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FAQs on Freshwater Algae
Identification Related Articles: Freshwater Algae & Control, Algae
Eaters, Otocinclus, Loricariids, Siamese Algae
Eaters/Crossocheilus,
Related FAQs: Freshwater Algae 1,
FW Blue-Green Algae,
FW Algicides, Algae Eaters, Aquarium Maintenance, Freshwater
Aquarium Water Quality, Treating Tap Water for
Aquarium Use, pH, Alkalinity, Acidity, Freshwater
Algae Control, Algae Control, Foods,
Feeding, Aquatic Nutrition, Disease, |
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Red-orange residue in
freshwater Cichlid tank... Likely BGA... 2/18/08
Hi!!
<Hello Christina>
I have a 75 gallon tank that has been set up since Xmas of 2007. It cycled very
well and houses African Cichlids of various types.
Everyone is happy and doing very well...I have two female holding eggs and
possibly one more, not sure yet. About two weeks after setting the tank up I
notice a red-orange slime that started to cover everything in the tank.
<Yuck!>
It is very obviously coming from the surface as it does not cover surfaces under
plants or other decorations. I have had no Cichlids die though I have twice put
in an algae eater (Plecostomus) and they both died within two days.
<Yikes>
Recently I clean all decorations, did a 50% water change and within one week the
slime was back.
<Good name for it... is likely to some large extent a Blue-Green Algae... aka
Cyanobacteria... many can be quite toxic to ingest>
The city says it's the water system we have that removes all chlorine,
<Mmm, the system you have at home? As in some gear to treat the potable source>
but the water system people tells us that it's the city water and is a result of
oxidized iron settling in the tank.
<Mmm, doubtful... not this amount... not to where you can actually see it
accumulate>
I am at a loss and very disappointed because the tank looks so bad. At least my
little guys are okay right now. Any insight would be wonderful.
Thank you so much for you time,
Christine
<Mmm, there are a few approaches to limiting, controlling BGA... More
circulation, chemical filtration, sequestering microbiologically, competition
with other photosynthetic life, nutrient export... Please read here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwbgafaqs.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>
Re: Orange slime, FW algae ID,
contr. f's 2/19/08
Thanks so much Bob...I will read up on that link right now. I forgot
to mention that we also have the red color in our showers and toilets.
This is why I think it's the water and not something in the tank.
<Mmm, maybe, but just a small possibility these are the same... the
shower is likely a ferrous stain, but the pix you sent show an algal
sort of growth...>
Our water system guy did say that coquino has a lot of iron in it, but I
didn't think it would be so high as to leach in and settle so quickly.
<Mmm, no... if this "high", the life would be gone entirely here. The
iron however is likely aiding the BGA... >
Our system is a softener with a carbon filter. I attached a couple
pictures and now that I'm looking at in in the pictures it seems more
orange-brown. In the first picture you can see how it settles as there
is a distinct line where there is no slime. Can algae grow so quickly?
<Oh yes... some forms/types can double their biomass every few hours...>
Two weeks ago tomorrow this tank was very clean of this slime. Thanks
again for all you help
Christine
PS...That is my female Yellow Lab that has been holding eggs since last
Tuesday...any idea when they might hatch???
<Should be within four days or so at temp.s of the higher 70's, low 80's
F.>
Thanks again!!!
<Do read re means of limiting this algal growth... Bob Fenner> |
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Algae or what? FW
11/1/07
Hi Crew,
Recently ( 3 month ago) I setup planted 20 gallon hexagon tank:
fish= 6 harlequin Rasboras and 3 gold rams
plants= water sprite, Amazon swords, java moss and java fern.
Water parameters: pH= 6.7, NH3= 0 ppm, NO2= 0 ppm, NO3= 5 ppm
Lighting= 40 Watts, 12 hrs per day
<All seems fine.>
I do not have any algae on the glass at all, but I see long gray hair on the
driftwood. What is that? Is it dangerous for fish?
<Ah, no, this isn't algae, but is likely fungal or bacterial in nature. It's
common on bogwood (or any other kind of wood) that hasn't been "cured" properly.
It indicates that the wood still contains sufficient organic material for
bacteria or fungi to feed on. It is basically harmless, though perhaps
unsightly. You can wash it off if you want. Some fish will eat this "mould",
such as Plecos, and snails and shrimps may well peck at it too.>
Thank you for your help
Mark
<Cheers, Neale>
Algae issue - short black fur
10/3/07
Hi WWM crew,
I have hunted everywhere for a solution to my algae issue with no luck.
It looks like short dark brown/black fur. It's about 6-7mm (0.3 inches) long and
really thick (just like fur) and it's covering all of my rocks and even most of
the plants. I have been looking for solutions such as creatures to eat the
algae, but have had no luck. I have other tanks in more daylight and they don't
have this algae problem so it's not a question of light. The tank with the
problem is a 200L community freshwater with alkaline pH, 26 degrees Celsius, low
population (2 small calvus, 2 Bristlenose cats, 5 small to medium rainbows, 1
small dickfeldi, 1 medium butterfly, 1 medium Kribensis). The tank is mostly
landscaped with rocks, but there are some hardy plants (still getting
shredded by the fish!) and 1 long, thin piece of driftwood.
Hope you can help because my once beautiful tank is looking like some weird
furry alien landscape - very bleak and dull!!
Thanks!!
Lachlan
<Despite the blue-black colour, this short furry algae is a type of red algae.
Nothing really likes to eats it. Almost certainly the problem is lack of natural
plants while having relatively bright lighting. For example, you usually see
this sort of algae in either unplanted tanks or tanks with slow growing plants
like Anubias and Java fern. So, there are two options. The first is to add fast
growing plants like Hygrophila, Cabomba, or even floating plants. Through
allelopathy, these plants will prevent algae of all types growing. You may need
to increase the lighting in the tank for this to work though -- paradoxically,
algae is more of a problem in poorly lit tanks than strongly lit ones! The
alternative is to accept it as part of the environment. The fish certainly won't
care, and especially at breeding time, this hair algae forms a home for the
micro-organisms baby fish like to eat. About the only fish I know of that eats
this type of algae is Jordanella floridae (the Florida Flagfish) though only
when hungry. How effective they will be against an established population I
can't say, but since they're nice fish in their own right, definitely worth a
shot. Cheers, Neale>
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