what is this algae called?

[Starry]

I haven't had too many problems with algae (cross my fingers, knock on wood), but I do have this one that drives me nuts! It grows on the substrate (100% Flourite) and binds the little rocks together with stong little hairs. Sometimes it's a soft green tangled mass, and sometimes it's just a few long, white hairs. It attaches to the rocks really hard, to the point where I can't siphon it up because the rocks come with it. I tried manually stripping the rocks from the hairs and siphoning up just the algae, but it's a pain in the butt, and it's not going away at all. Most of it is in the front of the tank among the Sagittaria subulata, where it gets penty of light I guess.

Anyway, what is it called and what do I do about it? Thanks guys :)

PS: My tank specs are at http://64.191.28.50/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9306 if that helps.

[Dr.Guppy]

Sounds like hair algae to me (an origional name, i know...). There are various methods for getting rid of algae, but one that I find works well is to have a 24hr blackout on the tank, which should throw the algae out of the lighting cycle it has adapted to and depends on. It will also mean it cant photosynthesise for 24hrs, whcih can have disasterous effects on the small algae alone. This shouldnt have any affect on any plants you have in your tank, so dont worry there. I would imagine that it is growing on your flourite because there is such an abundance of nutrients there. Really all you can do is keep hacking away at it, and try to keep on top of it.

Hope this helps,
Michael.

[djlen]

Does sound like BBA or a variety thereof. Starry I was looking at your tank profile and you don't mention dosing K,P or N. That could be your problem. What's in the Tropica Master Grow? Isn't it just traces? I am not too familiar with it. I use SeaChem products.
Len

[Starry]

Originally posted by djlen
Does sound like BBA or a variety thereof. Starry I was looking at your tank profile and you don't mention dosing K,P or N. That could be your problem. What's in the Tropica Master Grow? Isn't it just traces? I am not too familiar with it. I use SeaChem products.
Len

To tell you the truth, I've just been too lazy to look into real fertilization. I can look up what's in TMG, but I really couldn't tell you off the top of my head. Just lately I've been looking at getting nitrate and phosphate tests, because I have NO CLUE how much I have. I haven't had any major problems, so I didn't see the need to fuss with anything.

BBA? Isn't that black beard algae or something? If so, then this can't be it. Sounds more like hair algae.

Quick questions while I've got you :) I did some major Mayaca uprooting and replanting, as well as planting a whole new group of L. repens on the weekend, and added 2mL TMG, AND fresh CO2 (CO2 conc. is in the range of about 25-30ppm right now, could be higher if I reduced surface agitation). Immediately my water went green. Not like pea soup, but still murky. Would you do a blackout this early on, or try to let it ride out on its own? My plants are pretty healthy, so at this point I'm thinking they can take care of it. Any thoughts?

[Starry]

Well, Len, I'm gonna have to answer my own question. I definitely need a blackout now, judging by the look of things today :)

[tfish]

Oh, I totally think it is BBA! I also had that. And don't let the name fool you -- just because it is called BLACK beard algae doesn't mean that it has to be black. My BBA looked more like a mass of short green hairs tangling the gravel together. On my plants, it looked like tiny hairs that later became longer (but still very short at a few millimeters) black hairs. In any case it was impossible to take off the gravel of the plants manually. Hair algae on the other hand, is very easy to take off. I have had that on my driftwood before and simply pull it off. You could not do this with BBA. I could be wrong, but I really think what you have sounds like BBA.

In my experience with BBA, the main culprit of this problem in CO2 levels. Have you checked your CO2 levels lately? Just a thought! :)

OH, BTW, if it is BBA, a blackout won't help. At least, that is what I have been told.

[Starry]

Oh, I totally think it is BBA! I also had that. And don't let the name fool you -- just because it is called BLACK beard algae doesn't mean that it has to be black. My BBA looked more like a mass of short green hairs tangling the gravel together. On my plants, it looked like tiny hairs that later became longer (but still very short at a few millimeters) black hairs.

>>> there's a little bit of fuzzy green stuff on a few of my plants, but it's not like what's on the gravel. the hair-like stuff doesn't grow on the plants.


In any case it was impossible to take off the gravel of the plants manually. Hair algae on the other hand, is very easy to take off. I have had that on my driftwood before and simply pull it off. You could not do this with BBA. I could be wrong, but I really think what you have sounds like BBA.

In my experience with BBA, the main culprit of this problem in CO2 levels. Have you checked your CO2 levels lately? Just a thought! :)

>>> yep, CO2 has been good for the past few months at about 20-25ppm

OH, BTW, if it is BBA, a blackout won't help. At least, that is what I have been told.

>>> the blackout is for the green water :) one thing at a time now :)