Green Hair algae!!!

[Pamelajo]

I want it gone! 32 gallon was using pmdd but did not last week cause I noticed some of this stuff on the filter output. Had already cleaned filter a couple of weeks ago to get rid of a small amount. But I looked that tank tonight and my filter is has long disgusting strand of this stuff the intake has too. This is a tank with hornwort duckweek and a few other plants.

[CACAdmin]

I'm not sure but I think japonica amano shrimp devour this stuff like candy, if that helps.

[Soggybottom]

Hmm, one tank I had got so bad I dismantled it and tossed all the plants.

I was using PMDD at the time. Now that I use fertilizer with no nitrates or phosphates it hasn't been a problem. As far as I know, the only way to truly control this algae is to restrict nutrients. Manual pulling is good to knock it down, but if the root cause is not addressed, it is a losing battle. I'd recommend cutting phosphates to zero and nitrates to almost zero. Shrimp will help nibble away at whats left and help prevent regrowth, but IME they can't stop an outbreak by themselves.

If your lights are on more than 8 or 10 hrs a day, that also benefits algae more than plants.

[Pamelajo]

Thanks my lights are on less than 8 hours. I am going to do a water change but will do at least 3/4 of the tank instead of half. And won't add any ferts today and clean the filter again. I think I will replace one of the sponges to help eliminate any spores.

[grumpystiltskin]

I had some of that stuff in my tank, for a while i used an old toothbrush and twirled it off, some came away easily ,but some was stuck fast ! But when i dosed excel for bba the green hair algae dissapeared as well, so that might be something for you to look at if it doesnt go away. Soggy is right ,you have to find out why you are getting this stuff in the first place, I ve started dosing exactly the same amount of liquid ferts each day, same time of day, and my tank has never looked so good, Good luck with yours :smile:

Mick

[AquaScaper]

I stuck a whole bunch of Amano shrimp in my algae infested tank and they devoured it all within a few weeks, haven't had a problem since. Those little shrimp are my heroes lol:notworthy:

[Pamelajo]

It was only on the pre-filter, hanging from output and one air line hose right under the output. All my tanks get a 50% water change weekly. I do also have beard algae in this tank too! I had thought about using the excel had heard it would work on beard but was not sure if would work on hair. So will be getting some for the beard algae. Already did a 3/4 water change and good gravel vac. Took filter apart and bleached it. Replace prefilter and one of the two sponges. I should have tested the water parameters before change but did not think til after. I also did some rearranging of fish, this tank was not over stocked, but wanted to minimize nitrates like SB said. Did not add any pmdd. As for phosphates (know nothing about them)how do I get rid of them?

[grumpystiltskin]

Phosphates are a debatable topic, some say dont use them others say it doesnt hurt,
personally i do use phosphates, they are part of what a plant needs. But you have to keep them in a range of about 1-2 ppm, so you dont need much, sometimes your tap water already contains high phosphates, so i would test that first before adding any, its really up to you if you feel comfy adding phos. Like i said my tank is the best its ever looked, no algae and really clear, thansk to excel and regular ferts :smile:

[Pamelajo]

Do they sell a test just for phosphates? I have been using 1 /2 dosage of pmdd once a week since early spring on 4 tanks this is the only one with a problem. My plants look so much better with it and I know it is safe for snails and shrimp. I was using flourish before. Anyway do you use excel regularly or just when you have a problem?

[Gramma]

Japonica Amano Shrimp devour it. When I was cycling my new tank after about 3 weeks, this stuff appeared and grew really fast. It was everywhere. I put 6 shrimp into a 16 gal tank and it was mostly gone in 2 days. Unbelievable.

[Melody]

This is one of those threads that a person notes for future reference because its almost inevitable in every planted tank owner's future :rolleyes: . Good luck with it Pam & thanks everyone for the handy info!

[grumpystiltskin]

Do they sell a test just for phosphates

Yes there is a kit for phosphates, same as the others ,you add drops and test against a colour selection.
Anyway do you use excel regularly or just when you have a problem?
I hadnt used excel before, but when i got a huge outbreak of bba i bought some and double dosed it with excellent results, now i use a single dose a few times a week just to keep control, and its working just fine, its a bit expensive though for my 240g tank,:wideeyed: . but thats fine it makes it so nice, and i think thats worth it

[Soggybottom]

Its been a while since I used PMDD, I thought it had phosphates (PO4) but now I notice most recipes don't include any. Sounds like shrimp might be a good bet if you catch it early. I added japonicas after I got tired of manual removal, by which time I probably had a lot of old tough established chunks everywhere...

Grumpy is right about keeping fert levels consistent too. I think inconsistent amounts help algae more than plants. It's all about making the right environment so the plants outcompete the algae for nutrients.

[ENZO]

I had some of this stuff so I added a BN pleco, 2 ottos a SAE and some shrimp.

[Pamelajo]

my bns don't seem to like it. I got rid of most of it just have to clean the air hose again I missed a spot. Hoping it does not reappear but will be looking for shrimp in the meantime and picking up some excel.

[grumpystiltskin]

Good girl:laugh: i hope it works out for you

[Pamelajo]

:;): Hey where is the Australian accent!!!

[grumpystiltskin]

Right here loud and clear sheila lol:laugh:

[Pamelajo]

much better!

[grumpystiltskin]

Hows it going with the algae, ? did you manage to get rid of it ?

[Pamelajo]

I cleaned out what was there, bleached all the filter parts, changed one of the sponges and the prefilter and it has not come back yet. The beard stuff is still there. Ordered Excel from Big Als but it has not arrived yet. None of my local stores have it.

While I have you here, what would you recommend for plants for a medium-low lit tank. I have plant flourencent bulbs on two tanks, nothing expensive. And regulars on the others. I am looking for some tall sturdy plants. I have val in one, not very found of it, but have some short twisted stuff in another that I really like.

[grumpystiltskin]

You could try Anubias, Java ferns, they dont need a lot of light. Also a lot of the hygrophilas grow well in low light, although you dont get the red colours coming out in the plants. I have didiplis diandra in one low light tank, grows well ,but again doesnt get the red tinges it does in a well lit tank. Rotala is another one ,same thing not much of the red tinges, And many many more.

[Pamelajo]

Anubias and Java fern I have. But will try and find some of the others you mentioned.
Thanks

[grumpystiltskin]

I can always send you some next time i do a big trim:yes:

[Pamelajo]

That would be great or maybe we could do a trade if there is anything that I have that interests you.

[grumpystiltskin]

Sounds good to me too,im sure you have something im interested in:yes:

[Pamelajo]

Algae update. I noticed there was still a couple of strand on the air line hose of the hair algae but was waiting for the excel to come. When it finally did noticed all remains of the hair algae were gone. Yay!!!
Now for the beard algae. I did the top dose on the excel bottle 1 capful for 10 gallons which is for first time adding as apposed to second dosage with is 1 capful for 50 gallons. When double dosing which of the mearements are you double dosing the first or the second. And... should I keep using some everyday or every other day till the algae is gone.

I added the first dosage on Wed. nothing is dying but think it is diminishing. Will keep you posted.

[grumpystiltskin]

Hi Pam
I used the second dosage and doubled it (1 capful for 50 gallons)
The bottle i have says 1 capful for 100gallons, maybe some bottles are more concentrated than others? Anyway i doubled that up and within days the bba started to turn red, and now its all gone and has not come back yet, Ive stopped using excel altogether now, as it is very expensive, and if i get another outbreak i,ll have some left. It will wipe yours out for sure:smile: youll say crikey mate that aussie was right lol

[Pamelajo]

youll say crikey mate that aussie was right lol
I will but won't be able to say it like you.:;):

[Melody]

I think someone somewhere had pic's of it and it turned reddish as it started to die off, so you can watch for that... mate :;): .

[Pamelajo]

I checked mine again and not red, but I swear there is less. The other tank the lights are not on yet so can't tell.

[Melody]

Maybe it doesn't always do that... or maybe I'm remembering something completely different, which is a definite possibility.

[grumpystiltskin]

Mine got redder each day as it died off. then it went whiteish ,and at that stage the fish seemed to eat it a lot more, now there is just a few patches of dead bba on some of the anubias:rolleyes: , love these haloween faces

[Pamelajo]

Mine never turned red, but seemed to be dissappearing. When I did a water change on Sunday I double dosed the regular dosage on the excel bottle. In the 32 gallon it is definitely dissappearing, but not sure if it is the excel did remove some hornwort and some duckweed. So it could possibly be the the light. As soon as the lights come on in the 23gallon I will check it. The 23 has no hornwort or duckweed.

[Pamelajo]

Ok the algae in the 23 is disappearing to not as fast as the 32. Kind of grey in colour.
32g has a flourescent bulb for plants that came with the lid about 6 -9 months old. Very little natural light.

23g has regular flourescent bulb and gets some natural light.
It looks like it is a combination of the excel and the lighting.

[grumpystiltskin]

Im glad its dissapearing Pam, mine went a shade of grey as well, after the red.
Sounds like you have control of it, its nasty looking stuff, mine hasnt come back yet and its been a few months, i dont think i had my c02 quite right, i increased the bubble rate and everything seems fine, i dont think you have c02 do you?

[Pamelajo]

Your right no Co2. I am so glad it is clearing up. They say it is not harmful, but I can't stand the look of it. And of course it is in the non snail tanks.

[grumpystiltskin]

I agree its ugly ugly stuff mate:eek:

[Katalyst]

Your right no Co2. I am so glad it is clearing up. They say it is not harmful, but I can't stand the look of it. And of course it is in the non snail tanks.
Can you put some shrimp in there? I'd give you my amano's if we were closer they eat EVERYTHING.

[Pamelajo]

That one tank that is taking longer is the ciclid tank so don't think the amano would last very long. I am sure the occelatus would enjoy them though. LOL

[Katalyst]

Isn't that ALWAYS the way?

[Pamelajo]

yep!