Black Hair vs Flourish Excel

[Burbotman]

Hello, I am having a bit of an issue with Black Hair on my Swords. I see references to the "Double dose Flourish Excel trick" for removing this.

My question is on dosing information. Is it a one shot double dose or is it repeated over a number of days?

Any input from someone who has had success with this would be appreciated.

I have tried manual removal, algea eating fish are not an option due to the big preds in the tank.

Thanks in advance

 

[I'mHooked]

I've never "overdosed" with excel before, but I've heard of people triple dosing for the first dose, and then slowly decreasing it from there for about a week...

I'm thinkin' once you stop dosing the high levels of excel though, you're just going to get algae problems again. Excel only treats the symptoms, not really the cause.

 

[velanarris]

Is it staghorn algae or black brush algae?

 

[Burbotman]

Is it staghorn algae or black brush algae?

I believe it is the black brush. Small black "hairs" about 1/2 long growing off of the edges of the plants.

 

[velanarris]

A picture would help more, but, if it's BBA, (looks like fur almost) Excel will nuke it pretty quickly. It'll turn brownish, then grey, and fall off.

If it's staghorn, which looks like a filament or thin pieces of brownish or blackish wire, that will need a lot more time and consistent treatment.

The reason why Excel works on these types of algae is two fold.

BBA typically results as a matter of low localized CO2. Meaning your circulation isn't 100% effective, or you have a drought of Co2 in the system. Typically the cause is the former rather than the latter as CO2 is not a well mixed gas in solution. The carbon compounds in excel will kill off this algae.

Staghorn isn't well understood and can arise virtually anytime. The problem with staghorn is it can erupt if any of your parameters are WAY out of wack, even for just a few days. You can get stagged after a sloppy water change for example. Excel will kill this because of the algacides included in Excel. The problem here is, you'll have to physically remove the dead algae. A toothbrush works well for this. Now the only saving grace of staghorn algae is that Mollies will eat it happily.

If it is really BBA, the best solution will probably be to get a powerhead to up your circulation and watch it melt away on its own, (takes a week or two usually).

 

[Burbotman]

A picture would help more, but, if it's BBA, (looks like fur almost) Excel will nuke it pretty quickly. It'll turn brownish, then grey, and fall off.

If it's staghorn, which looks like a filament or thin pieces of brownish or blackish wire, that will need a lot more time and consistent treatment.

The reason why Excel works on these types of algae is two fold.

BBA typically results as a matter of low localized CO2. Meaning your circulation isn't 100% effective, or you have a drought of Co2 in the system. Typically the cause is the former rather than the latter as CO2 is not a well mixed gas in solution. The carbon compounds in excel will kill off this algae.

Staghorn isn't well understood and can arise virtually anytime. The problem with staghorn is it can erupt if any of your parameters are WAY out of wack, even for just a few days. You can get stagged after a sloppy water change for example. Excel will kill this because of the algacides included in Excel. The problem here is, you'll have to physically remove the dead algae. A toothbrush works well for this. Now the only saving grace of staghorn algae is that Mollies will eat it happily.

If it is really BBA, the best solution will probably be to get a powerhead to up your circulation and watch it melt away on its own, (takes a week or two usually).

After looking at some photos of both types on the net, I have Staghorn.
Now trying Excel, lower light and moving the driftwood in the tank to improve circulation.

 

[velanarris]

Don't lower the light. Staghorn is not light dependent.

 

[Burbotman]

Don't lower the light. Staghorn is not light dependent.

Thank you for the advice, I have just added the Excel, rearranged the tank and will leave the lights alone.

 

[velanarris]

Keep us posted. I'm thinking 3 weeks or so and you should see that it's mostly dead.

Just remember, if you are OD'ing the excel to do a reasonable water change weekly.

 

[Burbotman]

What a change!!!!

After only 3 days the "black hairs" have turned a pale translucent brown.

No new growth. So far so good......