What kind of algae is this?

[gkubatska]

Hopefully I attached the image correctly. If I did, can someone identify this algae and what is best way to get rid of it? It is growing on a lot of the leaves of my crypt and the back wall of my tank.

28480

Thanks,
Gerry

[Quartermain]

Looks like your common garden-variety green thread algae to me. There are already dozens of posts on algae including a sticky above on algae busting tips.

[Squawkbert]

If it comes off leaves etc. pretty easily when you pull it, but its bases stick to glass & rocks it's a cladophora type - You can try 2-3x overdoses of your tank w/ Excell, best added to the water using a syringe or turkey baster right where the biggest growths are.

If it seldom grows on hard stuff but clings very tenaceously to plant leaves, it's BBA. BBA can be killed on plants by soaking affected areas in ~5% bleach solution w/ gentle rubbing for 20-30 seconds. Sequentially rinse plants in a couple of buckest of treated tap water before returning them to the aquarium. Long term solution: stabilize your CO2 concentration, if you use CO2. I think local additions of excess Excel or small doses of hydrogen peroxide solution will also put a serious dent in it. There are fish & inverts that will help by eating it too.