Is this Black Beard? Or something else?

[Sparx]

Hi guys. Just noticed this on my plants.. could it be the beginnings of black beard algae? Or is it something else? What can I do to prevent it from getting any worse?

See attached pics..

 

[Colin_T]

It could be the start of black beard algae or more likely filamentous algae.
Having lots of plants to use the light can help reduce algae problems, or reduce the light a little bit. A small suckermouth catfish or mystery snail might help too but if the filaments get too big they won't touch it.

 

[JackGulley]

Looks like normal hair algae to me.

 

[Sparx]

It could be the start of black beard algae or more likely filamentous algae.
Having lots of plants to use the light can help reduce algae problems, or reduce the light a little bit. A small suckermouth catfish or mystery snail might help too but if the filaments get too big they won't touch it.

I have a bristlenose pleco and a couple of Synodontis catfish, perhaps I’ll wait and see if they clean anything up.
I saw the mollies having a little go at one of the leaves this evening and I know they’re algae eaters too.
I’ve just checked the ammonia and there is no spike but the plants are looking a bit battered so I wonder if they’re a bit stressed.
Maybe I’ll keep the lights off over the next couple of days and see if that helps, unfortunately I don’t have a dimmer switch.

 

[Colin_T]

I wouldn't turn the light off. Maybe reduce the lighting period by an hour each day and see how they look over the next 2 weeks.

If you post a picture showing the entire tank and the battered plants, we might be able to identify problems with them.

 

[Sparx]

I wouldn't turn the light off. Maybe reduce the lighting period by an hour each day and see how they look over the next 2 weeks.

If you post a picture showing the entire tank and the battered plants, we might be able to identify problems with them.

Ok I’ll try that. I made a short video to try and show you what I’m seeing.. hopefully this works I’m not really a YouTube uploading kind of person

 

[Colin_T]

The sword plant leaves are dying because the plant was grown out of water (which is normal for that type of plant) and is now underwater. The plant will draw the nutrients out of the emersed leaves and use them to grow new submersed leaves. Just leave them until they are brown and the stem starts to break down, then use a pr of scissors to cut the dead leaf off and remove it from the tank.

The plant with leaves that looked a bit tattered on the ends looks like someone is eating it.

The last plant is a Java Fern and the little thing on the end of the leaf looks like a baby plant. Just leave it on the parent until it is at least 3 inches long or it comes off the leaf by itself, then attach it to some driftwood or a rock.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

BBA can grow on about anything in one's tanks. Have a look here at examples:
https://images.app.goo.gl/46Hv55UGA8FC8GPS9

 

[Sparx]

The sword plant leaves are dying because the plant was grown out of water (which is normal for that type of plant) and is now underwater. The plant will draw the nutrients out of the emersed leaves and use them to grow new submersed leaves. Just leave them until they are brown and the stem starts to break down, then use a pr of scissors to cut the dead leaf off and remove it from the tank.

The plant with leaves that looked a bit tattered on the ends looks like someone is eating it.

The last plant is a Java Fern and the little thing on the end of the leaf looks like a baby plant. Just leave it on the parent until it is at least 3 inches long or it comes off the leaf by itself, then attach it to some driftwood or a rock.

That’s actually really helpful, thanks Colin. I guess I haven’t really got anything to be concerned about then!

I showed the pics to a guy at out LFS today, he said it looks like hair algae. He recommended Siamese algae eaters to help with it but I don’t want my tank getting too overstocked.

Hubby and I have been talking about getting a 10 gallon. Maybe once we get that set up I could move the cherry barbs into there and then possibly consider getting the Siamese algae eaters for this one.

But saying that I’ve checked on the tank just now and it does look as though some of the hairs have been eaten anyway! I’ll give it a couple of weeks with reduced light time and see how we get on

 

[JackGulley]

The pictures you’ve sent show barely any algae at all. Definitely not worth getting a new fish to solve. If it’s bothering you that much, I would just pull it off by hand.

Never get a fish to do an aquarists’ job. So called “algae eating” fish are wonderful fish to keep, but will not keep your tank clean for you. In fact, they actually need a tank with plenty of algae or they will starve.

To be clear, I’m not trying to imply any failing on your part. Your tank is already cleaner than most! For reference, my “hair algae issues” entail green hair across the entire substrate if I neglect to gravel vac and manually pull it out. I wouldn’t call what you have “issues” at all. You have “minute evidence that hair algae exists in your tank.”

 

[Sparx]

Never get a fish to do an aquarists’ job. So called “algae eating” fish are wonderful fish to keep, but will not keep your tank clean for you. In fact, they actually need a tank with plenty of algae or they will starve.

To be clear, I’m not trying to imply any failing on your part. Your tank is already cleaner than most! For reference, my “hair algae issues” entail green hair across the entire substrate if I neglect to gravel vac and manually pull it out. I wouldn’t call what you have “issues” at all. You have “minute evidence that hair algae exists in your tank.”

No, that’s actually really helpful too. I wouldn’t want to get a new fish just for this and then it ends up starving.

I guess I can be a bit of a perfectionist/ borderline hypochondriac and if I spot something new or untoward I need to know what it is and what I need to do to sort it …

 

[Essjay]

Hubby and I have been talking about getting a 10 gallon. Maybe once we get that set up I could move the cherry barbs into there and then possibly consider getting the Siamese algae eaters for this one.

Siamese algae eaters should be kept in groups in a tank way bigger than 10 gallons, I'm afraid. Recommended minimum tank footprint is 150 x 45 cm.

That said, there are a few species sold as Siamese algae eaters some of which should be kept alone. But they all need bigger tanks.

 

[Sparx]

Sorry for the confusion @Essjay, I was saying I was thinking about moving the cherry barbs out of the 30 gallon and into a to a 10 gallon, and the Siamese algae eaters would go in the 30 gallon.

But I’ve decided against that idea anyway.