[The Shrimp Father]

Hi, I got to admit I got a little behind in maintenance and my water level got low. I cleaned the tank did a water change. Then this white/grayish hair looking stuff grew on my java fern now has spread to my other plants. I really could not find out what it is online if its natural or harmful. If it is harmful how do I get rid of it. I really dont want to have to get rid of my plants. But I dont want a fish tank of white hairy fungus or algea. This aquarium has fresh water shrimp, celestial pearl danios, and a netrite snail, and pest snails.

 

[Bootsy]

That looks like staghorn algae. Don’t have any advice beyond the usual “balance light, nutrients, and CO2” but there’s a lot of info available on here if you use the search function.

 

[Eric Tran]

Yes it’s staghorn. Assuming without co2 since you have shrimps. I would turn down lights to 5-6 hours a day and while filter is off, also spot dose directly with a syringe hydrogen peroxide 3% found at local drug stores. You can use up to .5 to 1 ml a gallon of tank water. Wait 10 mins then turn back on filters. Do this daily focusing on a new section everyday and slowly you will gain the upper hand.

 

[Frshwtr]

Flourish excel is also excellent at killing this. It's caused by a lack of CO2 and too much light.

 

[The Shrimp Father]

Must have been staghorn like you guys said I turned down the light for a couple of days it turned brown and died