Algae Identification

[lmw80]

I have recently noticed a certain type of algae growing in my tank. It's thick and gooey...it almost looks like creamed spinach (sorry to gross you out). It forms around the leaves of my plants, especially my aranachis (sp?).

Anyone have any idea what type this is? What can be done about it short of picking out the gobs during maintenance?

Thanks.

[Fruitbat]

Probably a blue-green alga called Oscillatoria. This stuff is bad news because very few algae-eating fish will eat this stuff. It has a unique smell to it as well. If you're not careful it can completely carpet your entire aquarium. At that point you're limited to throwing away everything in the tank, cleaning the aquarium with 10% bleach and starting all over again.

Evil, nasty stuff!!!

[TankGirl]

Yep, sounds like cyanobacteria, which you should be able to peel off relatively easily. It seems that tanks go through a phase with it, and once it is gone, it is gone. I solved the problem with water changes every 2 days for about 10 days. As with all other kinds of unwanted algae, if you remove the nutrients it needs it will go away. Good luck with it!

[Sinuhe]

I seem to be having a problem with this algae in all my tanks at some point. The tank that has been going on for the longest, got some of this stuff. I tried to vacuum out what I could, and the rest disappeared over time, and now there is none left. 2 of my newer tanks still has it, one of them worse. But the fish don't seem to mind. I try to remove as much of it as I can with water changes every 2 days. I hope it goes as TankGirl says, and these 2 tanks will eventually pass this phase as well.

[captainGregor]

I seem to have a problem with diatoms. They live on my driftwood, rocks and plastic plants. Despite weekly 20 % water changes and low (2-3ppm) nitrates, they still there and my otos are not very excited to eat it. As far as slimy green algae - I had no problems with it yet and I do have anacharis. Hate that plant because it is impossible to have it anchored and it grows like it's irradiated or something.

[lmw80]

What are diatoms?

Yes, Anachris is very easy to grow, and needs regular trimming or it will soon take over!

[Sinuhe]

I think the brown stuff, "brown algae" is what diatoms are.

[TankGirl]

Yes, the soft, brown algae is referred to as diatoms. Usually that is just about the only algae otos will eat, so it is surprising they are not chowing down on it, Cap'n. Now that my tank has no diatoms my otos do nothing, and will not eat any kind of green algae. Diatoms generally go away once a tank matures, and often increasing the light slightly will help it go away, but then you are prone to other types of algae, so if I had to choose I would keep the diatoms, since it is so easy to remove!

[captainGregor]

My otos chew on it once in a while but mostly at night. They like to munch on broccoli and zuchinni that I drop in the tank much more. Maybe I need to put them on a diet and then they will eat the diatoms. Those little fish are so cute, but my spotted corys and loaches are now my favorite - what a comical creatures. they like to hang together.