Algae ID and treatment

hilikus16 · 01-28-2009, 07:58 PM

Well i've had this annoying brown algae slowly forming in my tank for a couple weeks now. It mainly covers my substrate and foreground plants. Almost none of my other plants are effected. It seems like it's trying to form a mat over my substrate if it wasn't for my daily poking and stirring of my substrate.

I thought it might be diatoms at first but it's not a dust like algae. It kind of clumps together and slowly forms a mat. Plus, i have two otos and they don't seem to affect it.

Please help me out. This stuff is ugly and annoying. Since i can't seem to find an algae similar to mine...i'm wondering if i might be a bacteria or something?

Here's the best pics i could get- it looks a bit different in real life.

Tank Specs:
-tank- 5.5g aga
-light- DIY canopy with 26w
-filter- Tom Rapids mini canister and a Red Sea Nano
-substrate- Eco Complete
-Co2- DIY 2x20oz bottles
-Fish- 4 neon tetras, 2 otos, and 2 ghost shrimp (my 3rd jumped this morning

)
-Ferts- Flourish Comprehensive, Flourish Iron, and Flourish Excel (occasionally); I have the ingredients for the PPS pro system on the way

**lescarpentier** · 01-29-2009, 08:24 AM

CO2 adequately distributed throughout your tank is the best treatment for algae.

Fat Man · 02-03-2009, 12:38 AM

It could be diatoms. How old is your tank and is there a source of silicates?

hilikus16 · 02-03-2009, 04:09 AM

My tank has been set up since christmas. In the past few days i've become quite positive i actually have hair/thread algae. I've heard from others that theirs has turned brown instead of the normal green. My tank has been getting worse and worse. I have also have some GDA on my glass and a few spots of BGA. I have shortened my photo period to around 9 hours (down from 13), increased my nitrates, and i have been dosing excel daily. I just can't get rid of this stuff. I think a black out is in order if there's no sign of hope by tomorrow.

Jag1980 · 02-03-2009, 05:09 AM

I think the plants you have shown in that picture will die if you do a black out. They are already looking very pale in color.

hilikus16 · 02-03-2009, 06:12 AM

That picture was taken before i got the ingredients to dose PPS-pro style. The plants have since colored up a good bit and are still growing like crazy- especially the downoi

01-28-2009, 07:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
hilikus16 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: georgia Posts: 134	Algae ID and treatment Well i've had this annoying brown algae slowly forming in my tank for a couple weeks now. It mainly covers my substrate and foreground plants. Almost none of my other plants are effected. It seems like it's trying to form a mat over my substrate if it wasn't for my daily poking and stirring of my substrate. I thought it might be diatoms at first but it's not a dust like algae. It kind of clumps together and slowly forms a mat. Plus, i have two otos and they don't seem to affect it. Please help me out. This stuff is ugly and annoying. Since i can't seem to find an algae similar to mine...i'm wondering if i might be a bacteria or something? Here's the best pics i could get- it looks a bit different in real life. Tank Specs: -tank- 5.5g aga -light- DIY canopy with 26w -filter- Tom Rapids mini canister and a Red Sea Nano -substrate- Eco Complete -Co2- DIY 2x20oz bottles -Fish- 4 neon tetras, 2 otos, and 2 ghost shrimp (my 3rd jumped this morning ) -Ferts- Flourish Comprehensive, Flourish Iron, and Flourish Excel (occasionally); I have the ingredients for the PPS pro system on the way Last edited by hilikus16; 01-28-2009 at 11:12 PM.

01-29-2009, 08:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
lescarpentier Algae is over rated (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11/100%) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Tacoma Wa. Posts: 1,430	CO2 adequately distributed throughout your tank is the best treatment for algae. __________________ 'Classic' EHFIPIMP #275 V/P # 5 VTS253A-1993 The first effect of a disaster is to spread a deeper gloom than is due the occasion.

02-03-2009, 05:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
Jag1980 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Washington Posts: 136	I think the plants you have shown in that picture will die if you do a black out. They are already looking very pale in color. __________________ 29 gallon, 3.3wpg, AQUATEK Co2 Injection, 3M S-Grade Black Sand, Fluval 205, EMP-400, Koralia Nano, 200w Stealth Heater 10 gallon Planted Cherry Shrimp and Snail Breeding Tank, 15wpg, Bio-Wheel Mini, 3M S-Grade Black Sand

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02-03-2009, 12:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
Fat Man Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Camino, Ca Posts: 71	It could be diatoms. How old is your tank and is there a source of silicates?

02-03-2009, 04:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
hilikus16 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: georgia Posts: 134	My tank has been set up since christmas. In the past few days i've become quite positive i actually have hair/thread algae. I've heard from others that theirs has turned brown instead of the normal green. My tank has been getting worse and worse. I have also have some GDA on my glass and a few spots of BGA. I have shortened my photo period to around 9 hours (down from 13), increased my nitrates, and i have been dosing excel daily. I just can't get rid of this stuff. I think a black out is in order if there's no sign of hope by tomorrow.

02-03-2009, 06:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
hilikus16 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: georgia Posts: 134	That picture was taken before i got the ingredients to dose PPS-pro style. The plants have since colored up a good bit and are still growing like crazy- especially the downoi

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