Algea problem

[Bryan]

I've got this weird kind of algae growing in my tank. At first I was able to control it but now it's everywhere and smothering my plants. Here's a picture:

How do I get rid of this stuff?
I hope this is the proper forum for this question...

 

[iggy01]

looks like some form of hair algae. Try pulling as much out as you can!

It is sometimes said to be caused by high phosphates or nitrates.

Good luck.

 

[Nospherith]

What size tank, how many watts, are you dosing ferts? Are there any algae eaters in there?

I've had a problem with that stuff before, hair algea I guess. I just pulled off most of it and it never grew back. But then again it could be beard algae.

 

[Bryan]

What size tank, how many watts, are you dosing ferts? Are there any algae eaters in there?

I've had a problem with that stuff before, hair algea I guess. I just pulled off most of it and it never grew back. But then again it could be beard algae.

55 gallon tank, 120 watts, no ferts, 2 plecs (ones about 2" the other is about 4"). My

I had only one patch, the one you see in the picture above. I picked it out and everything was O K for a few weeks, then it cam back hard. My problem is that this time it's growing between my plant, weaving in and out. I have no way to pick it, I either need to kill it or take everything out and start over, and I really don't want to do that.

 

[Discomafia]

Algae problems are usually a result of nutrient imbalances or something wrong w/ the water. I think taking the tank down would only be the last resort...

 

[morgan]

I used to have masses of hair algae, I realised I was massively over-feeding the fish. Now I have cut down it has gone a bit but there is still some there. Some fish like to eat it.

 

[dawie22]

i have what i think is the Red algeaprob (hair like strands) in my tank... again i think its becos i was over feeding, i have cutback but havent notised a diffrence in the 3 or so weeks that i have done this.... fish seem happy though but filter not liking much.. getting to the stage of needing a cleen almost every 2 weeks (dont now if this is normal)

darv

 

[Bryan]

I know I'm not over feeding, I feed them enough so they eat it all in about 3 minutes and they don't get fed on saterday and sunday. The problem is much worse now, dont' know what to do. I'm going to take some pics today if I remember to take the camera when I go to feed them. If the tanks were here at home I know I wouldn't have this problem.
I also found some duck weed in the tank yesterday, have no idea where that came from...

 

[abstract]

i am battling the same problem in my 20 gallon planted....just keeps spreading and spreading no matter how much i clean it, tear it off, underfeed the fish, etc....

 

[Nisha]

I may have missed it, but how long do you leave your lights on?

One thing that has kept the algae at bay for me is to use a siesta or break in the light time. I have it on 5 hours, off 2-3 hours and on 5 hours. It might be that your lights are on too long and at this point I would recommend you take your lighting down to 8 hours total with a break in the middle.

You should also test your nitrate and phosphate levels. If they are too high or to low they often support algae growth.

I would still recommend that you pull out as much as you can by hand. If nothing else works you might have to start from scratch but that is only a last resort.

Good luck and hope this helps.

~Nisha

 

[George Farmer]

Try this

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=60010