*Sigh*....Black Brush Algae?

[ChrisWalker]

Hi all.

I'm looking for a positive ID more than anything on this algae. It's a nightmare.

Check it out. Could adding more plants out compete this stuff? Seems like not many people actually know how to deal with this stuff. Siamese Algae Eaters are out of the question :(

Thanks.

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[wataugachicken]

if you're not adding a carbon source, you need to, and if you are adding it, you need more. more carbon (either CO2 or excel) will allow the plants to take in more nutrients and eventually outcompete the BBA for nutrients. without additional carbon, the algae can more efficiently process the excess nutrients.

good bulbs, more water changes, feed less, and dose with carbon.

[Hurley]

Red Beard Algea. I would remove as much of the affected plant matter as you can and try and rip it off decorations as well. Unfortunatly the only fish known to eat it is the True SAE. However, like wataugachicken said, up your Co2 asap!

[kooter]

you can check this link out as well:

http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Algae/red-algae.html

[fresh_newby]

BBA ouch..
usually due to a lack in CO2...it is a toughie to get rid of.
Without your specs, lighting, fert scheule and specific parms...I can't tell you anything further.

[webcricket]

It is BBA.

You may want to treat it with an overdose of Flourish Excel. You'll want to remove the more heavily effected leaves first. The basic method is 2X the recommended after water change dose over the course of 3-4 days or longer. The algae should turn white or pink and die off. If you've never used Excel, start with a lower dose to be sure the fish tolerate it. I've used it overdosed with scaleless fish and inverts with no problems.

We'll need some more info about your tank (as other have stated) to give you a long-term solution, specifically whether you have a current CO2 source as BBA is linked with fluctuating CO2 levels.

[midiamin]

With that amount of alga going, I make sure to do some serious gravel vacuuming at some point along with all the other suggestions you have received.

Also, there are many other BBA eaters out there. Anyone know of any others? I can suggest one. The black Lyretail Mollie! Plus they do well in salt water!