dang hair algae!

[fishcatch22]

hey, all. hair algae is attacking my javas! its not so bad on the ferns, because the pleco usually just eats it off. its the moss I worry about. it's all over some strands. how do I control it? I can't just scrape it off by hand, and the pleco can't eat it off without eating the moss itself, which she actually does in high volume. sooo.... would a blackout take care of it? are there any types of shrimp that eat it? normally I wouldn't care, but it seems to be killing off my moss. help me!

[TrashmanTodd]

After reading all the advise around here, I started usuing excel, and let me tell you, microsoft makes a great product! :D

No really, my plants are now growing like crazy and the BBA is dying back, not that fast because I'm scared to dose to much, but at least it stopped taking over my tank.

I hated seeing my java moss get all fuzy, now it's doing fine.

Trash

[fishluver93]

ive heard that GHOST shrimp will pick at the moss. :)

[fishcatch22]

ive heard that GHOST shrimp will pick at the moss. :)I already knew that.... I had 2, and they rarely picked at it... they eat it a little, but they are not good controllers.

[aardvark1]

Another vote for Excell!

Got rid of my algea, and , surprisingly enough, the plants are doing better!

:dive2:

[ewurm]

What Excel product are you talking about? Let me know the brand. Never heard of it. BTW, Flying Fox will supposedly eat hair algae, as well as Butterfly Goodeids.

[plah831]

What Excel product are you talking about?
It's Flourish Excel (by Seachem), an organic carbon supplement that can be used instead of CO2 :) It is a slightly toxic substance (primary ingredient: Polycycloglutaracetal) which has an algecide effect when overdosed or spot-treated.

I've had great luck with using Excel against little spots of black beard algae. I don't know how much it will help with hair-type algae. I remember hearing it doesn't do much against staghorn algae.

edit: The main ingredient is a form of glutaraldehyde. There is some concern on aquatic plant forums I've seen, where people ask Seachem if Excel is dangerous or carcinogenic. The company, of course, always denies its toxicity if properly used and not grossly overdosed.

[fresh_newby]

Excel will only do so much. Get an army of Amano shrimp to keep it down. Ghosts will not even put a dent in it. Lighten your trace dosing too. Tease out what you can with a cose and prine a lot. I got complete control of mine by doing all of the above.
Note: When dosing the excel, put it in a syringe and spot shoot the mosses and tough to prune/tease plants.