and IMO would be down to CO2 instability which is a problem with DIY setups.

BGA/Blue green algae (Cyanobacteria) typically starts on the substrate.

this is more than likely due to your medium light too. 2WPG is pretty good lighting IMO and I personally would never use anything over 1.5WPG of T8 without pressurised CO2 unless the tank was a Nano.

AC

Thanks for your quick help, it's much appreciated. After doing an image search I can see it is Black Beard Algae, so thanks for the advice. Unfortunately pressurised CO2 systems are out of the question for me (I'm on a student budget).

Do you have any suggestions for removing it? I have a bristlenose plec in there, but from reading around they don't tend to eat it.

Is it 2 bulbs that make the watts? If so do they have reflectors?

Can they be switched on or off independently or is it all or nothing.

If it is 1 bulb then I think you're a little stuck
AC

2 Bulbs, 1 with reflector with independent ballasts so they can be controlled. When I was running the tank under 1 bulb my plants struggled and I had quite a lot of green algae. Once I planted some faster growing plants in there and added the second light the green algae

I have read somewhere that Siamese Algae Eaters will eat this stuff so the tank is less unsightly until I can get to the route of the problem. Has anyone had any experience of this or is it a myth?

The water flow in my tank isn't amazing, so would adding another filter help?

Adelphie said:

I have read somewhere that Siamese Algae Eaters will eat this stuff so the tank is less unsightly until I can get to the route of the problem. Has anyone had any experience of this or is it a myth?

Click to expand...

Nope not a myth it is true at least for me it has worked in the past and 2 days ago i just bauht 2 of them for my planted take due to inproper bulb labling when I purchased them. I to have the same issue currently but realized mine is from lighting cause my tank was fine before I changed the bulbs. So put the old ones back in and everything seems to be doing better!

Note: Careful on buying Siamese Algue eaters, they do tend to be aggresive when they are old and its better to get them when they are younger opposed to older. I am not sure but think flyingfox is another name for them. I will post the pics later of mine so you can see the difference I have a Real one and the other Siamese is a false one!

Nother Side note: Red Tail sharks don't like them ><

Here is the original Photo I took of my 2. Maybe that will help you when choosing them from a lfs.