Need Advice for Black beard/brush Algae

[Tazzy_toon]

I am currently running a low tech 33 gal lightly planted tank with driftwood. The driftwood is right under the outflow of the filter but is covered in the black beard algae.

I have 5 dalmation mollies, 3 juvi albino bn plecs, 4 kuhli loaches, 3 amano shrimps and a few guppies that i will be rehoming soon.

I don't mind the algae for the most part, it almost looks pretty, except that it's starting to get on some of the plants, which doesn't flow so nicely.

I don't have/will not have co2, I reluctantly use (flourish) ferts once a month.

And for lighting I have .5 watts per gallon (stock lighing) on for 12 hrs a day.

15 to 20% water changes weekly.

Plants are moss, crypts, elodia and java fern.

I've been just picking it off during water changes but was wondering if there was any natural treatment, if not I will just live with it.

Thanks for your time.

[monkE]

the 12 hour photoperiod is your problem... really the light shouldn't be on more than 9 hours or so, maybe 10 max.

I have my light turn off for a few hours durring the day while i'm at work so that I can enjoy the tank for longer time in the evening and remain at 9 hours total photoperiod.

[Tazzy_toon]

I thought it might be that. I love to see my fishies, and since i'm a stay at home mom, the lights always on.

I have been turning it off when i go out, but I'll try to have more of a schedule with it.
Thanks

[monkE]

simple timers work great for that, the plants really seem to thrive on routine so if you have a timer set then you don't have to worry about it

[monkE]

a second option if you want to leave the light on all the time is raise the light fixture higher above the tank. The further the light is from the surface of the tank the less the algae can live off it

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

I found that Amano shrimp did a good job eating up any nuisance algae that grew on my plants.

[CRS Fan]

How about a Crossocheilus reticulatus (aka BBA monster )? I have a larger one available for $25. PM me if interested.

Best regards,

Stuart

[Maple]

I had trouble with black algae on my plants so I bought a Siamese Algae Eater. Steve deserves a ribbon for his amazing cleaning job. My plants are beautiful again and he never stops grazing.

[cdsgo1974]

Directly quoted from Removing Black Hair Algae

Text and pictures by: Souly

First off what is Black Hair algae?
Black Hair Algae goes by a few other names: Black Brush Algae, Black Beard Algae but is usually known as BBA. It can sometimes be mistaked as Staghorn Algae, but the color Staghorn Algae is Greenish blue.


Depending on amount of growth it could look like small patches of black hairs, or a black carpet (as in the picture).

The strands don't usually get very long, one centimeter is the usual size.

The algae usually forms on slow-growing plants such as Anubias, but it can also grow on gravel, diftwood, or rocks in your tank.

How To Remove:

Using different fish or snails: There are a few different types of fish known to eat BBA,
Siamensis, CAE / SAE Algae Eaters, Black Mollies, Angelfish may eat it. Apple snails will also eat BBA.

Algae Eating Shrimp: Japonica Shrimp (Caridina japonica).

Chemical fixes:

Before doing this, it is recommended that you take out all the decorations covered with the BBA and soak then in a mild bleach and water solution. That will kill the Algae, and then you should scrub the plants with a soft brush to get it off to help it from growing back.

(If using live plants you can do the same, however I find it easer to just remove the leaf.)

Warning: Using too much bleach can remove the dies.

You can Soak wood as well but you will have make sure you really rinse it out well. You do not want left over bleach getting into your tank.

Flourish Excel: Works great if your tank is planted, and that is cause for your Black Hair. And diluted amounts are said to work well in non-planted tanks thats have contracted it.

Lighting: Reducing your light to 6 hours a day will cut back on the growth, which will help when using a chemical fix.

Algaefix, works well to.


The biggest reason you get BBA iis that your plants aren't getting the right amount of support they need. Lowlight, not even nutrients in the water.

[Chappy]

April has a goldfish that eats the stuff......seriously