I Am New....

[ryan75]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this site....


A bit about me...I am coming up to finishing my Environmental science degree and have been keeping fish in a pond since i was very young. In the the last few years i have been keeping tropical fish in a tank and currently have three tanks up and running.

1, Asian/Australian biotope 96l juwel

2, South American biotope 180l juwel

3, Rearing/injured fish tank 20l


I was wondering what the best product or species to use to control hair algae?

 

[grasshopper_green]

awesome article here: http/www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_freshwater_algae.php

 

[buckiejim]

hair algae is a stubborn beast which i find best removed by my own hands. A good pan scrubber pad or algae remover will help along with time and effort. Put everything back afterwards and change the lighting conditions a little to see if that helps. Maybe even add a siamese flying fox which may help.

 

[ryan75]

Thank you guys,

just taken a look at the link, tried a siamese algae eater before he/she for controlled the algae awhile then started just eating flake or worm.

I might try keeping the tank lights off for 4 days.

 

[fish.com1]

Thank you guys,

just taken a look at the link, tried a siamese algae eater before he/she for controlled the algae awhile then started just eating flake or worm.

I might try keeping the tank lights off for 4 days.

do you have any live plants? If so don't turn the light off for four days!

 

[ryan75]

Thank you guys,

just taken a look at the link, tried a siamese algae eater before he/she for controlled the algae awhile then started just eating flake or worm.

I might try keeping the tank lights off for 4 days.

do you have any live plants? If so don't turn the light off for four days!

Two of the tanks effected are planted, there doesnt seem to be much scientific study int o what causes the development of hair algae.....looks like a final year project!.

 

[aaronnorth]

It is ok to do a blackout with plants, they can reserve sugars which they use for growth, it will knock them back a bit, but it wont be a detrimental effect.

Hair algae is caused by low and/ or fluctuating CO2. You can kill it by dosing easycarbo or excel which is an inorganic form of Carbon. Available at Aqua essentials.

1) remove as much as possible
2) dose 3x over the reccomendation until algae is killed

slowly up this dose (1x per day until the 3rd in which you will be at the 3x) It is possible to dose the normal level but obviously this takes longer.
Also dosing can affect some plants which causes them to melt, if you list your species i can hep with that.

This is an alternative way to the black out. It will come back unless you sort the problem

 

[ryan75]

Thank you for the info,


I will put the plants into another tank for 4 days while i turn the lights off. the plants are Amazon sword and Vallis which are quite hardy flora. i have picked off most of the hair algae now looks a lot better!.

keep you informed with the results.

Ryan