HAIR ALGAE TREATMENT

I just got through dipping some Anubias, Crypts, amd Java fern in a
1:19 bleach solution at 2 minutes per treatment, roots and all. The
plants were rinsed in tap water and then left to soak in water that had
a surplus of dechlorination chemical.

The hair algae on the leaves seems paler now. But when will it be safe
for the fish to return these plants to the aquarium? I can't seem to
pull the algae off the leaves and I guess I may lose some of these
plants or much of their leaves. That will not be much of a loss as the
amount of algae on them was excessive.

Anyone have any throughts?

Norm

"Norm" wrote in message
oups.com...
I just got through dipping some Anubias, Crypts, amd Java fern in a
1:19 bleach solution at 2 minutes per treatment, roots and all. The
plants were rinsed in tap water and then left to soak in water that had
a surplus of dechlorination chemical.

The hair algae on the leaves seems paler now. But when will it be safe
for the fish to return these plants to the aquarium? I can't seem to
pull the algae off the leaves and I guess I may lose some of these
plants or much of their leaves. That will not be much of a loss as the
amount of algae on them was excessive.

Anyone have any throughts?

Norm


See convo below yours started by John H.

§tudz

In article .com,
Norm wrote:
I just got through dipping some Anubias, Crypts, amd Java fern in a
1:19 bleach solution at 2 minutes per treatment, roots and all. The
plants were rinsed in tap water and then left to soak in water that had
a surplus of dechlorination chemical.

The hair algae on the leaves seems paler now. But when will it be safe
for the fish to return these plants to the aquarium? I can't seem to
pull the algae off the leaves and I guess I may lose some of these
plants or much of their leaves. That will not be much of a loss as the
amount of algae on them was excessive.

The bleach thing never really worked well. Proper fertilization
and water changes are all you need. Flourish excel will speed up
the algae decline.

--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

"Richard Sexton" wrote in message
...

The bleach thing never really worked well. Proper fertilization
and water changes are all you need. Flourish excel will speed up
the algae decline.

--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

Bleaching works well for most users on here, including myself, where as
using a chemical algae remove does more damage to the other plants as well.
Adding CO2 has also helped delcine the growth rate and spread of the algae,
which is now in decline.

§tudz

In article ,
§tudz wrote:

"Richard Sexton" wrote in message
...

The bleach thing never really worked well. Proper fertilization
and water changes are all you need. Flourish excel will speed up
the algae decline.

--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

Bleaching works well for most users on here, including myself, where as
using a chemical algae remove does more damage to the other plants as well.
Adding CO2 has also helped delcine the growth rate and spread of the algae,
which is now in decline.

Bleaching plants was discovered by Paul Kumbholtz in the late 80s. It's in
the aquaria faq. I *thought* I had success with it ona few occasions but
it always comes back. I mentioned it quite a few times; in this sense I
feel somewhat responsible for it's popularity.

Mentioning the idea in TFH got me (them) a whack of hate mail. Heh.

It doesn't work long term. Expect it to come back because you havn't
done anything to prevent the bad water conditions condusive to it's
growth.

Just fertilize properly and you won't see it again. The algae killing
chemicals all don't work either - they cause more harm than good. I've tried
them all.

Flourish Excel is the only thing that will kill algae and help, not harm
plants.

--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

"Richard Sexton" wrote in message
...

Flourish Excel is the only thing that will kill algae and help, not harm
plants.
=============================
Since I started using Flourish fertilizers I've got a problem with a black
soot algae. It comes off easily with a scrubber but makes whatever it grows
on look filthy. I'm not sure which of the 3 is causing it. :-(

It started on the glass and now is slowing spreading to the plants
themselves.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
NEW PAGE: Aquariums:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastada...ium-Page4.html
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

In article , Koi-lo Do Not Reply wrote:

"Richard Sexton" wrote in message
...

Flourish Excel is the only thing that will kill algae and help, not harm
plants.
=============================
Since I started using Flourish fertilizers I've got a problem with a black
soot algae. It comes off easily with a scrubber but makes whatever it grows
on look filthy. I'm not sure which of the 3 is causing it. :-(

It started on the glass and now is slowing spreading to the plants
themselves.

I haven't used any SeaChem fertiliers, just the Excel organic carbon source.

Can't say I know what you mean by black soot algae. Got a pic?

--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

"Richard Sexton" wrote in message
...
In article , Koi-lo Do Not Reply wrote:

"Richard Sexton" wrote in message
...

Flourish Excel is the only thing that will kill algae and help, not harm
plants.
=============================
Since I started using Flourish fertilizers I've got a problem with a black
soot algae. It comes off easily with a scrubber but makes whatever it
grows
on look filthy. I'm not sure which of the 3 is causing it. :-(

It started on the glass and now is slowing spreading to the plants
themselves.

I haven't used any SeaChem fertiliers, just the Excel organic carbon
source.

Can't say I know what you mean by black soot algae. Got a pic?
=============================
No. I get too much glare from the glass at any angle to get a decent pic of
this algae. It's a powdery looking black coating on the glass and lower
parts of the plants. It looks like the black soot that you see on fireplace
walls or chimneys. Similar to what grows in the darkness of toilet tanks.
It's not slimy to the touch, tightly stuck to the glass or plants, nor does
it smell bad. I'm clueless as to what this stuff is. Diatoms maybe? My
water is hard and alkaline.
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
NEW PAGE: Aquariums:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastada...ium-Page4.html
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

Can't say I know what you mean by black soot algae. Got a pic?
=============================
No. I get too much glare from the glass at any angle to get a decent pic of


Have you tried holdig the camera upside down or roated 90 degrees clockwise
and/or counterclockwise? I've found that works pretty good for reducing
glare on digicam closeups.

this algae. It's a powdery looking black coating on the glass and lower
parts of the plants. It looks like the black soot that you see on fireplace
walls or chimneys. Similar to what grows in the darkness of toilet tanks.

Could be the beginnings of staghorn algae.

--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

"Richard Sexton" wrote in message
...
Can't say I know what you mean by black soot algae. Got a pic?
=============================
No. I get too much glare from the glass at any angle to get a decent pic
of


Have you tried holdig the camera upside down or roated 90 degrees
clockwise
and/or counterclockwise? I've found that works pretty good for reducing
glare on digicam closeups.

No, but I can try it. Thanks. :-) I've tried all kinds of angels but
there is either glare or flashback or the pics are overexposed. That's why
I always had so few pics of my tanks on my pond/fish webpages. I never
tried turning the camera....

this algae. It's a powdery looking black coating on the glass and lower
parts of the plants. It looks like the black soot that you see on
fireplace
walls or chimneys. Similar to what grows in the darkness of toilet tanks.

Could be the beginnings of staghorn algae.

It doesn't do anything but stay powdery looking and spreads out from small
black spots. Where it gets more light, it seems to be a more reddish color.
The goldfish are nibbling it off the back glass I've noticed.
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
NEW PAGE: Aquariums:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastada...ium-Page4.html
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o