Black beard algae and Simease Algae Eaters
Black Beard Algae is the scourge of the planted tank. Of all the things about aquariums, I am most frustrated by it. The stuff is darn near invinceable. Manual scraping is the way to go, but it is rather labor intensive. And once it is on your plants, forget it, the leaves need to go. For slow growing plants like Anubias Barteri, it can be the kiss of death if not dealt with.
My advice is to hit it hard and not let up. It is really easy to leave alone because life has you busy, and then when you turn around it is everywhere. I'm finally fed up and am trying all sorts of stuff to get rid of it.
I am trying the Simese algae eater route, but I am also having a rough time with keeping them alive. The first was sickly when I got him--a charity case to rescue him from the LFS. But the second was healthy, lived like a king for 2 days eating all sorts of algae and flake food, then dead. Can't figure it out, as I hardly ever have fish mortality. Any pointers out there on keeping them alive?
Ed
Black Beard Algae is the scourge of the planted tank. Of all the things about aquariums, I am most frustrated by it. The stuff is darn near invinceable. Manual scraping is the way to go, but it is rather labor intensive. And once it is on your plants, forget it, the leaves need to go. For slow growing plants like Anubias Barteri, it can be the kiss of death if not dealt with.
My advice is to hit it hard and not let up. It is really easy to leave alone because life has you busy, and then when you turn around it is everywhere. I'm finally fed up and am trying all sorts of stuff to get rid of it.
I am trying the Simese algae eater route, but I am also having a rough time with keeping them alive. The first was sickly when I got him--a charity case to rescue him from the LFS. But the second was healthy, lived like a king for 2 days eating all sorts of algae and flake food, then dead. Can't figure it out, as I hardly ever have fish mortality. Any pointers out there on keeping them alive?
Ed
