Blue-green algae / cyanobacteria? Or is it something else?

I think I have blue-green algae in my tank (cyanobacteria). The problem
is that it's not green at all. It's brown in color. It seems to behave
like blue-green algae because it's usually in the spots with little
water movement, on the gravel and hanging on anacharis/elodea and
surrounding my hairgrass. It's like brown spiderweb hanging on the
plants. On the gravel it looks like some fuzzy stuff. I know it's not
hair algae because I have some hair algae on my anubias.

"Shorty" wrote in message
ups.com...
I think I have blue-green algae in my tank (cyanobacteria). The problem
is that it's not green at all. It's brown in color.

This stuff is a nightmare. I have it in one of my 55g tanks and can't get
rid of it. It started out looking like almost black soot and now is a deep
reddish brown. Adding extra light to encourage green algae made it grow
even faster. :-( It's starting to kill off the plants in the tank that
were thriving before the invasion.

It seems to behave
like blue-green algae because it's usually in the spots with little
water movement, on the gravel and hanging on anacharis/elodea and
surrounding my hairgrass.

Eventually it will cover everything, smothering the plants to death.

It's like brown spiderweb hanging on the
plants. On the gravel it looks like some fuzzy stuff. I know it's not
hair algae because I have some hair algae on my anubias.

Maybe someone has the answer how to get rid of this stuff.
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
Note: There are two Koi-Lo's on the Aquaria groups.
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

In article . com,
Shorty wrote:
I think I have blue-green algae in my tank (cyanobacteria). The problem
is that it's not green at all. It's brown in color. It seems to behave
like blue-green algae because it's usually in the spots with little
water movement, on the gravel and hanging on anacharis/elodea and
surrounding my hairgrass. It's like brown spiderweb hanging on the
plants. On the gravel it looks like some fuzzy stuff. I know it's not
hair algae because I have some hair algae on my anubias.


If it were me I'd change 80% of the water for two days (algae likes
contant coditions, you can "shock" it to death or at least hurt it
badly) then fertilize properly with macro and micronutrients
and use Flourish Excel. If should be gone in about 4 days if
you do this.

And I do do this.

--
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

Already cross-posted and I don't know where you're posting from.

"Richard Sexton" wrote in message
...

If it were me I'd change 80% of the water for two days (algae likes
contant coditions, you can "shock" it to death or at least hurt it
badly) then fertilize properly with macro and micronutrients
and use Flourish Excel. If should be gone in about 4 days if
you do this.
=====================
This was already suggested and it makes this stuff grow even FASTER than
ever. It seems to love nothing better than a water change and fertilizer.
Doubling the light also gave it a boost. There has to be some other
answer......... Maybe you're talking about a different type of
algae/bacteria/diatom.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
Note: There are two Koi-Lo's on the Aquaria groups.
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

In article ,
Koi-Lo wrote:
Already cross-posted and I don't know where you're posting from.

"Richard Sexton" wrote in message
...

If it were me I'd change 80% of the water for two days (algae likes
contant coditions, you can "shock" it to death or at least hurt it
badly) then fertilize properly with macro and micronutrients
and use Flourish Excel. If should be gone in about 4 days if
you do this.
=====================
This was already suggested and it makes this stuff grow even FASTER than
ever. It seems to love nothing better than a water change and fertilizer.
Doubling the light also gave it a boost. There has to be some other
answer......... Maybe you're talking about a different type of
algae/bacteria/diatom.

Suggested? I'm telling you my experience.

And no, I'm talking about all algae. I've done this many many times and
it has yet to fail.

You need to get all the dirt out of the tank too, but that goes
without saying.

--
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

I read that cyanobacteria doesn't like water movement and oxygen. I
also read in some places that it appears when nitrates are very low.

I will do a partial water change... and get more water movement and
aeration. I was minimizing aeration to keep the CO2 in the tank but it
might be better to increase CO2 injection and aerate at the same time.
I will also add more nitrate in addition to the regular amounts.

Will let you know what happens.

"Shorty" wrote in message
oups.com...
I read that cyanobacteria doesn't like water movement and oxygen. I
also read in some places that it appears when nitrates are very low.

I will do a partial water change... and get more water movement and
aeration. I was minimizing aeration to keep the CO2 in the tank but it
might be better to increase CO2 injection and aerate at the same time.
I will also add more nitrate in addition to the regular amounts.

Will let you know what happens.


It doesn't sound like cynobacteria. I think someone had a good algae ID web
page on their site, Mike?
--
www.NetMax.tk

"NetMax" wrote in message
...
"Shorty" wrote in message
oups.com...
I read that cyanobacteria doesn't like water movement and oxygen. I
also read in some places that it appears when nitrates are very low.

I will do a partial water change... and get more water movement and
aeration. I was minimizing aeration to keep the CO2 in the tank but it
might be better to increase CO2 injection and aerate at the same time.
I will also add more nitrate in addition to the regular amounts.

Will let you know what happens.


It doesn't sound like cynobacteria. I think someone had a good algae
ID web page on their site, Mike?
--
www.NetMax.tk


Home now and with my bookmarks handy (which should really be easier to
move between computers!). Here is the link I was thinking of:
http://mikes-machine.mine.nu/algae_g...htm#Bushy_alga
--
www.NetMax.tk

"Richard Sexton" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Koi-Lo wrote:
Already cross-posted and I don't know where you're posting from.

"Richard Sexton" wrote in message
...

If it were me I'd change 80% of the water for two days (algae likes
contant coditions, you can "shock" it to death or at least hurt it
badly) then fertilize properly with macro and micronutrients
and use Flourish Excel. If should be gone in about 4 days if
you do this.
=====================
This was already suggested and it makes this stuff grow even FASTER than
ever. It seems to love nothing better than a water change and fertilizer.
Doubling the light also gave it a boost. There has to be some other
answer......... Maybe you're talking about a different type of
algae/bacteria/diatom.

Suggested? I'm telling you my experience.

Sorry, I don't remember who suggest it. I didn't mean you did.

And no, I'm talking about all algae. I've done this many many times and
it has yet to fail.

You need to get all the dirt out of the tank too, but that goes
without saying.

The gravel is thoroughly vacuumed twice a month like the 55 that doesn't
have the problem. These 2 tanks are set up side by side (on the same day)
with everything being equal, yet one has a harmless green algae and the
other this nasty looking black stuff. :-( I don't want to waste money
adding more plants when I know this stuff will grow over them and smother
them.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
Note: There are two Koi-Lo's on the Aquaria groups.
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

"Shorty" wrote in message
oups.com...
I read that cyanobacteria doesn't like water movement and oxygen. I
also read in some places that it appears when nitrates are very low.

There is a large Aquaclear on the tank and a powerhead/aerator at one end
that causes a good circular current in the tank. This also helps keep
"crud" in circulation - better to be picked up by the filter. Nitrates stay
around 20ppm. I don't have the kits to measure potassium and phosphates.
The 55g right next to it, set up exactly the same, has a nice green algae.
This is a real mystery to me. None of the other tanks have this nasty
stuff, all have normal green algae.

I will do a partial water change... and get more water movement and
aeration. I was minimizing aeration to keep the CO2 in the tank but it
might be better to increase CO2 injection and aerate at the same time.
I will also add more nitrate in addition to the regular amounts.

Will let you know what happens.

Yes, keep us informed.
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
Note: There are two Koi-Lo's on the Aquaria groups.
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o