Persistent thread algae...IT'S ALIVE!

1105 Views 4 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Varmint, Oct 3, 2016

Mr. Bean

Discussion Starter · Oct 3, 2016

Quick SetUp Info: 24 gallon cube, CO2 @ 2bps, Finnex Ray2 and Planted Plus lights at 8hrs a day, 1/2 dose of THRIVE liquid ferts twice a week, NILOC clay macro tabs under rooted plants. Fully planted tank, water is zero ammonia/nitrites and 5-10 ppm nitrates. NOTE: current problem began BEFORE I added the Planted Plus in the back half of the aquarium for the taller plants. Also, I have 3 nerite snails, two CoryCats and three Amano shrimp in there...none of them seem at all interested in helping out with this stuff!

I battled cotton candy-like brown algae for months, began dosing Excel and it disappeared within two weeks. BUT...it was replaced by this thread algae that appears on the tips and edges of plant leaves. Looooong individual threads. I'll clean it off and its back the next day, if I miss a day it can grow to six or so inches within a couple of days. If I had to leave for a few days it would quickly be a significant problem. I do a 50% water change every Saturday, dose 2ml of Excel at that time and then 1ml a day after that...I believe that is conservative dosing.

Any ideas of what causes this particular type of algae?

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IntotheWRX

· #2 · Oct 3, 2016

Mr. Bean said:
Quick SetUp Info: 24 gallon cube, CO2 @ 2bps, Finnex Ray2 and Planted Plus lights at 8hrs a day, 1/2 dose of THRIVE liquid ferts twice a week, NILOC clay macro tabs under rooted plants. Fully planted tank, water is zero ammonia/nitrites and 5-10 ppm nitrates. NOTE: current problem began BEFORE I added the Planted Plus in the back half of the aquarium for the taller plants. Also, I have 3 nerite snails, two CoryCats and three Amano shrimp in there...none of them seem at all interested in helping out with this stuff!

I battled cotton candy-like brown algae for months, began dosing Excel and it disappeared within two weeks. BUT...it was replaced by this threat algae that appears on the tips and edges of plant leaves. I'll clean it off and its back the next day, if I miss a day it can grow to six or so inches within a couple of days. If I had to leave for a few days it would quickly be a significant problem. I do a 50% water change every Saturday, dose 2ml of Excel at that time and then 1ml a day after that...I believe that is conservative dosing.

Any ideas of what causes this particular type of algae?

pics or description of the algae to diagnose?

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kinzo

· #3 · Oct 3, 2016

Do you mean THREAD algae? Is it cladophora? Try and google to compare. Hopefully it's not bc clad likes the same stuff your plants likes and you pretty much will have to do over to completely be rid of it. However, if you are persistent, consistent and observant enough, you may try to spot treat with H202 (filter off for 10 minutes minimum). Just a small micro squeeze with a plastic syringe is enough to kill it (it'll have small bubbles on them and will turn white a day or two). Doing it every few days continuously will eventually kill most of it.

Also, check your water flow to make sure the algae isn't popping up bc of dead zones. Circulation is often ignored and is the cause for a lot of algae issues.

Good luck.

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Bananableps

· #4 · Oct 3, 2016

Corys don't do anything for algae control and nerites are often too big to climb around on plants, so really you just have 3 shrimp cleaning a 24 gallon tank. Have you considered any algae-eating fish?

Kinzo's hydrogen peroxide recommendation is a good one. If you want to go all out, remove 90% of your tanks water and sprits the exposed plants directly with H2O2, let that soak in for a minute or two, then refill.

How is your plant growth? Most algae is either A) Plants not thriving well enough to outcompete algae or B) Too much light/nutrients/etc for plants to eat all of, so algae consumes the excess.

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Varmint

· #5 · Oct 3, 2016

You could get three more Amano shrimp: Algal control - Tropica Aquarium Plants
Getting the right population works wonders. They eat both hair algae and clado. At least mine did.

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