Brush algae

[fishfanatic80]

I’m having a difficult time getting rid of brush algae any suggestions? I’ve added 3 true siamaese algae eaters to combat it with no luck and some nerite snails. Also have two swordtails which won’t eat it. I’ve cut back on feeding but not my lighting yet. Thinking about trimming my plants to get rid of it. I’ll take some pictures when I get home. On a side note super happy my apistos breeding. Proud parents and fry. I have a fry tank set up underneath the tank. Can’t wait to grow these guys out

 

[Lilyann]

Do you fertilize your plants?
What are your water parameters? Nitrates levels between water changes? PH, KH/GH? These levels are important because can throw off uptake of nutrients, even when available.

Many times it is simply the lack of balance between the intensity of lighting ( encouraging plants to grow) and availability of nutrients ( not enough nutrients : NPK, Iron, and trace minerals to keep plants healthy). In this situation, with lack of balance between lighting and nutrients, algae has the advantage.

How many plants do you have in tank- hard to tell from picture given- it looks low density?. You may do better adding more plants to match lighting intensity as well as adding liquid dosing to water column. There are some good all-in one fertilizers you could use that make dosing nutrients less a hassle, although using powders that you mix on your own is a more economical way to go.

This is a really good site that addresses all the issues/questions I ask above ( and much, much more)- hope this helps.

https://www.advancedplantedtank.com/adv_nutrients.html

 

[fishfanatic80]

I wouldn’t say it’s low density on the plants, I was dozing ferts then stopped after the outbreak

 

[tiger15]

What you have is black beard algae. Here are two weapons you can combact bba. First,do a large WC and spray with 3% peroxide to exposed algae. Don’t worry about spill over as peroxide will turn into o2 and won’t harm fish. Refill the tank and resume dosing fert.

Second, dose SeaChem Excel according to instructions: 5x after WC and 1x daily. It will stop bba from expanding but may kill your snail.

Repeat WC and above treatments weekly.

These are bandage measures. When you balance out nutrients,light and co2 and get more plant mass, plants will be happy and bba will go away.

 

[Lilyann]

tiger15 recommendations above were all I did to get BBA in 2 of my tanks to go away. Consistent dosing of ferts and glut to water column, added more plants, and added appropriate lighting to match the needs of the plants .- which were low-medium to high- medium lighting plants.
I also did the H20 methods described, It worked nicely, but took the plants a good month to month and a half until they fully revived and began to grow well again. I imagine with pressurized Co2 this would take far less time.
I thought this looked like what I had had at time, but I am no expert- at all- still a novice.