the Attack of the Black Algae

[Gwenyvar]

its like a alien has taken over my 155 gal fish tank.

Description of alien form:
Short - looks Fuzz but not like the bear - is not stringy
brow to black
growing on everything but the glass, loose rock/sand , plants and drift wood
( Malaysian) - alien does not like the wood.


About the Tank:
155 gal
cichlids & 4 placos ( ugly fat *******s)
live plants
rocks and sand base
hiding holes - caves like things - clay pot - coconuts shells
drift wood ( Malaysian) - alien does not like the wood.
Lights - growth light only on for 14 hours a day - might be the source of
the alien.
feeding about once to twice a day
has uv sterilizer
2 - filters fluval 404


If you can help that would be great other wise what is the number for
Ripley?

[T]

Might sound stupid, but does it have exposure to natrual light? I have had
this as well, ( looked like black angel hair ). I don't think I did anything
to rid of it, if I remember correctly, it disappeared on its own.. I seem
to remember somewheres, it was suggested the lighting had something to do
with it.. Perhaps someone else has an idea...

Tim..


"Gwenyvar" > wrote in message
...
> its like a alien has taken over my 155 gal fish tank.
>
> Description of alien form:
> Short - looks Fuzz but not like the bear - is not stringy
> brow to black
> growing on everything but the glass, loose rock/sand , plants and drift
wood
> ( Malaysian) - alien does not like the wood.
>
>
> About the Tank:
> 155 gal
> cichlids & 4 placos ( ugly fat *******s)
> live plants
> rocks and sand base
> hiding holes - caves like things - clay pot - coconuts shells
> drift wood ( Malaysian) - alien does not like the wood.
> Lights - growth light only on for 14 hours a day - might be the source of
> the alien.
> feeding about once to twice a day
> has uv sterilizer
> 2 - filters fluval 404
>
>
> If you can help that would be great other wise what is the number for
> Ripley?
>
>
>

[KEITH JENNINGS]

Erythromycin will kill most kinds of algae without damaging your nitrogen
cycle. Treat with Erythromycin for 5 days, then do 30 percent water changes
for at least 3 days. Don't forget weekly water changes or it will likely
come back again.

The main causes are overfeeding and insufficient water changes. The kind I'm
talking about is slimy but looks fuzzy, and is about 1 cm / 0.5 inches
long. That %#*! stuff grows on almost everything, glass, plants, rocks,
the shells of snails if you don't get it under control.

Keith J.


"T" > wrote in message
link.net...
> Might sound stupid, but does it have exposure to natrual light? I have
had
> this as well, ( looked like black angel hair ). I don't think I did
anything
> to rid of it, if I remember correctly, it disappeared on its own.. I seem
> to remember somewheres, it was suggested the lighting had something to do
> with it.. Perhaps someone else has an idea...
>
> Tim..
>
>
> "Gwenyvar" > wrote in message
> ...
> > its like a alien has taken over my 155 gal fish tank.
> >
> > Description of alien form:
> > Short - looks Fuzz but not like the bear - is not stringy
> > brow to black
> > growing on everything but the glass, loose rock/sand , plants and drift
> wood
> > ( Malaysian) - alien does not like the wood.
> >
> >
> > About the Tank:
> > 155 gal
> > cichlids & 4 placos ( ugly fat *******s)
> > live plants
> > rocks and sand base
> > hiding holes - caves like things - clay pot - coconuts shells
> > drift wood ( Malaysian) - alien does not like the wood.
> > Lights - growth light only on for 14 hours a day - might be the source
of
> > the alien.
> > feeding about once to twice a day
> > has uv sterilizer
> > 2 - filters fluval 404
> >
> >
> > If you can help that would be great other wise what is the number for
> > Ripley?
> >
> >
> >
>
>

[Gwenyvar]

Thank you for your help. I will try all that was suggested and keep you
posted on how the battle is going.

Thanks
Gwen

"Gwenyvar" > wrote in message
...
> its like a alien has taken over my 155 gal fish tank.
>
> Description of alien form:
> Short - looks Fuzz but not like the bear - is not stringy
> brow to black
> growing on everything but the glass, loose rock/sand , plants and drift
wood
> ( Malaysian) - alien does not like the wood.
>
>
> About the Tank:
> 155 gal
> cichlids & 4 placos ( ugly fat *******s)
> live plants
> rocks and sand base
> hiding holes - caves like things - clay pot - coconuts shells
> drift wood ( Malaysian) - alien does not like the wood.
> Lights - growth light only on for 14 hours a day - might be the source of
> the alien.
> feeding about once to twice a day
> has uv sterilizer
> 2 - filters fluval 404
>
>
> If you can help that would be great other wise what is the number for
> Ripley?
>
>
>

[Mephistopheles]

"KEITH JENNINGS" > wrote in
:

> Erythromycin will kill most kinds of algae without damaging your
> nitrogen cycle.

KEITH,
Erythromycin will NOT kill algae. It will, however, kill some
varieties of cyanobacteria, which are sometimes referred to as "blue-
green algae", though it is not algae at all, but a form of bacteria.
(Its only similarity to algae is that it has chlorophyll and can
therefore convert light into energy). Moreover, since erythromycin
is an antibiotic, you must be careful when using it lest you create
bacterial strains that are resistant to it.

Cyanobacteria is characterized by growth in undifferentiated sheets.
No plant like leaves or hairs will be visible.

Meph

>Treat with Erythromycin for 5 days, then do 30
> percent water changes for at least 3 days. Don't forget weekly
> water changes or it will likely come back again.
>
> The main causes are overfeeding and insufficient water changes.
> The kind I'm talking about is slimy but looks fuzzy, and is
> about 1 cm / 0.5 inches long. That %#*! stuff grows on almost
> everything, glass, plants, rocks, the shells of snails if you
> don't get it under control.
>
> Keith J.
>
>
> "T" > wrote in message
> link.net...
>> Might sound stupid, but does it have exposure to natrual
>> light? I have had this as well, ( looked like black angel
>> hair ). I don't think I did anything
>> to rid of it, if I remember correctly, it disappeared on its
>> own.. I seem to remember somewheres, it was suggested the
>> lighting had something to do with it.. Perhaps someone else has
>> an idea...
>>
>> Tim..
>>
>>
>> "Gwenyvar" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > its like a alien has taken over my 155 gal fish tank.
>> >
>> > Description of alien form:
>> > Short - looks Fuzz but not like the bear - is not stringy
>> > brow to black
>> > growing on everything but the glass, loose rock/sand , plants
>> > and drift wood ( Malaysian) - alien does not like the wood.
>> >
>> >
>> > About the Tank:
>> > 155 gal
>> > cichlids & 4 placos ( ugly fat *******s)
>> > live plants
>> > rocks and sand base
>> > hiding holes - caves like things - clay pot - coconuts shells
>> > drift wood ( Malaysian) - alien does not like the wood.
>> > Lights - growth light only on for 14 hours a day - might be
>> > the source of the alien.
>> > feeding about once to twice a day
>> > has uv sterilizer
>> > 2 - filters fluval 404
>> >
>> >
>> > If you can help that would be great other wise what is the
>> > number for Ripley?
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>
>
>

[Mephistopheles]

"Gwenyvar" > wrote in
:

> its like a alien has taken over my 155 gal fish tank.
>
> Description of alien form:
> Short - looks Fuzz but not like the bear - is not stringy
> brow to black
> growing on everything but the glass, loose rock/sand , plants
> and drift wood ( Malaysian) - alien does not like the wood.
>
>
> About the Tank:
> 155 gal
> cichlids & 4 placos ( ugly fat *******s)
> live plants
> rocks and sand base
> hiding holes - caves like things - clay pot - coconuts shells
> drift wood ( Malaysian) - alien does not like the wood.
> Lights - growth light only on for 14 hours a day - might be the
> source of the alien.
> feeding about once to twice a day
> has uv sterilizer
> 2 - filters fluval 404
>
>
> If you can help that would be great other wise what is the
> number for Ripley?
>
>
>

Most of the algae experts hang out in the plants newsgroup, I would
recommend that you post this there. 14 hours a light a day is
quite a lot, I would start by cutting down on that. If you post in
the plants newsgroup, you should also be specific about the type of
light the tank receives, e.g. the specific bulb model, "growth
light" is kind of vague.

Meph

[KEITH JENNINGS]

Thanks for the clarification Meph . I had a form of black "algae" /
cyanobacteria and Erythromycin cleared it up. I assumed ( incorrectly ? )
that his "algae" is the same stuff. Some good info...

Keith J.

"Mephistopheles" > wrote in
message link.net...
> "KEITH JENNINGS" > wrote in
> :
>
> > Erythromycin will kill most kinds of algae without damaging your
> > nitrogen cycle.
>
> KEITH,
> Erythromycin will NOT kill algae. It will, however, kill some
> varieties of cyanobacteria, which are sometimes referred to as "blue-
> green algae", though it is not algae at all, but a form of bacteria.
> (Its only similarity to algae is that it has chlorophyll and can
> therefore convert light into energy). Moreover, since erythromycin
> is an antibiotic, you must be careful when using it lest you create
> bacterial strains that are resistant to it.
>
> Cyanobacteria is characterized by growth in undifferentiated sheets.
> No plant like leaves or hairs will be visible.
>
> Meph
>
> >Treat with Erythromycin for 5 days, then do 30
> > percent water changes for at least 3 days. Don't forget weekly
> > water changes or it will likely come back again.
> >
> > The main causes are overfeeding and insufficient water changes.
> > The kind I'm talking about is slimy but looks fuzzy, and is
> > about 1 cm / 0.5 inches long. That %#*! stuff grows on almost
> > everything, glass, plants, rocks, the shells of snails if you
> > don't get it under control.
> >
> > Keith J.
> >
> >
> > "T" > wrote in message
> > link.net...
> >> Might sound stupid, but does it have exposure to natrual
> >> light? I have had this as well, ( looked like black angel
> >> hair ). I don't think I did anything
> >> to rid of it, if I remember correctly, it disappeared on its
> >> own.. I seem to remember somewheres, it was suggested the
> >> lighting had something to do with it.. Perhaps someone else has
> >> an idea...
> >>
> >> Tim..
> >>
> >>
> >> "Gwenyvar" > wrote in message
> >> ...
> >> > its like a alien has taken over my 155 gal fish tank.
> >> >
> >> > Description of alien form:
> >> > Short - looks Fuzz but not like the bear - is not stringy
> >> > brow to black
> >> > growing on everything but the glass, loose rock/sand , plants
> >> > and drift wood ( Malaysian) - alien does not like the wood.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > About the Tank:
> >> > 155 gal
> >> > cichlids & 4 placos ( ugly fat *******s)
> >> > live plants
> >> > rocks and sand base
> >> > hiding holes - caves like things - clay pot - coconuts shells
> >> > drift wood ( Malaysian) - alien does not like the wood.
> >> > Lights - growth light only on for 14 hours a day - might be
> >> > the source of the alien.
> >> > feeding about once to twice a day
> >> > has uv sterilizer
> >> > 2 - filters fluval 404
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > If you can help that would be great other wise what is the
> >> > number for Ripley?

[Kempie]

Hi

Liked the description of "alien" ROFL

Had similar growth in my 96g tank.
It didn't like the bogwood either, although eventually began to sprout on
the older stuff.
Think it was caused by insufficient hoovering of bottom + high nitrates.
I live in Eastern UK and our tap water has ~80 nitrates to start with, and
couldnt always afford that much RO.

Anyway, I regularly hoover the bottom these days, plus have put some water
hyacinths (floating things with loads of roots) on the surface and nitrates
dropped to ~10 + no more algae. Suspected my gro-lux tubes had something to
do with it as well - the floating plants do cut down on light.
I don't get any now - not even blanket weed.

s

Gwenyvar > wrote in message
...
> its like a alien has taken over my 155 gal fish tank.
>
> Description of alien form:
> Short - looks Fuzz but not like the bear - is not stringy
> brow to black
> growing on everything but the glass, loose rock/sand , plants and drift
wood
> ( Malaysian) - alien does not like the wood.
>
>
> About the Tank:
> 155 gal
> cichlids & 4 placos ( ugly fat *******s)
> live plants
> rocks and sand base
> hiding holes - caves like things - clay pot - coconuts shells
> drift wood ( Malaysian) - alien does not like the wood.
> Lights - growth light only on for 14 hours a day - might be the source of
> the alien.
> feeding about once to twice a day
> has uv sterilizer
> 2 - filters fluval 404
>
>
> If you can help that would be great other wise what is the number for
> Ripley?
>
>
>

[Mark Stone]

"Gwenyvar" > wrote in message >...
> its like a alien has taken over my 155 gal fish tank.
>
> Description of alien form:
> Short - looks Fuzz but not like the bear - is not stringy
> brow to black
> growing on everything but the glass, loose rock/sand , plants and drift wood
> ( Malaysian) - alien does not like the wood.
>
>
> About the Tank:
> 155 gal
> cichlids & 4 placos ( ugly fat *******s)
> live plants
> rocks and sand base
> hiding holes - caves like things - clay pot - coconuts shells
> drift wood ( Malaysian) - alien does not like the wood.
> Lights - growth light only on for 14 hours a day - might be the source of
> the alien.
> feeding about once to twice a day
> has uv sterilizer
> 2 - filters fluval 404
>
>
> If you can help that would be great other wise what is the number for
> Ripley?

Here's a cool way to exterminate algea (of all varieties, I think)
that was suggested by Axelrod in the 1950s in some of his literature,
and it has been very effective for me. Arrange your airstones to be at
one end of the aquarium to create a water rotation for oxygenation,
then turn the aquarium lights off and cover the aquarium for four or
five days with a dark blanket. (Axelrod actually suggests taping paper
to the walls, but the blanket is much easier --) Without light, the
algae will die. The reason for the airstone arrangement is that the
algae, in the dark, dishes out an immense amount of carbon dioxide
which needs to be exchanged at the surface.

When I've tried this, there has been no ill effects in regards my pets
-- however the Oscars get a little ****ed at me. :-)

After you take the blanket off, you'll need to carefully monitor your
water conditions and do some partials. The dead plant material could
cause a spike in your cycle, so pitch a tent next to the tank!

--Mark

Mark Stone tractorlegs at msn dot kom
OSCAR Lovers! http://www.geocities.com/cichlidiot_2000/oscar.html
The ".Edu" meens i are smart.