what is this algae?

darkoon · 04-29-2011, 04:02 PM

does anyone know what this algae is and what causes it? thanks!

**taniner** · 04-29-2011, 04:14 PM

It's hard to see. Try taking the pic with a better light or with a flash.

darkoon · 04-30-2011, 02:07 AM

here is a better picture

**JoraaÑ** · 04-30-2011, 04:09 AM

Interesting....

Capsaicin_MFK · 04-30-2011, 04:12 AM

brown diatom algae if it easily rubs off the leaves

**JoraaÑ** · 04-30-2011, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capsaicin_MFK

brown diatom algae if it easily rubs off the leaves

I doubt! as I had it once long long time back...specially if you have florite in your tank....you notice that!

darkoon · 04-30-2011, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capsaicin_MFK

brown diatom algae if it easily rubs off the leaves

not diatom, doesn't not rub off at all.

Kathyy · 04-30-2011, 10:46 PM

It is a red algae. The Marsilea is a bit stagnant and the old leaves are a great substrate for this algae, get it growing. Make sure there is water movement, CO2 and ferts available. Mine will get this if CO2 is low, suspect that is the usual cause. Haven't tried Excel on it yet, might work. Or might try H2O2 on it. I gave up on the plant formerly known as E. tenellus because of this algae.

**taniner** · 05-01-2011, 12:22 AM

Looks like BBA to me.

darkoon · 05-01-2011, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taniner

Looks like BBA to me.

definitely not bba

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kathyy

It is a red algae. The Marsilea is a bit stagnant and the old leaves are a great substrate for this algae, get it growing. Make sure there is water movement, CO2 and ferts available. Mine will get this if CO2 is low, suspect that is the usual cause. Haven't tried Excel on it yet, might work. Or might try H2O2 on it. I gave up on the plant formerly known as E. tenellus because of this algae.

tried both excel and h2o2, none worked.

**kevmo911** · 05-01-2011, 01:27 AM

Looks like the same stuff I used to get on anubias petite in a medium light tank. I ended up doing a bleach dip, which worked, though it did some damage. Unfortunately you don't have that option. I'd suggest making sure CO2 is readily available, or ripping out all the affected leaves and reducing lighting.

andyjw · 05-01-2011, 07:53 PM

I believe that it is the same algae that I have been fighting for the last 2 years. It also appears on the substrate.

Increased CO2 levels (pressurised), black outs, Flourish Excel, H2O2 don't touch it. Last Xmas, I did a complete strip down and bleached then boiled everything. All the plants were replaced but it made no difference, the algae was back in 6 weeks!

Having given you the bad news, now for the good news - it appears to be a form of bacteria like BGA, not a true algae. In desperation, I dosed the tanked for 5 days with Maracyn (Erythromycin) and it virtually cleared the tank after the fifth day. It has since come back, so I plan a longer dose to try and rid the tank of this algae for good. I hate using antibiotics, but nothing else appears to work.

darkoon · 05-02-2011, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyjw

I believe that it is the same algae that I have been fighting for the last 2 years. It also appears on the substrate.

Increased CO2 levels (pressurised), black outs, Flourish Excel, H2O2 don't touch it. Last Xmas, I did a complete strip down and bleached then boiled everything. All the plants were replaced but it made no difference, the algae was back in 6 weeks!

Having given you the bad news, now for the good news - it appears to be a form of bacteria like BGA, not a true algae. In desperation, I dosed the tanked for 5 days with Maracyn (Erythromycin) and it virtually cleared the tank after the fifth day. It has since come back, so I plan a longer dose to try and rid the tank of this algae for good. I hate using antibiotics, but nothing else appears to work.

yes, that does look like what i have in the tank. fortunately for me, it seems to have somehow stopped developing. don't know for sure yet, i have to trim out all the affected old leaves to be sure. I am actually more interested in finding out the cause of it to prevent it from coming back.

shoteh · 08-29-2011, 01:12 AM

Any update about this algae? I believe I got this as well, though I thought it was BBA. But not sure.

darkoon · 09-19-2011, 08:32 PM

it turned out to be some BGA type of algae, used EM in the tank per instruction on this thread
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/al...d-algae-2.html
it has been a month i believe, plants are growing better, and i don't see any of this black stuff on MM or S repens anymore. Many thanks to Sara who helped identify them with her microscope.

04-29-2011, 04:02 PM	#1
darkoon Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (57/100%) Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 365	what is this algae? does anyone know what this algae is and what causes it? thanks!

04-30-2011, 04:09 AM	#4
JoraaÑ "Tirèd~ about to Retirë " (View User Tanks) PTrader: (311/100%) Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: You are looking at it. Posts: 4,371	Interesting.... __________________ Cheers!!! ªJ "My Time Is Running Out"

04-30-2011, 04:12 AM	#5
Capsaicin_MFK Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (16/100%) Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 757	brown diatom algae if it easily rubs off the leaves __________________ 100g Dutch inspired KDR: 2.45

05-01-2011, 07:53 PM	#12
andyjw Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: UK Posts: 5	I believe that it is the same algae that I have been fighting for the last 2 years. It also appears on the substrate. Increased CO2 levels (pressurised), black outs, Flourish Excel, H2O2 don't touch it. Last Xmas, I did a complete strip down and bleached then boiled everything. All the plants were replaced but it made no difference, the algae was back in 6 weeks! Having given you the bad news, now for the good news - it appears to be a form of bacteria like BGA, not a true algae. In desperation, I dosed the tanked for 5 days with Maracyn (Erythromycin) and it virtually cleared the tank after the fifth day. It has since come back, so I plan a longer dose to try and rid the tank of this algae for good. I hate using antibiotics, but nothing else appears to work. Attached Thumbnails

08-29-2011, 01:12 AM	#14
shoteh Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: MN Posts: 208	Any update about this algae? I believe I got this as well, though I thought it was BBA. But not sure. __________________ Well the snail trap is not working. Maybe wrong bait. I did not have cucumber or cabbage at home so I put some banana instead but they all climb to the wall of the tank. Maybe they know it is a trap. Will try one more night and observe. This time with cucumber which is recommended. ~ CHUNTC

04-29-2011, 04:14 PM	#2
taniner Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (68/100%) Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Hawaii Posts: 411	It's hard to see. Try taking the pic with a better light or with a flash.

04-30-2011, 02:07 AM	#3
darkoon Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (57/100%) Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 365	here is a better picture

04-30-2011, 10:46 PM	#8
Kathyy Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (32/100%) Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Newbury Park, CA Posts: 2,936	It is a red algae. The Marsilea is a bit stagnant and the old leaves are a great substrate for this algae, get it growing. Make sure there is water movement, CO2 and ferts available. Mine will get this if CO2 is low, suspect that is the usual cause. Haven't tried Excel on it yet, might work. Or might try H2O2 on it. I gave up on the plant formerly known as E. tenellus because of this algae.

05-01-2011, 12:22 AM	#9
taniner Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (68/100%) Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Hawaii Posts: 411	Looks like BBA to me.

05-01-2011, 01:27 AM	#11
kevmo911 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (32/100%) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 3,750	Looks like the same stuff I used to get on anubias petite in a medium light tank. I ended up doing a bleach dip, which worked, though it did some damage. Unfortunately you don't have that option. I'd suggest making sure CO2 is readily available, or ripping out all the affected leaves and reducing lighting.

09-19-2011, 08:32 PM	#15
darkoon Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (57/100%) Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 365	it turned out to be some BGA type of algae, used EM in the tank per instruction on this thread http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/al...d-algae-2.html it has been a month i believe, plants are growing better, and i don't see any of this black stuff on MM or S repens anymore. Many thanks to Sara who helped identify them with her microscope.

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