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May 24th, 2008
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Fish Helper
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What kind of algae is this?
Can anyone ID this algae type? We started getting it recently and it appears to be spreading. My Dwarf Gourami nibbles at it but can't keep up with the spread rate. Wondering what other algae eaters would eat this particular type of algae. Thanks.
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May 24th, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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Sorry, but I can't really tell from the pictures what I'm supposed to be looking at. Can you get a close up, or discribe what it looks like?
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May 24th, 2008
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Fish Helper
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim
Sorry, but I can't really tell from the pictures what I'm supposed to be looking at. Can you get a close up, or discribe what it looks like?
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That's as close as I could zoom without my camera going blurry. If you click on the images themselves they appear a bit bigger. Here are a couple more shots.
The algae is a thin, fuzzy, dark blackish-brown-red.
Last edited by treehugr; May 24th, 2008 at 03:22 PM.
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May 24th, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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looks like brown algea, or diatoms. this is easy, it's usually from not enough light, and cleans up fairly easy. I'm pretty sure most plecos and definitly an SAE will eat it.
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May 24th, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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Hey, where is Coconut Creek? I'm in Port Richey, about an hour north of Tampa on the left coast.
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May 24th, 2008
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Fish Helper
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim
looks like brown algea, or diatoms. this is easy, it's usually from not enough light, and cleans up fairly easy. I'm pretty sure most plecos and definitly an SAE will eat it.
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Hmm, I wonder if it started because we were on vacation for 10 days and the tank only had ambient light from the room. But it's really spread the 2 weeks since we've been back, which puzzles me. I keep the lights on 10 hours a day, shouldn't that be enough light?
I assume it's safe for the fish since my Gourami seems to like it (he picks at it all day).
Coconut Creek is about 20 minutes north of Fort Lauderdale  |
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May 24th, 2008
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Fish Helper
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Once I had it I had to cover the tank(as in total blackout) in order to get rid of it in my 55. All 3 of our tanks have over 1.5W of light. I think it was butterfly who suggested the blackout for 3-4 days, this worked great for me as it cleared up my 55 almost completely of all algea(I'd say about 95%). The brown doesnt seem to be coming back and I had uncovered/water change last Teusday. Just make sure that if you try this method that whatever you use does actually block out ALL the light. I have to do this on my 29G because the blanket we used allowed in to much light and it didnt work so next teusday is gets repeated on the 29G
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May 24th, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Halibut
Once I had it I had to cover the tank(as in total blackout) in order to get rid of it in my 55. All 3 of our tanks have over 1.5W of light. I think it was butterfly who suggested the blackout for 3-4 days, this worked great for me as it cleared up my 55 almost completely of all algea(I'd say about 95%). The brown doesnt seem to be coming back and I had uncovered/water change last Teusday. Just make sure that if you try this method that whatever you use does actually block out ALL the light. I have to do this on my 29G because the blanket we used allowed in to much light and it didnt work so next teusday is gets repeated on the 29G
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hmmm, this is an interesting idea. I never tried it, but the theory of killing the algea by depriving it of sunlight seems sound enough. But here we're also dealing with a planted tank, and I don't know if it would kill the other plants as well. |
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May 25th, 2008
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Fish Helper
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim
hmmm, this is an interesting idea. I never tried it, but the theory of killing the algea by depriving it of sunlight seems sound enough. But here we're also dealing with a planted tank, and I don't know if it would kill the other plants as well.
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Wont hurt plants or fish I did it for 3 full days(covered sunday at 1pm, uncovered 1pm wed). Heres a link to the thread I started on the issue.
Cloudy Water |
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May 25th, 2008
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Fish Helper
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Halibut
Once I had it I had to cover the tank(as in total blackout) in order to get rid of it in my 55. All 3 of our tanks have over 1.5W of light. I think it was butterfly who suggested the blackout for 3-4 days, this worked great for me as it cleared up my 55 almost completely of all algea(I'd say about 95%). The brown doesnt seem to be coming back and I had uncovered/water change last Teusday. Just make sure that if you try this method that whatever you use does actually block out ALL the light. I have to do this on my 29G because the blanket we used allowed in to much light and it didnt work so next teusday is gets repeated on the 29G
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I've heard this before - on this site and on other Websites. Seems it worked for those who tried it. Though I do remember a caution NOT to cover any air vents or it could burn out the motor (or something to that affect).
I thought the Diatoms were occurring from not enough light? Wouldn't this make our problem worse? |
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May 25th, 2008
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Fish Bum
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I had a black/brown colored algae in my tank before and it turned out to be a form of Black Beard algae except it wasn't the long, bushy type. If you can get some Zebra nerites, they will clean it right up in no time.
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May 25th, 2008
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Fish Helper
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Red_Rose
I had a black/brown colored algae in my tank before and it turned out to be a form of Black Beard algae except it wasn't the long, bushy type. If you can get some Zebra nerites, they will clean it right up in no time.
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A couple people have mentioned those. I want to get a couple but am having trouble finding them  . |
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May 25th, 2008
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Fish Keeper
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Quote:
Originally Posted by treehugr
A couple people have mentioned those. I want to get a couple but am having trouble finding them . |
SAE's will also eat Beard Algea, but there's always the great hunt for a true SAE. I have 6, and wrote an artice on how to recognize a true one from a chinese algea eater, etc. The article is in last month's on-lime mag, if it helps. |
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May 26th, 2008
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Fish Bum
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Quote:
Originally Posted by treehugr
A couple people have mentioned those. I want to get a couple but am having trouble finding them . |
Oh crap! I'm sorry you are having a difficult time finding them. Whenever I suggest them, I keep forgetting that many people can't find them or have to buy them online whereas I don't have to.
If you don't mind buying snails online, you could always check out aquabid for olive nerites. I've come across them there every now and then. They are also great at getting rid of algae. |
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May 26th, 2008
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Fish Helper
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Red_Rose
Oh crap! I'm sorry you are having a difficult time finding them. Whenever I suggest them, I keep forgetting that many people can't find them or have to buy them online whereas I don't have to.
If you don't mind buying snails online, you could always check out aquabid for olive nerites. I've come across them there every now and then. They are also great at getting rid of algae. |
I can find them online okay, it's just when you add in the express delivery charges, it makes it an expensive purchase |
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