Black beard algae?

[bianca_m35]

so I was on a Facebook group and I posted a picture of my ammania gracilis. Two people started ripping on me saying they had BBA. I looked it up but they don't have any tufts of hair. I wasnt able to be by my fish tank so I had no way of doing the routine water changes I came back and they looked like this and were losing leaves but they grew really tall. So I cut off a bunch of baby offspring and now they're growing well. My water is 0 ammonia 0 nitrite 15 nitrate and ph is 7. The leaves are just spotted like they were dead from the water not being changed but I cant tell if its algae or not. So someone please help me and tell me if it is and how to get rid of it

 

[HoldenOn]

@AdoraBelle Dearheart

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

@AdoraBelle Dearheart

I'm not very knowledgeable about algae or nutrient deficiencies I'm afraid, plants aren't looking very healthy though I'm afraid, do you use any fertilisers at all?

@Wills , @mbsqw1d @Ch4rlie are much more experienced with this kind of thing

 

[bianca_m35]

I'm not very knowledgeable about algae or nutrient deficiencies I'm afraid, plants aren't looking very healthy though I'm afraid, do you use any fertilisers at all?

@Wills , @mbsqw1d @Ch4rlie are much more experienced with this kind of thing

Yes I do use a fertilizer

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Check this out: https://fishlab.com/black-beard-algae/#how-remove-black-beard-algae

 

[Ch4rlie]

Ok, first thing that I noticed, ammania gracilis is actually a fairly demanding plant.

Meaning it needs high lights, fertilisers and Co2 to flourish.

So am going to ask some basic questions, sorry if they are obvious for you but we will need to ask these to have a clearer picture of what’s happening in your tank.

How long do you leave your tank lights on for daily?

How much water changes do you do weekly?

What type of light do you use for your tank?
(Standard light unit that came with the tank or did you get specialised lights)
Do you add Co2 to the tank?

In addition to the Seachem Root Tabs, do you add any other fertilisers?

I ask the question on water changes routine, as water quality in some cases, is as important to plants as it is to livestock.

If you have the standard tank lights, no Co2 and only dosing Seachem Root tabs, which as it happens is a good root tab to have, but it’s not enough for those particular plants am afraid.

The images you showed tells me it’s not black beard algae but symptoms, am guessing here, of either too much phosphorus or too much nitrogen which is basically an imbalance of too much nutrients and not enough light or too much low level lights.

Fairly complicated for the new fish keeper or for those new to aquatic plants.

Depending on your answers to my earlier questions will impact on what we can suggest to help your plants.

 

[bianca_m35]

Ok, first thing that I noticed, ammania gracilis is actually a fairly demanding plant.

Meaning it needs high lights, fertilisers and Co2 to flourish.

So am going to ask some basic questions, sorry if they are obvious for you but we will need to ask these to have a clearer picture of what’s happening in your tank.

How long do you leave your tank lights on for daily?

How much water changes do you do weekly?

What type of light do you use for your tank?
(Standard light unit that came with the tank or did you get specialised lights)
Do you add Co2 to the tank?

In addition to the Seachem Root Tabs, do you add any other fertilisers?

I ask the question on water changes routine, as water quality in some cases, is as important to plants as it is to livestock.

If you have the standard tank lights, no Co2 and only dosing Seachem Root tabs, which as it happens is a good root tab to have, but it’s not enough for those particular plants am afraid.

The images you showed tells me it’s not black beard algae but symptoms, am guessing here, of either too much phosphorus or too much nitrogen which is basically an imbalance of too much nutrients and not enough light or too much low level lights.

Fairly complicated for the new fish keeper or for those new to aquatic plants.

Depending on your answers to my earlier questions will impact on what we can suggest to help your plants.

I do 25% water changes weekly and 50% every month. I do have standard lights for 10 hours a day and they also have light from outside which I've learned extra outside light is bad. I dont add Co2 and just add the tabs.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Right, ok now we have an idea of what’s happening with your tank and plants then.

Simply put, the plants needs more than what you’re giving it at the moment.

If you’re new to the fishkeeping hobby or new to live plants in aquaria then I would not suggest setting up a high tech with Co2 system set up etc,

Perhaps I think best option would be to get some new easy to care for type of plants and discard those in the tank as they’re pretty well gone if nothing extra can be done for them, sorry

You’re certainly not alone in having had this happen, it has happened to me before as well and just have to learn from it and chalk it up to experience.

It looks like there is no livestock in your tank from what I can see form your pictures, is it currently going through a fishless cycle?

Cycling Your New Fresh Water Tank: Read This First!

Cycling Your First Fresh Water Tank What is Cycling and Why is it Important? Fish waste, and especially fish breathing, plus uneaten food and other organic matter breaking down in a tank all produce Ammonia. This can quickly become toxic to fish if it is allowed to build up to any measurable...

www.fishforums.net

And suggestions for easy or low demanding plants will be along the lines of vallisernia, cyrptocorynes, java ferns, anubias, sessiliflora and there are lots more varieties of course, a case of seeing what you like and doing a little research or post a list of plants you like and we could possibly advise on those.

Also I would advise lowering your daily lighting times to around 8 hours, this tends to be the sort of time where it would not impact on plants too much and not to encourage algae growths, of course this depends on a few variables but generally that’s what tend to work.

Some direct sunlight can be bad for aquarium as it can increase the chances of algae but not always, generally is not advised to have a tank in direct sunlight but it depends really.

One other thing, increasing your weekly water changes from 25% to at least 50% once a week, probably better at around 70% really, water quality is very important and doing late get water changes replenishes minerals and of course clean water for everything the tank livestock and plants requires, of course dechlorinator / tap safe to make it safe for the livestock.

Sorry if these are not what you wanted to hear, no quick fix solutions for your current plants am afraid, and quite a bit of advice, it’s bit of a learning curve really.

 

[bianca_m35]

I do 25% water changes weekly and 50% every month. I do have standard lights for 10 hours a day and they also have light from outside which I've learned extra outside light is bad. I dont add Co2 and just add the tabs.

Right, ok now we have an idea of what’s happening with your tank and plants then.

Simply put, the plants needs more than what you’re giving it at the moment.

If you’re new to the fishkeeping hobby or new to live plants in aquaria then I would not suggest setting up a high tech with Co2 system set up etc,

Perhaps I think best option would be to get some new easy to care for type of plants and discard those in the tank as they’re pretty well gone if nothing extra can be done for them, sorry

You’re certainly not alone in having had this happen, it has happened to me before as well and just have to learn from it and chalk it up to experience.

It looks like there is no livestock in your tank from what I can see form your pictures, is it currently going through a fishless cycle?

Cycling Your New Fresh Water Tank: Read This First!

Cycling Your First Fresh Water Tank What is Cycling and Why is it Important? Fish waste, and especially fish breathing, plus uneaten food and other organic matter breaking down in a tank all produce Ammonia. This can quickly become toxic to fish if it is allowed to build up to any measurable...

www.fishforums.net

And suggestions for easy or low demanding plants will be along the lines of vallisernia, cyrptocorynes, java ferns, anubias, sessiliflora and there are lots more varieties of course, a case of seeing what you like and doing a little research or post a list of plants you like and we could possibly advise on those.

Also I would advise lowering your daily lighting times to around 8 hours, this tends to be the sort of time where it would not impact on plants too much and not to encourage algae growths, of course this depends on a few variables but generally that’s what tend to work.

Some direct sunlight can be bad for aquarium as it can increase the chances of algae but not always, generally is not advised to have a tank in direct sunlight but it depends really.

One other thing, increasing your weekly water changes from 25% to at least 50% once a week, probably better at around 70% really, water quality is very important and doing late get water changes replenishes minerals and of course clean water for everything the tank livestock and plants requires, of course dechlorinator / tap safe to make it safe for the livestock.

Sorry if these are not what you wanted to hear, no quick fix solutions for your current plants am afraid, and quite a bit of advice, it’s bit of a learning curve really.

No I really appreciate the advice. There are some babies in great shape that I may sell. I do have a community tank. With black snails. I'll get rid of them thank you!