Gouramiguy17

Some of the leaves on my wisteria have algae on it's leaves. I am worried that the algae will block the light and kill my pretty plant. What is the best way to remove the algae. I don't have any algae eaters except for a couple snails I have yet to get and they won't go on to the wisteria because the fish peck on them. What is a way to remove the algae or atleast which algae eater has a small enough mouth that It can eat algae off the plant's leaves?

mathas

Your first step should probably be to determine exactly what type of algae you're dealing with, as each type has its own causes and removal methods.

Try looking through the following links and see if anything matches what you see in your tank:

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

Butterfly

After you figure out what kind it is and it's cause you could snip off the affected leaves.
Carol

Gouramiguy17

It is fuzz algae, and I have 4 or 5 dots if green spot algae where the natural light strikes the tank.

navyscuba

Ok something I learned from the Planted Tank Forum is that algae that forms on the plants leaves you can get it out by overdosing your tank with Flourish Excel. 3 to 5 times the recommended dose for 5 to 7 days and if you have CO2 increase the level of CO2. If you go to the Planted Tank Forum Go to the Algae section and you will find more comments and info on this.

Gouramiguy17

I don't use any co2 or flourish excel

navyscuba

I was having issues with some of this algae on my plants and I that was they recommended me Excel and is going down fast.

Gouramiguy17

Would rubber lip plecos work or are their mouths too big?

navyscuba

I even have a clown pleco and he wont go to it.

Gouramiguy17

What about otos?

navyscuba

Not sure.

navyscuba

Link
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/al...at-ahhhhh.html

Gouramiguy17

I haven't seen my rcs go after it, but I thinkit is because the algae it on the top of the plant where it is close to the light and the shrimp won't go up there because it is out in the open. I've heard ammano shrimp will eat that stuff.

Nate McFin

Beard algae is usually caused by low co2 conditions if I am not mistaken. Maybe Mathas can confirm. The best way to deal with it would be a combo of the above mentioned.
Removal of the affected leaves or at least the most heavily affected. I would also spot treat with excel. You can do this by turning off your filter to slow water movement and use a medicine syringe to shoot the excel onto the affected leaves. Wait several minutes before turning on the filter to allow contact time. If you can pull the plants out and spot treat out of the tank it is even more effective.
I am not a big fan of the idea of overdosing this stuff as it is a disinfectant (also used in hospitals) I havent tried and others I have read have had no issues doing it, I prefer to limit the amount of chemicals in the tank when possible.
Long term it will likely be back if the core problem isnt addressed. DIY Co2 or dosing regularly with Excel instead would help. I didnt see how much and how long your light was on but 8-10 hours is plenty and should help keep algae away.