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Identify and eradicate please help

634 Views 3 Replies 3 Participants Last post by  puopg
I noticed this algae coming up in my ten gallon shrimp tank. And it needs to go.
I did a 4 day black out covered the tank etc. when is turned the light on today. It was double in size everywhere.

This is a ten gallon tank. Corner sponge filter. Marina s20 hob. Amazonia substrate. Planted plus light. No co2 or ferts. Ph 6.4 gh 5 kh 0

Plants include altern reineckii, glosso, Buce brownie red, Buce kapit, mini Xmas max, subwassertang, hydro japan, persicuria, stauro repens, and crypt metallic red.

Lights are on usually from 10 to 7-8

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Looks a lot like Spirogyra.. This might help:

http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm

Description: Fine strands of green algae sometimes very long in length. Slimy to the touch. Under a microscope the chloroplasts are aligned in a spiral - hence the name.

Cause:
Often appears a couple of weeks after a disturbance that causes a spike in ammonia. This can be anything from a disturbance of the substrate to a dead fish gone unnoticed. Likes high light levels and high nutrient levels.

Removal
: Once it has appeared it can be very hard to clear as it thrives in the same conditions as plants. Pick out as much as possible and do a three day blackout with CO2 turned off and doing large daily water changes. Dose back with macros after the water change. Afterwards I found normal dosing Excel also helped, you could use EasyCarbo or TNC Carbon also. Rosy barbs will eat it if made hungry. Also try reducing the lighting.
Another method to try is to try lean dosing at around 1/4 to 1/8 Estimative Index levels for a few weeks. I had good success doing this.
Knowing this. Makes me want to give up lol
Knowing this. Makes me want to give up lol
I got this also in my tank. Really is a PITA. Ive blacked out and it still lives through it. But, its small, and I just let it stay in there. I have let it grow out before and man it coats everything. But for the past month, I just remove a bit each week on the glass and it hasn't thrived.
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