Hair or Beard Algae
- Thread starter vaughn
- Start date
salty blues
Active Member
Originally Posted by Vaughn
http:///forum/post/2950525
Is this algae? Its dark maroon or pink and looks like hair or a beard. Any suggestions on what I can do?
Thanks for any help.
Looks like bubble algae to me, though I am no expert.
http:///forum/post/2950525
Is this algae? Its dark maroon or pink and looks like hair or a beard. Any suggestions on what I can do?
Thanks for any help.
Looks like bubble algae to me, though I am no expert.
ilovemytank
Member
That looks like the first sign of cyno. Get ready to make a tuff choice on how to resolve it. Before its diagnosed for sure we need alot more info / tank parameters.
ilovemytank
Member
Is it spreading ? Is is starting to be on your sand bed ? If you remove it does it come right back in a day or two ? Is it starting to spread ? If the answer is yes to all four of those then its cyno. There are two ways to get rid of it ( Don't treat it unless you are sure its cyno. I think it is but you'll know real soon. ) Answer these and I'll give you the run down on non-chemical treatment and/or chemical treatment.
spanko
Active Member
Here is my take on getting rid of Cyano.
Red Slime (Cyano Bacteria)
Cyano grows on top of nutrient rich areas of low flow. There are a number of things that need to be correct or possibly corrected to combat this without the use of chemical additives. The biggest thing is to get rid of the extra nutrients.
1. Evaluate your feeding. If you are feeding more than can be eaten in about 1-2 minutes it is too much and the remainder of it is falling to the rock and sand and becoming nutrient.
2. Evaluate your flow. If you have areas in the tank where there is little to no flow this can be corrected by adding power heads or repositioning the ones you already have. You don’t need to create sand storms just have water moving over the area to keep detritus suspended in the water column for removal by your filter – skimmer.
3. Evaluate your water changes. The solution to pollution is dilution! You want to continually remove unneeded nutrients as well as replace those things that are used by the system. 10% weekly is a good change schedule. Some do 20% every other week and some vary the schedule from there, but a good start is 10% per week.
4. Evaluate your lighting schedule. About 10 hours of daylight is all that is needed.
5. If you have a cyano outbreak do the above 4 items andh:
a. At water change time siphon off the cyano first. It will come up easily almost like a blanker.
b. After siphoning stir the affected areas a little to suspend any detritus for the water change and filtering - skimming removal.
c. Use a turkey baster now and at every water change in the future to again suspend the detritus for removal by the water change and your filtering – skimming.
Keeping nutrient levels low to non-existent will help to avoid cyano outbreaks and any algae outbreaks as well as keep your tank and you happy happy.
Hope that helps.
[hr]
Henry
Red Slime (Cyano Bacteria)
Cyano grows on top of nutrient rich areas of low flow. There are a number of things that need to be correct or possibly corrected to combat this without the use of chemical additives. The biggest thing is to get rid of the extra nutrients.
1. Evaluate your feeding. If you are feeding more than can be eaten in about 1-2 minutes it is too much and the remainder of it is falling to the rock and sand and becoming nutrient.
2. Evaluate your flow. If you have areas in the tank where there is little to no flow this can be corrected by adding power heads or repositioning the ones you already have. You don’t need to create sand storms just have water moving over the area to keep detritus suspended in the water column for removal by your filter – skimmer.
3. Evaluate your water changes. The solution to pollution is dilution! You want to continually remove unneeded nutrients as well as replace those things that are used by the system. 10% weekly is a good change schedule. Some do 20% every other week and some vary the schedule from there, but a good start is 10% per week.
4. Evaluate your lighting schedule. About 10 hours of daylight is all that is needed.
5. If you have a cyano outbreak do the above 4 items andh:
a. At water change time siphon off the cyano first. It will come up easily almost like a blanker.
b. After siphoning stir the affected areas a little to suspend any detritus for the water change and filtering - skimming removal.
c. Use a turkey baster now and at every water change in the future to again suspend the detritus for removal by the water change and your filtering – skimming.
Keeping nutrient levels low to non-existent will help to avoid cyano outbreaks and any algae outbreaks as well as keep your tank and you happy happy.
Hope that helps.
[hr]
Henry
ilovemytank
Member
Spanko just answered the non chemical treatment. ( Much better and more detailed than I would have. ) The chemical treaments are red slime remover and chemiclean. They are excellent but its real important that you know what caused it so you can cure that problem. The chemical method is not for all but it works great if you follow the instructions. This is the only thing I would ever recommend treating with chemicals.
vaughn
Member
Thanks to both of you for helping me out.
I have not tried to get rid of it yet because I wasn't sure if it was normal. I've had my tank running for about 2 months now and just don't what is normal cycling and what is not. This apparently is not normal. This Saturday I will try to get it out as suggested during my water change. Afterwards I will see if it returns.
I think my water flow is low and my cleanup crew are few, so I will try to rectify those as well. As you suggested, I will hold off on the chemicals until all else fails. Its good to know what to use though. Very much appreciated.
I have not tried to get rid of it yet because I wasn't sure if it was normal. I've had my tank running for about 2 months now and just don't what is normal cycling and what is not. This apparently is not normal. This Saturday I will try to get it out as suggested during my water change. Afterwards I will see if it returns.
I think my water flow is low and my cleanup crew are few, so I will try to rectify those as well. As you suggested, I will hold off on the chemicals until all else fails. Its good to know what to use though. Very much appreciated.