Is this algae?

**andrew73** · 14th Nov 2008, 01:40

What type of algae is this? It started growing on a few strands of flame moss that I bought in the marketplace. Is this easily removed and if so, how?

Many thanks!!!

**jhseah** · 14th Nov 2008, 06:47

Not exactly sure what's the name of the algae (Black Brush Algae??) Leave to the experts to advise you on the name.

You should try manually remove them if possible.

If not, get a small SAE (Siamese Algae Eater) to remove them for you but they might go for your moss first before going to the algae.

**Shadow** · 14th Nov 2008, 08:54

look like black beard algae to me. You can spot treatment using H2O2 or Seachem excel and then clean your filter up your CO2 level.

**andrew73** · 15th Nov 2008, 01:20

How do I spot treat the moss? What causes the algae? I intend to do a water change later today so can I just pluck off the bits that are infested? I can't up the CO2 as my tank is a low tech so just moss tied on mesh and driftwood. Perhaps the adding of ketapang leaves didn't help though I did soak the leaves for a few days before dropping them into the tank.

As for my bioload, I have 6 each of rasboras and red eye tetras and a pair of rainbow sharks. The shrimps, I can't quite tell as I haven't seen them lately! All this in a 2x1x10" tank, using Eheim 2008 filter and 1 T5 tube at each end of the tank.

Any info on the cause, corrective and preventive measures will be much appreciated! Thanks all, in advance!

**Aquaculture** · 18th Nov 2008, 10:44

You can eyeball BBA using Hydrogen Peroxide. It worked well for me although some bros have good experience with Seachem Excel too.

**andrew73** · 19th Nov 2008, 02:30

Was reading the Excel vx H2O2 thread. I'm worried H2O2 would harm the fauna. I do notice a few more strands of my moss being infected already, together with another form of algae-hair, I think! I've added Yamato's recently but perhaps they're still getting used to the tank so they're not doing much just yet! Fingers X'd, they'll get to it soon enough!

**Aquaculture** · 20th Nov 2008, 10:44

My weapons against BBA is H2O2, fish and shrimps are still swimming happily.

Whereas hair algae would be to employ Malaya shrimps.

**andrew73** · 20th Nov 2008, 18:41

So you'd drop the H2O2 on the isolated shrubs of BBA? Ok...will try not to use too much each time!

Malayans are scarce at the moment-think they're very high in demand!

**beetroot** · 20th Nov 2008, 22:10

I think Cherries clean up hair algae very efficiently too!

**Aquaculture** · 20th Nov 2008, 22:38

I used a syringe with needle to really pin-point on the BBA. As I'm a bobo shooter, I'm like literally touching it when H2O2 squirt on it.

**andrew73** · 24th Nov 2008, 01:29

Bobo shooter? What's that?

My yamato's seem to be ignoring the BBA so I may resort to your method! Hehe!

**Shadow** · 24th Nov 2008, 08:52

well Yamato does not usually touch fresh BBA. Once you inject H2O2/Excel using syringe, the BBA will turn red abd then white. Yamato will start eating them when it turn white, at least that what I observe

**andrew73** · 24th Nov 2008, 12:57

Ah...looks like I need to get me some H2O2 and a syringe!

**Shadow** · 24th Nov 2008, 15:14

You can get it from Guardian or watson. One of the must have chemical for planted tank

**WiNd08** · 24th Nov 2008, 16:18

thank God that i work in a lab

freeee syringeee and H2O2

**andrew73** · 24th Nov 2008, 20:59

I can buy a syringe from watson's/guardian just like that? Ok! Thought I had to pull my strings to get it from some clinic! Haha!

**flybaits** · 24th Nov 2008, 21:25

got this when i purchased some thai fissidens. realised it at home when inspecting under the sun. tried maually but they jus came back. at last placed it with my malayan shrimps, and within a couple of days they r gone. the malayans stil tending to it now n they r growin gracefully...............lol

jus my experience.

cheers.

**WiNd08** · 24th Nov 2008, 21:46

yes no doubt that Malayan shrimps are great remover of quite a few species of algae.

mine cleared my thread algae within a few days after introduction! Oto does well also!

**andrew73** · 25th Nov 2008, 14:34

Have syringed(!) the BBA stalks with H2O2. Think I may have missed one of the 2 so I'll see how it turns out in a few days, I guess. The bubbling got me worried! Hehe!