what kind of Algae is this?

[[email protected]]

Hi,
I'm reposting this from the plants forum, since I haven't gotten
responses. Thanks for any help! (maybe I'm just impatient...)

I have a type of algae I'm unfamiliar with. It's growing on glass and
the leaves of plants. I've seen very little on driftwood. Can someone
ID it for me?

Most are about 1/8"-1/4" long, and consist of a "stem", with strands of
"hair" coming out the end. The stem and the hair each take up about
half of the total length of each one. They appear to be white.
(Perhaps, if bigger, they would show another color). At first I
thought they might be hydra, but I've changed my mind. They look more
like an algae. The hairs are many, and strandlike, rather than few and
tentacle like. It's growing everywhere!

Any ideas? What about suggestions for removal? My tank is a 55 gallon
planted tank, with DIY CO2, and, currently, 120 watts of light. I can
up the wattage to 160 by adding a bulb. I have a pleco and otos and
neither seem to be interested in eating it. (The pleco is 12"-13"
long.)

Thanks very much for any suggestions,
Wes

[Billy]

> wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> Most are about 1/8"-1/4" long, and consist of a "stem", with
> strands of
> "hair" coming out the end. The stem and the hair each take up
> about
> half of the total length of each one. They appear to be white.
> (Perhaps, if bigger, they would show another color). At first I
> thought they might be hydra, but I've changed my mind. They look
> more
> like an algae. The hairs are many, and strandlike, rather than few
> and
> tentacle like. It's growing everywhere!
>


Sounds like a fungus???? If so, decrease feeding, increase water
changes, and remove as much as possible via gravel vac or physical
removal.

Tell us about your system, including water parameters and maintenance
regimen!

billy

[[email protected]]

Thanks for the reply!
I have a 55 gallon planted tank, with 120 watts of light (I can easily
up it to 160). I have DIY co2 injection. My filter is an eheim 2215
canister filter. I change water pretty often: at least 35 % once a
week. I'm going to start doing more once my R/O unit arrives (in a
week). My biggest tank inhabitant is my pleco---who's a good 12"
(maybe 13). He produces a lot of waste, which I try to vaccum up each
week---but I certainly miss a lot in the plants. I also have some
tetras and a few of the little oto catfishes. I'm planning on Discus
in the next few weeks. Whatever the stuff is, it is relatively
difficult to remove: you have to physically rub it off with your hands
(the gravel vac wouldn't do it). And it grows on leaves and glass, but
so much on substrate that I see. I've seen a little on driftwood, but
not much. My tank is between 82-84 degrees.

Thanks again for the help!
let me know what other information would be useful.

-Wes

[Billy]

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> week. I'm going to start doing more once my R/O unit arrives (in a


I've been told that RO units aren't a good idea for freshwater tanks.
Something about the water being devoid of elements needed by the
flora and fauna that is provided by salt mixes in marine tanks.

b

[Billy]

"Billy" > wrote in message
...
>
> > wrote in message
> ups.com...
>> week. I'm going to start doing more once my R/O unit arrives (in
>> a
>
>
> I've been told that RO units aren't a good idea for freshwater
> tanks. Something about the water being devoid of elements needed by
> the flora and fauna that is provided by salt mixes in marine tanks.
>


Oh, and I retract my conjection about fungus. Doesn't sound like it
anymore.:)

[coolchinchilla]

Billy wrote:
> > wrote in message
>week. I'm going to start doing more once my R/O unit arrives (in a
>
>
>
> I've been told that RO units aren't a good idea for freshwater tanks.
> Something about the water being devoid of elements needed by the
> flora and fauna that is provided by salt mixes in marine tanks.
>
> b
>
>

Generally I've read that you can mix RO water with tap water to
avoid this problem. You can also add stuff to the water for discus.

coolchinchilla

[NetMax]

"Billy" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Billy" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> > wrote in message
>> ups.com...
>>> week. I'm going to start doing more once my R/O unit arrives (in a
>>
>>
>> I've been told that RO units aren't a good idea for freshwater tanks.
>> Something about the water being devoid of elements needed by the flora
>> and fauna that is provided by salt mixes in marine tanks.
>>
>
>
> Oh, and I retract my conjection about fungus. Doesn't sound like it
> anymore.:)


I'm not so sure. In r.a.f.p., Wes also posted the following:

snip>
Additional information:
They are growing in low-light areas as well as well as high light area,
including on the BOTTOMS of leaves, and glass in shaded areas of the
aquarium. I thought this might be relevant.
<snip

This does not sound like a plant (algae) growth to me, and most people
know that you can get some really funky fungal growth injecting CO2. I
think Billy was right the first time. Just another chemistry experiment
gone bad. The things our poor fish put up with ;~).

ps: From my limited experience, fish seems oblivious to CO2 fungus. It's
probably too distantly related to be a potential contagion... alien
growth ;~).
--
www.NetMax.tk

[[email protected]]

Hi all. First: I am planning on adding minerals to the R/O water. I'm
not going to put it right in. I just want to have control over what
minerals I have.

I should also mention that the fungus (or whatever it is) isn't exactly
taking over the tank. I can only really see it with my eyes an inch
from the glass with my glasses off (I'm quite near sighted). That
said, although small, there seems to be quite a bit of it. Assuming it
is a fungus, is there a good way to go about eradicating it? Even if
many fish seem oblivious to it, it gives me the heebie jeebies.

Thanks again,
Wes

[[email protected]]

Here... this sounds like the same thing that I have:
http://tinyurl.com/7tfhe
I really don't want to empty my tank, though!

Thanks for any help, guys,
Wes

[Dr Engelbert Buxbaum]

wrote:


> Most are about 1/8"-1/4" long, and consist of a "stem", with strands of
> "hair" coming out the end. The stem and the hair each take up about
> half of the total length of each one. They appear to be white.

Then they are definetly not algae, which would be green, blue-green, red
or brown, depending on what kind you have. Do you have access to a
microscope (perhaps in the school of your kids, or from some friend?).
That would be the easiest way to get an identification.

[[email protected]]

Thanks for the reply.

I'm planning on trying to get my girlfriend to look at them under a
microscope---she's a PhD student in Biology, so has access to that
stuff.... I'll let you know what it turns out to be. I'm not TOO
worried, because it's not getting any more prevalent, but I would
definitely like to get rid of it.

Thanks again,
Wes


Dr Engelbert Buxbaum wrote:
> wrote:
>
>
> > Most are about 1/8"-1/4" long, and consist of a "stem", with strands of
> > "hair" coming out the end. The stem and the hair each take up about
> > half of the total length of each one. They appear to be white.
>
> Then they are definetly not algae, which would be green, blue-green, red
> or brown, depending on what kind you have. Do you have access to a
> microscope (perhaps in the school of your kids, or from some friend?).
> That would be the easiest way to get an identification.

[[email protected]]

Thanks for the reply.

I'm planning on trying to get my girlfriend to look at them under a
microscope---she's a PhD student in Biology, so has access to that
stuff.... I'll let you know what it turns out to be. I'm not TOO
worried, because it's not getting any more prevalent, but I would
definitely like to get rid of it.

Thanks again,
Wes


Dr Engelbert Buxbaum wrote:
> wrote:
>
>
> > Most are about 1/8"-1/4" long, and consist of a "stem", with strands of
> > "hair" coming out the end. The stem and the hair each take up about
> > half of the total length of each one. They appear to be white.
>
> Then they are definetly not algae, which would be green, blue-green, red
> or brown, depending on what kind you have. Do you have access to a
> microscope (perhaps in the school of your kids, or from some friend?).
> That would be the easiest way to get an identification.

[sophie]

Dr Engelbert Buxbaum said this:
> wrote:
>
>
>> Most are about 1/8"-1/4" long, and consist of a "stem", with strands of
>> "hair" coming out the end. The stem and the hair each take up about
>> half of the total length of each one. They appear to be white.
>
> Then they are definetly not algae, which would be green, blue-green, red
> or brown, depending on what kind you have. Do you have access to a
> microscope (perhaps in the school of your kids, or from some friend?).
> That would be the easiest way to get an identification.

they sound vaguely like hydra.



--
sophie

[[email protected]]

sophie wrote:
> Dr Engelbert Buxbaum said this:
> > wrote:
> >
> >
> >> Most are about 1/8"-1/4" long, and consist of a "stem", with strands of
> >> "hair" coming out the end. The stem and the hair each take up about
> >> half of the total length of each one. They appear to be white.
> >
> > Then they are definetly not algae, which would be green, blue-green, red
> > or brown, depending on what kind you have. Do you have access to a
> > microscope (perhaps in the school of your kids, or from some friend?).
> > That would be the easiest way to get an identification.
>
> they sound vaguely like hydra.
>
>


They do, but That's not what they are. They don't have tentacles, but
thin strands of hair (and too many strands for it to be hydra
tentacles.) I considered this possibility, and even treated for it,
but have since ruled it out. Assuming my problem is a fungus, what is
the best solution for removal? (Most "anti-fungal" aquarium
medications are actually anti-bacteria...)

-Wes

[[email protected]]

I should also add that they grow very profusely in the tubing going to
my eheim 2215 canister (where there is very little light).

-Wes