Black Hairy Algae?

[Gramma]

I am not sure what you call it. Since I had the anchor worm outbreak in my tank & I had to remove the shrimp & snails. I have this stuff growing on my plants, etc. What is it really called and how do I get rid of it now? Looks awful!

[grumpystiltskin]

It sounds like black beard algae. nasty stuff,
i have quite a lot of it in my tank, especially on the slower growing anubias etc
some people say to up the co2 levels a bit, and others have had good results with double dosing of Seachems Flourish Excel. im going to try the flourish excel ,
None in the shops around here, so im ordering some online, good luck with yours
Mick
p.s I also believe it can harm sensitive plants ! when double dosed.

[Melody]

Be sure to keep the inverts out of your tank if you double-dose as well. Some say it effects them, some say it doesn't, but I wouldn't chance it.

Snails love the black stuff so they'll probably clean it up for you. They love it to the extent that I bring it in from plant-growers to feed it to the snails....lol. They don't like the reddish variety so much, but the black stuff they go nuts over.

[CACAdmin]

If you've returned your snails to the tank they should gobble it up pretty quickly. If you need a few more snails that can be arranged. :;):

[Melody]

I'd like to be in on that arrangement...lol....I have some quickly growing babies that I'd be happy to share.

[Gramma]

I haven't returned the snails or shrimp to the tank yet, but will do so after the next water change. I will try that first, and if that doesn't work, I will try the Flourish Excel, which I know BA has here. Right now, I only have one of those CO2 Natural Plant Systems in that tank, so I cannot adjust it. I know that the shrimp sure gobble up the green hairy algae, which I got when the tank was first cycling. That is how I ended up with the shrimp in the first place, but I do not know that they like this black stuff. Will let you know if I need more snails Jay. Probably will, but let's see how this goes first. Thanks for all your input.

By the way, Mick, I just love the name "Grumpystiltskin"

[grumpystiltskin]

By the way, Mick, I just love the name "Grumpystiltskin"
Lol thanks gramma, im not one to be over serious , hence the weird name lol

I think if the snails eat the bba , thats a much better solution, i might try that route myself before damaging any plants with excel. i bought two black mollies the other day and they nibbled on it for most of the day, but didnt even make a dent in it. I think they prefer the flake over the bba. I hope the snails work for you.

[Melody]

I forgot about the Mollies. Sailfin females seem to particularly love the stuff.

[Melody]

Here's a young female orange Sailfin scarfing it down...

http://members.linkopp.com/biz/sandpiper/images/MM-BlackBeardAlgae-Molly.jpg


Platy's will eat some too, although I think it might have been a matter of "If she's eating it, I must be missing something."


http://members.linkopp.com/biz/sandpiper/images/MM-BlackBeardAlgae-Molly_PT.jpg

[Gramma]

I did notice that the mollies were nibbling on it, but are sure not making a dent in it. I will put the snails in tomorrow and see what happens with them. Thanks for the pics. Nice fish!

[CACAdmin]

Yes, I had forgotten to mention that mollies seem to love to nibble at algae. I think you're right Melody that the platies are 'copycats'...lol. They don't seem to do it on their own but if anyone in the tank hints that 'something' must be food, they'll try it. :laugh:
See how the snails, do Gramma. Maybe I'll send you a few anyways. Between you & your daughter and the grandkids, there are enough tanks to accomodate a few more anyways. However, we'll have to wait until the post office re-opens on Tuesday.

[Gramma]

OK, thanks Jay! Probably a good idea. Send them whenever you have time. Let me know what I owe you, so I can settle up. I have nothing to trade at the moment, but I am sure in time I will.

[thegrandpoohbah]

As Jay mentioned, platys will learn from other fish that something in the tank might be food. One of my platys learned to pick on my snails and next thing you know they were all doing it!

[Melody]

Platy's are BRATTS!

[Gramma]

Oh, no! Did the snails survive? Actually that happened in my daughter's tank. Jay sent the kids snails at Christmas time and the algae eater she had at the time, which had become a little aggressive would not leave them alone. He would knock them off the glass, etc. So needless to say not all survived. I think they starved. I do know that other fish were picking on them too, but do not know which ones.

[Melody]

My snails seem to get used to it - at first it seems to scare them, but after that the fish have to really pick at them before they'd even drop. Some of my fish do it, some don't.

I lecture them but they won't listen! I must look very intelligent, shaking my finger at a tank, knocking on the glass with a knuckle and saying "Cut that out ya big bully!".:rolleyes:

[Gramma]

No kidding! I thought I was the only one who talked and scolded their fish. :rofl: I sure did some glass tapping the day the babies were born.

[Melody]

LOL We're silly but our heart is in the right place - that's what counts.:smile:

[Gramma]

Melody, snails are BRATTS too! :yes: They do not listen either. :no: They are all over the tank, but not eating the black beard algae. Maybe for today they are just checking out their old/new digs. I know when I get up in the morning, they will have gobbled it all up overnight. Right?:laugh:

[Melody]

Depends on if you feed them anything else...lol...they're bratts, but they're smart bratts.

[Gramma]

I bought some Flourish Excel yesterday. Should I decide to double dose it, is it a one time thing or for how long do you continue to double dose. I guess I should remove the snails if I do it too, to be on the safe side. I am really nervous about doing this, but may have to resort to it in time. Will it hurt the fish? I have cut down the food supply and no algae wafers for the snails. The only ones picking at it are the 2 female mollies. So far the snails are staying away from it.

[PPulcher]

I know some people overdose with no ill effects, but Seachem says not to OD the stuff. The dose rate is 5ml / 10 gallons on initial use and after a major water change (40%). Thereafter it is 5ml / 50 gallons.

You can add the initial dose and 'spot treat' the really bad parts. Turn off the filters and use a syringe or eyedropper to 'baste' the worst parts. Turn the filter back on in a half hour or so. If you want to keep treating the next day, do a large water change of 40% or more and dose the full 5ml/10 gallons again in the same way.

Be aware that I've had adverse reactions to Excel with plants like Valisneria -- they melted when the Excel was first dosed. The recovered when they got acclimated to it.