what is this algae?

[Abrium]

I have seen this on a few pieces of my substrate and on the trailing edge of some of my leaves. It never gets out of control and I didn't know it could even turn into a problem.

[jl209]

I think I have this garbage too. Thank god you guys figured it out because nothing kills this stuff but meds apparently. Ill be buying some with a quikness. We need to put the word out about this scourge I think this is commonly mistaken for bba. I have recently increased light, ferts, and c02 and it has spread.

[kamikazi]

I dont see how BGA and BBA could be confused.

All the BBA I have seen it fuzzy, wiry, or bushy and all the BGA I have seen its flat, green, slimy, comes off in sheets and smells funky.

[londonloco]

I have some of this on a rock in my 26g punk tank. I have some Ultra Life BGA remover, I'll let you know if it works.

[jl209]

This type of cyanobacteria is more black in color and doesn't come off like bga. Read the whole thread. I just bought some meds I can't wait to nuke this stuff.

[londonloco]

Originally Posted by jl209

This type of cyanobacteria is more black in color and doesn't come off like bga. Read the whole thread. I just bought some meds I can't wait to nuke this stuff.

I did read the whole thread, what I have in my tank is black, looks just like the pics here.

[jl209]

I was responding to kamikazi

[londonloco]

Originally Posted by jl209

I was responding to kamikazi

Oops, my bad, sorry. I haven't done anything about this black crap on the rock as I wasn't sure what it was. I'll try to find the time today to take it out and see if it scrapes off. I agree, it doesn't look anything like the blue green cyno (or red slime in saltwater tanks).

[jl209]

Its cool. I'm praying this is my problem this stuff is impossible to remove. It must not be that common because there aren't many posts about it. That or most people think its bba. It definetly should be put in the algae database. Since adding more light, ferts, and c02 my other algae is reversing but this stuff is spreading.

[DarkCobra]

I've had this a few times. It's hard and spotty like GSA, and reddish black like BBA.

For me, it appears on plants and hardscape if tank parameters are bad, or particular plants if they're unhealthy and growing slow. I've always been able to deal with it by first fixing any problems, then trimming and/or doing H2O2 spot treatments. Spot treatments are only mildly effective; they must be repeated to slowly remove it, layer by hard layer.

There are dozens of types of nuisance algae, and only a few names. I always assumed it was in the BBA family, just a different type than the fuzzy stuff.

Interesting to hear it may actually be another kind of BGA. I almost wish I had some to experiment on.

[kamikazi]

Originally Posted by jl209

This type of cyanobacteria is more black in color and doesn't come off like bga. Read the whole thread. I just bought some meds I can't wait to nuke this stuff.

I read the whole thread. I was just saying that BGA and BBA don't usually have alot in common. I didn't see where anyone definitively said it was BGA other than in that red algae thread where someone said they went on the advice of it being a type of cyano and treated with EM and it worked.

Just to prevent confusion I don't think whatever this is should be called BGA, maybe just call in cyanobacteria unless the specific type is determined. I don't even really understand how why cyanobacteria is commonly called blue green algae since its not an algae and not alway blue/green. Anytime I have seen reference to BGA its been the green slimy stuff.

[sewingalot]

It's definitely BGA. Here's proof:







Oh, I hit the submit key to fast, so to add, I have a few more shots of this if anyone is interested, but I was able to email the pictures to a guy that studies cyano and he confirmed there were three different cyanos present (I'll look up the names later if anyone is interested). There was also a small amount of GDA and diatoms present, but in neglible amounts.

[kamikazi]

sewingalot could you add captions to the pictures you posted might be helpful for folks in the future to know exactly what they are looking at.

[sewingalot]

Right off hand, I remember Anabaena (the spiraly one), Chroococcus, Gloeocapsa and Microcystis species, but not I need to dig up that email to confirm.

Here is a great link to show different cyanos, by the way:

http://www.keweenawalgae.mtu.edu/gal...obacteria1.htm

[happi]

thanks for the pics Sara, i been getting attacked by the same type of algae and no matter what i do it will always comes back.

someone said using Maracyn (Erythromycin), how much do i use in 50g tank to get rid of this algae.