I'm guessing this isn't good stuff?

I've got some sort of dark green algae-like stuff growing in my tank. It's not growing particularly fast, but it's pretty thick and easily vacuumed up when I clean the tank. It grows right back in the same spot.

At first, it looked like dark green algae with little hairs, and then I thought a piece of gravel had been enveloped because I saw a ball of dark-green about the same size as a piece of gravel but with smooth edges, but when I vacuumed it the ball turned out to be 100% whatever this is. Since then other large clumps have formed at times, and it's definitely spreading along the gravel. My pleco won't go near it. I have artificial plants and it's growing on one of them. I hit it with the vacuum too last time, and got most of it. What I didn't get has grown into what I can only describe as looking like a shiny, dark green cobweb between leaves.

I tried to take pictures but they aren't that great, i'm hoping the description can let someone know what it is, and what I need to do about it. While vacuuming it is a nice temporary fix, I can't get it all and i'm afraid as it spreads that'll mean more places missed, so it can grow back faster each time.

 

Your nitrate reading is pretty high, nitrate speeds up algae growth.
Take a reading right now.

What are you feeding and are you over feeding because something is telling me that's decayed food.

My omega one flakes decay in my tank if I rarely over feed and it looks like it grows hair and fur and stuff sticking out.

 

10-20 really isn't high nitrate.

 

Your nitrate reading is pretty high, nitrate speeds up algae growth.
Take a reading right now.

What are you feeding and are you over feeding because something is telling me that's decayed food.

My omega one flakes decay in my tank if I rarely over feed and it looks like it grows hair and fur and stuff sticking out.

I feed Omega One flakes, and this is not food decaying. If it was, it would be more contained and not spread across the gravel.

 

regardless of how much your feeding or what your readings of nitrate are you can never go wrong with doing more frequent water changes. Even doing them everyday won't hurt your fish and infact I think many seem to enjoy the stimulation of the added fresh water.

with more frequent water changes you will get ahead of the problem whether it be high nitrate levels, uneaten food, or too many unused nutrients in the tank to feed the algae. More frequent water changes will help all these things

 

regardless of how much your feeding or what your readings of nitrate are you can never go wrong with doing more frequent water changes. Even doing them everyday won't hurt your fish and infact I think many seem to enjoy the stimulation of the added fresh water.

with more frequent water changes you will get ahead of the problem whether it be high nitrate levels, uneaten food, or too many unused nutrients in the tank to feed the algae. More frequent water changes will help all these things

It can also damage your cycle and cause a lot of fluctuation in water parameters. I currently do a water change every 1-2 weeks depending on nitrate readings.

 

I heard pop eye can happen to your fish if you do too many frequent water changes but I think once a day is alright.

 

Nobody knows what this stuff is, do they?

 

Sounds to me like hair algae, I've had it for forever, and it's a real pain. Hopefully it'll just burn itself out, and it's not really too much to worry about. Mine's genereally caused by the fact that the tank is in sunlight (it's moving next week though)
Is your tank in direct sunlight at all?

 

Sounds to me like hair algae, I've had it for forever, and it's a real pain. Hopefully it'll just burn itself out, and it's not really too much to worry about. Mine's genereally caused by the fact that the tank is in sunlight (it's moving next week though)
Is your tank in direct sunlight at all?

I'm not sure. It gets sunlight, but it gets the sunlight that penetrates closed venetian blinds, not straight through the glass. I'm moving at the end of August and I plan to put the tank in as dark a spot of the living room as I can find.

I guess the most frustrating part of it all is it's on the side of the tank opposite the window. If it was sunlight-based, i'd think it would start and spread on the side facing the window...

Here's hoping it's hair algae!

 

Ugh, I think it's this stuff, cyanobacteria:



In fact, that looks pretty much identical to what i've got going on in there.

 

A google search landed me at, surprise surprise, fishlore's article on cyanobacteria. Frankly, the stuff's been in my tank for long enough that I don't want to wait several weeks to get rid of it. The only antibiotic I have right now is Tetracycline, but I don't know anything about whether or not this will kill the cycle, or if Tetracycline is effective against this stuff.

 

It can also damage your cycle and cause a lot of fluctuation in water parameters. I currently do a water change every 1-2 weeks depending on nitrate readings.

its my understanding he isn't cycling, that his tank has been established, and he just has an algae bloom?

 

It is cyanobacteria...I had it..it is very hard to get rid of. I tried the black out method. Nothing the only thin that helpd was Maracyn. I used the fast dissolving powder form. It worked great.

 

Here's an article from FL magazine about cyanobacteria

 

It is cyanobacteria...I had it..it is very hard to get rid of. I tried the black out method. Nothing the only thin that helpd was Maracyn. I used the fast dissolving powder form. It worked great.

Thanks a lot!

 

No Problem..Good Luck with your tank ..that will clear it right up.

 

I just got the maracyn, and put the first packets in. Do fish generally go crazy when maracyn (or any other medication) is introduced into the tank? Even the pleco was zipping around in there at first. They've settled down now, but it was weird...