Hair Algae? Please Help

[deftuch]

Ok so not that long ago i chucked all my plantsand had to clean the rocks and start over due to an uncontrolable hair like algae problem. A few months on and now its back! Growing on one of my big healthy plants. It is making the leaves brown and is spreading fast. This algae is really thin and brown in colour. How do i get rid of it? Also what is it called? Here is some pictures to help you and me

http/db.tt/7f4o4utc


http/db.tt/Hb3zjz2p


http/db.tt/n8RmeBGC

 

[Plecc]

It looks a bit like BBA (black beard algae)
But the stuff I had grew in clumps not as a fine coating.

Is it growing best in the high flow areas of the tank?

 

[deftuch]

It looks a bit like BBA (black beard algae)
But the stuff I had grew in clumps not as a fine coating.

Is it growing best in the high flow areas of the tank?

No not at all. Its random. Last time it started on rocks and heater then spread to plants, this time its only on that one plant! Its a gorgous plant too! Only been in there a month and has grown 11 inches bigger. Its currently a cm away from surface level at highest point

 

[brian1]

HI, Algae cant live without light,so are you leaving the lights on too long, is the tank in a sunny place, how often do you do a water change.....

 

[coolie]

How often do you do water changes?

 

[deftuch]

Water changes twice weekly 30 litres a time 180 litre tank. I suspect its due to sunlight so ive cardboarded the sides of the tank up just to make sure. I use seachem plant fert. I wonder if its too high in phosphates and iron? How can i kill this algae and keep the plant alive?

 

[deftuch]

HI, Algae cant live without light,so are you leaving the lights on too long, is the tank in a sunny place, how often do you do a water change.....

This is the plant in question. You can see why i want to keep it

http/db.tt/mH9tjzSQ

 

[coolie]

How can i kill this algae and keep the plant alive?

You can take the plant out of the tank and treat it with algacide (I don't like pouring them into the tank) alternatively, there is an easy carb type product (can't remember which one)
and this aparently kills the algae as a side effect (stops them uptaking carbon dioxide)

I occasionally get a little bit of hair algae myself, and it really looks exactly like long hairs, I don't think that's what yours is. I like snails to help curtail algae.

 

[brian1]

leave your lights off for a week, your fish will not mind, see how it goes.......fab plant, have you got a name?

 

[deftuch]

No name for the plant unfortunately. Ive read about seachem phosguard which removes phosphates from tank water but it says its not reccomended for use on phosphate buffered freshwater?

 

[deftuch]

leave your lights off for a week, your fish will not mind, see how it goes.......fab plant, have you got a name?

No name sorry. Also research has lead me to believe flourish xcel will kill it! Also some genuine siamese algae eaters will help.

 

[brian1]

just thought you might be interested in this link http/www.aquaticcommunity.com/algae-control/hair.php

 

[daz4321]

High nitrate and high phosphate does not cause alage in itself.
BBA is caused by low or fluctuating CO2 levels.


Description

Often grows on leaf edges of slow growing plants, bog wood and mechanical equipment. Also sometimes it grows in fast flowing areas of the tank. Grows in clumps or patches of fine black tufts up to about 0.5cm long.



Cause

In a high light tank it is an indication of low or fluctuating CO2 levels or not enough water circulation around the plants. In a low light tank it is often due to changing CO2 levels.



Removal

In a high light tank you will need to increase your levels of CO2 and/or improve water circulation around the plants. Scrub and cut off as much as you can first. Increase levels slowly to 30ppm or more but watch the fish to see if they are respiring heavily. Make sure you have good water flow around the whole tank along with some good surface movement. Adding a powerhead may help.
If you have a low light tank without CO2 injection then not doing any water changes will help. This is because tap water often has lots of CO2 dissolved in it which causes CO2 levels in your tank to fluctuate. The algae respond to this a lot quicker than the plants do.
Siamese Algae Eaters are known to eat BBA so can be used to control this algae.
Overdosing Flourish Excel will clear it up.

 

[coolie]

There's some good tips there Daz, although I can't think why it suggests no water changes as this will surely,
put your long term water quality at risk. I think it would be better worded that you might see a spike in algae growth after a water change but as long as you keep the co2 up, the plants will start to depleat the nutrients the algae also depend on.

 

[daz4321]

and how could you suggest keeping the co2 level up in a low tech tank? The best compromise if suffering from BBA that water changes may be causing due to the co2 in the change water is to leave it to stand 24hrs before use and to change water after lights off this will allow co2 to degas and return to 'normal' levels before it effects the algae or plants i.e. when the lights are on.
It was late when I added my last post above so thats my excuse