Brownish black "fur" growing on plants!

[Feline]

2 weeks ago, one of my plants (Microsorum pteropus) has developed some kind of brownish black "fur" on the underside of the leaves, esp on the tips. Now the "fur" is growing bigger, n started to have roots!

However, the other two plants I have seem fine! (one just ordinary grass, another canadian pondweed)

Any ideas what the "fur" is?

 

[Jamnog]

sounds like it could be an attack of alge to me it does seem to appear in specific places.

 

[Feline]

So is there a way to clean off the algae? I have an algae eater but it wont touch the leaves....
Prob bcoz I give algae wafers to it too!

 

[Dragonslair]

What you have is known as "brush" algae. It is highly invasive and algaecides will not touch it. Boiling, disinfecting and scrubbing the decor and rocks merely spreads this type of algae. It attacks the edges of plants and clings onto any rough surface. There is no known solution. The only way to keep it under control is to destroy the leaves the infection is on, catch any floating debris and if it's on your rocks etc. The best way to control it is to get a sharp razor blade, preferably not the modern safety type or a sharp knife and scrape the algae off. If you get under it's skin as it were it will peel off in strips. This algae is caused by high phosphates, and too much lighting.
Sorry for the bad news-

 

[Feline]

Oops... unfinished message...... moderators please delete. Thanks!

 

[Feline]

OMG, sounds like an epidemic!

Dragon, if I get the phos-zorb like u said in ur another post, will the brush algae be controlled? The lighting now is on for 12 hours. Should I reduce it to 10 then?

I've tried to scrap that off in the past but it's too difficult! Perhaps I'll hav to dump the whole plant... well, I just need more time to care about my plants.

 

[Dubby]

If it is black spots and not hair it might be the spores. Take a look at this article from tropica.com

A real classic! Microsorum pteropus is a water fern which should be grown on a root or stone. If it is planted in the bottom, do not cover the rhizome because it will rot. Keep in position with a piece of fishing line until it has attached itself. Easy to propagate by splitting the horizontal rhizome or by using the small adventive plants that grow on older leaves. A hardy plant which grows in all conditions (even slightly brackish water). The black spots under the leaves are sporangia, not signs of disease as many believe. Recommended for both beginners and the more experienced. Herbivorous fish often leave it alone. Used to be called (mistakenly) ''Microsorium''.

 

[Dragonslair]

Phos-zorb should help control future outbreaks and it will absorb the phosphates already present in your tank. Yes also reduce the lighting to around 10 hours. Something else, if you are using tubes, are they pure white light or are they specialist tubes to show the colour of your fish. If your tubes run into the red spectrum, try and avoid this. This only encourages the formation of algae. As I said the only way to rid this stuff is to have a lot of patience and take it off a bit at a time. You need to appraise your fish husbandary too, in order for it to stay away. Good luck girl, you'll need it.

 

[Feline]

Thanks guys! I've taken out the plant and removed the algae from the leaves tonight. And I've also reduced the lighting. Hopefully I wont see it again!