String-like algae on unknown plant

Pudge

Pudge

AC Members
Feb 17, 2009
226
0
0
Ontario, Canada
Hi Everyone,
I'm fairly new to aquariums in general, I have just made my introductory post, and here is basically what my setup is if anyone has not seen it.

Currently, I have a 29 gallon planted freshwater tank containing the following:
3 Red Phantom Tetra (not sure of sexes)
6 Cardinal Tetra (not sure of sexes)
3 Gold Twin Bar Platy (all female)
1 Red Platy (male)
1 Spotted Pleco

And I have had 2 fish die so far, 1 Red Phantom Tetra, and 1 Spotted Pleco (Both are not counted in the current fish I have).
I'm unsure how the Tetra died, but the Pleco was nearly dead when I brought him home from the pet store, and died roughly 24 hours later.

Plant life in the 29 gallon:
1 Juncus Repens
2 Corkscrew Val.
1 Unknown, personally I don't like it but I received it with the tank (was given to me by a friend)

In the 10 gallon tank there is currently no fish, I hope to use this for pregnant fish, the fry, or as a quarantine tank if needed.

-----

Here is where my dilemma is, no my unknown plant, I have string-like algae growing, and I'm not sure if this is a good or bad thing. I've tried to find information but I haven't really been able to find anything about this algae growing on plants.

I have seen my Platy's eat it occasionally, and I am wondering if it is harmful to them or not.

Here is an image, sorry the quality is not that great, my camera's are missing their wires and I have no card reader with me:


Does anyone have an idea as to what it could be? or anyway that I can solve this issue?

stringalgae.JPG
 
Last edited:
BBA?
possibly staghorn
 
I'm assuming that's what you think the plant is, I will try and upload a better picture if that helps. Any ideas what the string like stuff growing on it is though?
 
I was able to find a better picture, here it is:

IMG00066.jpg
 
Pudge said:
I'm assuming that's what you think the plant is, I will try and upload a better picture if that helps. Any ideas what the string like stuff growing on it is though?
Click to expand...

Actually, I think star_rider meant the stringy growth. BBA (black beard algae) and staghorn are both types of algae that can grow on plants, or anywhere in the tank.
I think the plant is a Cryptocoryne or "crypt."
 
Thank you for the clarification and sorry for the assumptions.

Is this something that I should be worried about or is this fairly normal?
 
I'm not sure, because I've never dealt with either bba or staghorn myself, but most people who post about having them seem to really want to get rid of them. Apparently they can take over your tank.
I'd try to scrub off as much as I could.
Or, you can dip the plant's leaves (not the roots) in mix of 1 part bleach to 20 parts water, for about 1 to 3 minutes. That should kill the algae. When you are done, soak the plant in some fresh water with lots of dechlorinator in it (at least 3 times the amount of dechlor you'd usually use). Rinse and re-soak until no bleach smell remains, and then return to the tank.
The problem is that this can kill the plant, too. If I were you, I'd post a new thread in the planted aquarium section, and ask those people if there are some safer ways to get rid of that algae. Good luck!
 
Thank you very much for all the help, I'll post this now into the planted aquarium section and see where it goes from there!
 
The lighting I have is..
30" Compact Flourescent, that contains 2-65 watt bulbs, and they are generally on from 10am to 8pm, so 10 hours.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom