Tombo

hi,
is there anyway to stop excessive algae growth, because my plants are getting covered in fury green stuff and they all die after it gets on them.
please help...

mathas

There's more than one type of algae. If you can determine what type you have, you can start looking for causes and cures.

Try looking through these links and see if anything looks like what you're dealing with:

http://plantgeek.net/article_viewer.php?id=9
http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm
http://www.gwapa.org/articles/algae/

In general, though, reducing the amount of time that the lights are on will likely help, but you'll need to ID the algae for specific advice.

MizRamzi

I bought 2 Chinese Algae eaters for my 26g planted. I was having the same issues as you. After about 2 weeks my algae prob was gone. Now I feed them algae wafers as a supplement, and my tank stays algae free.
Phosphates in your water could also be adding to the prob along with the length of time your leaving the lights on. Algae needs to eat. Try cutting down the amount of your feedings too. Otherwise starve the algae out!

AquaSplash6201

I think what you have is BBA (Black Beard Algae), I have the same re occuring problem, I do a monthly bleach to help maintain my plants, but I might go and buy some SAE or CAE to help me. BBA is extremely hard to remove. I still have the problem and it will never go away, hopefully someone has a solution to help both of us.

navyscuba

I just posted the remedy on another threat and that is to overdose you tank with Flourish Excel. 3 to 5 the recommended dose. It will turn redish within the first 24 to 48 hours.

AquaSplash6201

Well I did researcha nd it seems the only species of fish that will willingly eat BBA is SAE.

Does PetSmart or Petco sell the Flourish Excel?

navyscuba

I have been on petsmart and Petsupermarket looking for it and they don't carry it. You go better by getting it online or on the LFS that sells a lot of aquarium plants. I was just last night on 2 petsmart and no luck. They have some stuff that is for ponds but I don't know if works on tanks. It says is fishsafe.

navyscuba

Here is a link to it.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/al...at-ahhhhh.html

Tombo

After doing some research i have come to the conclusion that it is BBA

navyscuba

Excel is the remedy.

wooza

As mentioned above, a CAE will clear it up as it has done brilliantly in my tank. However do make sure to research the fish as they can suck and damage other fish in the tank.

aquarist48

Hello Tombo. I've moved your thread to here: http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/algae/
It should help you to get more responses and helps others looking for information on the same subject.
Thanks!
Ken