lorddaftwager
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Can anyone tell me what this stuff growing off of my java ferns is? Is there an animal that will eat it? Am I off balance somehow?
Algae?
- Thread starter lorddaftwager
- Start date
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BBradbury
Aquarium Advice Addict
- Joined
- May 24, 2011
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Hello lord...
A type of hair algae. It's generally a sign you're keeping a relatively clean tank. Livebearing fish are good algae eaters. Platys and Swordtails are good, hardy species. They do best in larger tanks, so hopefully this is what you have.
Large, frequent water changes will help reduce algae and if you reduce the amount of food you feed your fish, this will help too. Avoid flaked food that's high in phosphate.
B
A type of hair algae. It's generally a sign you're keeping a relatively clean tank. Livebearing fish are good algae eaters. Platys and Swordtails are good, hardy species. They do best in larger tanks, so hopefully this is what you have.
Large, frequent water changes will help reduce algae and if you reduce the amount of food you feed your fish, this will help too. Avoid flaked food that's high in phosphate.
B
Fresh2o
Aquarium Advice Addict
Is it only occurring near the surface of do you see it throughout the tank? If it is near the surface it may be due to the lights being on too long or simply too strong. I'd first start with physical removal using a tooth brush. I had a problem with hair algae in my shrimp tank and decreasing the lights plus the addition of floating plants helped deter it.
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OP
lorddaftwager
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Cool, thanks. Glad to know it's not neglect on my part. This is a 10 gallon, heavily planted low-tech with one pea puffer, one amano, and one dwarf crayfish. Maybe i need more cleanup crew. I do water 50% water changes every two weeks. Thanks again for the advice!
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OP
lorddaftwager
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
It seems to be attached to any plant that's not moss, but yes, mostly concentrated directly under my light. I keep it on for about 5-6 hours a day. (Too long?) Im paranoid about my Monte Carlo carpeting staying healthy.
Fresh2o
Aquarium Advice Addict
5-6 is not too long. What kind of lights are you using?
Monte Carlo carpet without CO2? Nice. What is your substrate and fertilizer regime?
Monte Carlo carpet without CO2? Nice. What is your substrate and fertilizer regime?
OP
OP
lorddaftwager
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
It's a 5w led (500 lumen). I do have co2. It's just a budget setup. Tropica system 60 with disposable cannisters. Wanted to see if I could manage plants before investing in a serious injection system. The substrate is tropica plant growth. Fertilizer is tropica plant growth as well. Once a week. My first try at a heavily planted tank.
