What kind of algae is this? - Aquarium Advice

fishieguy · 04-16-2005, 02:55 PM

What kind of algae is this? It's clumping on decorations, plants and the gravel in a couple of places.

Meredith · 04-16-2005, 03:33 PM

It looks like black beard algae to me. I have heard that amano shrimp MAY eat it, but don't quote me on that. you will probably just have to scrape it off.

jsoong · 04-16-2005, 11:42 PM

Looks like what I have ..... been trying to get rid of it for months .....

This may be black beard algae, or maybe some form of diatoms or blue green algae .... a close up might help, but true [acronym:a4b0627c24="Identify"]ID[/acronym:a4b0627c24] needs a microscope (& a biologist

!)

BBA is tough to get rid of, nothing will eat it (although some will as a last resort). I did lots of looking on the net (& the plant forum here) & eventually settled on correcting a presumed nutrient imbalance by adding KNO3 to the tank. This is supposed to work only in high light planted tank with [acronym:a4b0627c24="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:a4b0627c24] (the [acronym:a4b0627c24="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]K[/acronym:a4b0627c24] & [acronym:a4b0627c24="Nitrate"]NO3[/acronym:a4b0627c24] gives the plants a boost so they can outcompete the algae).

I've had some success with this in my low light, no [acronym:a4b0627c24="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:a4b0627c24] planted tank. I kept the [acronym:a4b0627c24="Nitrate"]NO3[/acronym:a4b0627c24] level around 10 by adding 1/2 teaspoon of KNO3 a week. The BBA isn't all gone, but is not coming back after I physically removed it.

Last week, however, possibly because my hornwort had grown so much & taking in more nitrates than before, the [acronym:a4b0627c24="Nitrate"]NO3[/acronym:a4b0627c24] level fell to trace .... and the BBA was back within a couple days ... so I am back to increasing the KNO3 dose & cleaning everything ... AGAIN ........

04-16-2005, 02:55 PM	#1
fishieguy Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: North Carolina Posts: 35 Images: 3	What kind of algae is this? What kind of algae is this? It's clumping on decorations, plants and the gravel in a couple of places. __________________ My Little Atlantis No knowledge, no experience, no clue -- just a geek's desire to see whether he can keep from killing too many fish.

04-16-2005, 11:42 PM	#3
jsoong Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 1,894	Looks like what I have ..... been trying to get rid of it for months ..... This may be black beard algae, or maybe some form of diatoms or blue green algae .... a close up might help, but true [acronym:a4b0627c24="Identify"]ID[/acronym:a4b0627c24] needs a microscope (& a biologist !) BBA is tough to get rid of, nothing will eat it (although some will as a last resort). I did lots of looking on the net (& the plant forum here) & eventually settled on correcting a presumed nutrient imbalance by adding KNO3 to the tank. This is supposed to work only in high light planted tank with [acronym:a4b0627c24="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:a4b0627c24] (the [acronym:a4b0627c24="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]K[/acronym:a4b0627c24] & [acronym:a4b0627c24="Nitrate"]NO3[/acronym:a4b0627c24] gives the plants a boost so they can outcompete the algae). I've had some success with this in my low light, no [acronym:a4b0627c24="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:a4b0627c24] planted tank. I kept the [acronym:a4b0627c24="Nitrate"]NO3[/acronym:a4b0627c24] level around 10 by adding 1/2 teaspoon of KNO3 a week. The BBA isn't all gone, but is not coming back after I physically removed it. Last week, however, possibly because my hornwort had grown so much & taking in more nitrates than before, the [acronym:a4b0627c24="Nitrate"]NO3[/acronym:a4b0627c24] level fell to trace .... and the BBA was back within a couple days ... so I am back to increasing the KNO3 dose & cleaning everything ... AGAIN ........ __________________ 75 gal FW with 30 gal DIY wet/dry/sump. 9 fancy golds, 1 hillstream loaches, 1 rubber-lip pleco (C. thomasi), 3 SAEs, planted.

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04-16-2005, 03:33 PM	#2
Meredith Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Washington Posts: 3,184 Images: 17	It looks like black beard algae to me. I have heard that amano shrimp MAY eat it, but don't quote me on that. you will probably just have to scrape it off.