Identify This Algae

[Mystix212]

Due to an phenominal amount of sunlight my tank recieves, this strain of algae grows like weeds. The tank is situated directly to the side of a large window. There is absolute NO were I can move it to and or completely block out the sunlight as my parents will not place up curtains and the aluminium blinds dont block out everything.
This stuff grows on any surface which is in the direct position of the sun. Meaing if there was a spherical rock placed in the tank, there would be 50% coverage of algae with a distinct ending point.

It recently took me 40 minutes to scrub this off the 3ft x 18" high pane of rear glass. The rest of the tank glass was scrubbed but I put the back off for too long. Bad move.

Any hits or tips to help reduce this problem is appreciated. And just for the record, my 4" Bristlenose pleco will not even attempt to clean it. I prefer him to eat a healthy, vege based diet anyway.

 

[Dr Joe]

Beard or brsuh algae, in the red algae family


1) Scrubbing

2) Bleach bath (1 part bleach, 19 parts water) for 2-3 minutes for the plants, then clean off dead algae, remove over infested leaves.

3) Treat with Copper algicide 0.5 ppm for 7-10 days (remove fish during treatment & could hurt pants) Remove with carbon.

4) Siamese algae eater (Crossocheilus siamensis) & Florida Flag Fish, some mollies (black) if not fed.

And what you don't want to hear... Prevention.

I have seen this grown out to two inches on a bunch of bottm rocks and it looked beautiful waving in the currents.
That would be a veggie diet .

Dr Joe

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[Mystix212]

I'll look into purchasing 2-3 SAE's? I have brought 1 before but it jumped the first night it was in the tank. What a waste of 5 bucks.

 

[Pirwhana]

my otocinclus love that stuff!!!! They have been eating it as much as they can.

 

[WyldFya]

There are two other options. One Excel bath/injection, and two hydrogen peroxide will also kill it, but in high amounts. Check your phosphate levels.

 

[dthomasi]

I know you said there is no way to move it or put up curtains, but could you possibly black out the outside of the tank where the sun comes in? (construction paper or something).

Just a thought, but if you use that part of the tank for viewing I guess it won't work.

 

[Dr Joe]

I'll look into purchasing 2-3 SAE's? I have brought 1 before but it jumped the first night it was in the tank. What a waste of 5 bucks.

You don't have a cover?! Did you know there are some DIY threads on here about making one .

 

[WyldFya]

Glass lids and planted tanks create lower growth rates. Blacking out your light coming in won't do too much. Check your phosphate levels, they are probably quite high, which is what BBA thrives on.

 

[Mystix212]

You don't have a cover?! Did you know there are some DIY threads on here about making one .

Of course I have a cover. Its an acrylic sheet with a hole in it to put my finger in to lift it out. But the thing is that its .3" too short. Meaning if it was not pushed all the way back, the SAE had .3" of space to jump out of. I also find hoods less appealing.

 

[Burtess]

I have this BBA in my rose queen tank. It will grow on the large flowerpot and on the couple of rocks I have in there. I just let it get about an inch long, then pull the deco and scrub it off. I think once you get it in a tank, it is very difficult to get rid of. This is the only tank I have it in, out of the 6 tanks I have.

Burt