is this stuff... algae?

[serissime]

I have a 5 gallon half-hex with a piece of wood, an anubias plant, a java fern, and a clump of java moss, along with a few plastic plants. There is one female betta. The wood and plants have only been there for around three weeks. Within the past week, the top of the wood has been growing some pale, very soft-looking something or other. It appeared colorless until about a day ago, when it began to look green. I half heartedly tried to brush it off the other day, but it just waved in the current at me. I figure I need to take the wood out anyways to re-tuck the anubias's roots, so I could really take it off then if I needed to.

My best guess is hair algae.

Apologies for the bad pictures; I have a cheap camera, weak photography skills, and a slightly scuffed plastic/acrylic tank. :help:

 

[DavidZ]

Looks like time to get a bushy nose pleco

 

[avionics30]

Yeah, that's algae! If you don't want to add fish as algae eaters, try dosing Excel. You may see it die back and the excel would also be good for your plants. Happy tanking!

 

[serissime]

man! I wish I could get a BN I really really want one

I may be adding some ghost shrimp just because I want to but I think the resident shark will get them in no time.

Is this one of those tank-swallowing algaes? If it's just going to be around on my wood, I don't really mind it.

 

[avionics30]

It may spread to plants, but looks kind of weak. Usually if it's coming on strong it will be very bright and hardy. If you can, scrub it off with a brush! Sometimes the best way to keep hints of algae away are to remove it manually at cleanings.

 

[Notophthalmus]

I believe you've got the fungus Saprolegnia with some kind of algae growing on it. The fungus will only grow on the wood and will clear up on its own eventually (may take a few weeks). You can remove it if you like; it won't make much difference in the time it takes to go away. But don't try to sterilize the wood; this will cause the cycle to restart.

 

[stezatois]

could always boil the wood to kill off anything growing on it. it may help

 

[jmhart]

I had that algae a while back. Pretty much only answer was to reduce light. I tried everything and was finally able to get rid of it by manually removing as much as I could, doing a 3.5 day blackout, and then cutting lighting down.

I tried everything without cutting the light down, and the algae came back.

 

[serissime]

Thanks! I had been wondering if it was a fungus before it started to appear green. I might remove it with a brush, but if it's going to go away on its own, I don't mind how it looks unless it goes crazy.

thank you again!