Algae ID! Please help. Some pics to show

[rayjay1234]

ALGAE HELP! with pics!

So when I first started my tank, I had a green algae problem, all over the glass, it was gross. Water changes, Algone pads and Otos destroyed that problem.

Now I have this!!!:

It looks horrible! I thought maybe brown algae but otos love brown algae and the two I have, have barely put a dent in this stuff. its literally everywhere. Its actually starting to form a layer on the sand now and looks like excessive fish waste. Any ideas? I thought also it could have been peat fibers but not this much???

 

[rayjay1234]

Please refer to this post. I guess I put it in the wrong forum so it wasnt getting much attention

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85091

 

[plah831]

It looks like it might be staghorn algae, or another hair-type algae. Otos can't eat those because the fibers are too tough. The kind of brown algae they love is diatoms, a very soft algae. The only thing I know that will eat hair algae are Siamese algae eaters and ghost shrimp will also pick at it.

The reason for the algae is probably excess nutrients (are you fertilizing your plants?) or too little light. Basically an imbalance of some sort that is allowing the algae to take hold over the plants.

 

[Jay-Stew]

What are your tank specs, and param's.? How pften do yoe feed , clean water change etc. What are you stocking in tank?

 

[rayjay1234]

ph 7.5
amm =0
nitrite = 0
nitrate = dunno but last i checked was 5ppm

fish: 1 german blue, 2 otos and a bunch of random snails that hitch-hiked
more fish to come later

 

[fresh_newby]

wrong color for staghorn~
looks like brown or diatoms collecting on a hair.... for reference here is a good site for general algae id I hope it helps.


http://www.aquariumalgae.blogspot.com/

If you need help combatting these...I suggest some reading at www.barrreport.com