Brown beard/thread algae

[taz]

My tank has been suddenly infected by this brown beard or thread like algae. All this because of a pot of plant I purchase and place it in the tank. Though I remove most of the algae by hand on toothpicks, the algae seems to be unstoppable. Clinging onto most of the plants now. It looks like green thread algae but its brown. Yamato doesn't seems to be eating it. Any ideas how I can get this out of the tank? Thanks!

[PeterGwee]

More info would help and even better a pic ID of the algae.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[ahkarboy]

does it look like a thread or a web? if yes then u have to manually remove it until its gone. (dad told me cause i have it too)

[taz]

does it look like a thread or a web? if yes then u have to manually remove it until its gone. (dad told me cause i have it too)

Yep yep. More like web or beard. Clinging to the plants, waving in the water current flow. Very annoying. I've been removing it everyday. But I do miss a spot or two then it starts growing again.

I had an old algae remover (2 years old) when I use to remove brown algae before. But haven't use it for a long time. I thought of bombing it. And with a powerhead I would let the water circulate for 2 hours before a water change. Should I turn my external filter off while this in the process? Will it be too long?

[ahkarboy]

u also have to do water changes too, to get rid of the algae. it might be the fert leaking out from your substrate. so basically u need to try to remove it and do water changes weekly.

[neon]

If it is brown and like thin film when lift up, it is diatom. Get a few oto to clean it up and they are good on this .

Recently set up a 2 ft , despite running with existing stable tank water, filter sponse, filter wool, mulm, daily squeeze in mulm from other tank filter sponge, brown algae (diatom) was rampant. Threw in 3 otos, cleaned up in 2 days and now with sparkling clean ADA soils and side glass.

In a big tank like 6 ft, diatom will last for few weeks, my few otos did not manage to clean them, only after many frequent water change and suction can eliminate them. Of course, the tank must also stablize in the process.

Cheers

[taz]

More info would help and even better a pic ID of the algae.

Regards
Peter Gwee

I have exactly like what this guy have. http://gpodio.com/h2o2.asp I'm refering to the thread algae problem.

I just attacked them last night. Hopefully they will die off.

[ahkarboy]

will that solution harm my shrimps? has anyone ever used it other than the reviewer?

[taz]

I did inject the H2O2 directly to the algae. What I saw the algae turned to green after I applied the H2O2. Changed the water 2 hours later. I apply this method twice to have full effect. I glad to see that the algae had cleared from the tank. So far my shrimps are fine.

[ahkarboy]

what do you mean you injected H202 directly to the algae?? How much did you use? how did you inject it? (just pouring it in the tank or another way)

[freezze]

is this BBA?



look like my wood shrimp like to eat it

[BFG]

Looks like it. Don't think that shrimp is eating it.

[freezze]

i saw both my wood shrimp munching on the BBA..

this is the other shrimp (note the hairy black stuff at it mouth)

[taz]

what do you mean you injected H202 directly to the algae?? How much did you use? how did you inject it? (just pouring it in the tank or another way)

I use a syringe (w/o the needle, of course) with H2O2 and spray it directly to the algae. I roughly use about 30ml in total. You should see the bubbles forming on the algae. Change the water after about 2 hours later. You can repeat the same process two days later.

[tawauboy]

if your tank has delicate plants, h2o2 will 'burn' them.