What type of Algae is this?

[boiceboy]

Alright, I've searched and searched, and can't find a correct description of this algae anywhere. It is brown in color, but doesn't look like other pictures of brown algae. It isn't a brush algae. It isn't a beard algae. I tried searching for different hair algaes, cause that is what it looks like, but couldn't get a positive ID either. Perhaps someone know better than I. It is long thin threads that will mat together in clumps on the bottom or flow in long stringy sections in a breeze (of water, not in air). When I remove it from the tank, it is just a mess of gooey slime. Its driving me nuts because if I don't clean it out every day, within 3 days there is like 6 inches of it clinging to plants in flowing water. My Otto's nor SAE's will touch it.

Tank stats:
WPG: 3.7
CO2: DIY Yeast, 20-30ppm depending on time of day
Ammonia/Nitrates/Nitrites: Zer0
pH: 6.9
I don't have a phosphate test kit.

Thanks for your time

 

[happychem]

It's a version of thread algae. I've got a little in my tank right now. I usually just prune off the leaves that it grows on, with the exception of java fern. Since the leaves a little tougher, I just pull it off manually.

As for your tank specs, if your nitrates really are 0, there's your first problem.

 

[boiceboy]

Ok, going to dose nitrates according to the Gadd calculator asap. This is my first planted tank, and I haven't been adding fertilizers yet, allowing my plants to get established before the algae. Apparently that didn't work quite as well as hoped, but it is time to venture into fertilizing anyways.
Thanks for the input happy!

Here is a picture of my tank from a few weeks ago:

Disregard the airstone and bell in the upper left, I was having issues with my suction cups at the time.

 

[Seaman]

I usually ge that kinda algae in areas of my tank with little water movement, look up the thread on "undergravel jets" that may be a good idea for this tank if you're up to it. It will help keep current with out disturbing the plants much.

 

[boiceboy]

I don't know if its an issue of water movement, as it tends to grow just as much if not more in areas of higher water flow. I think happy is right about adding nitrate (and Phosphates and K) now to help the plant vs algae battle. I have looked at HomeDepot before for stump remover, but haven't had luck yet. I'll look again, and ask some of the very knowledgeable staff (......yeah.....). I guess I should pick up some Fleet enema too, I sure hope the person at the register isn't a cute girl.