Black hair algae

[jackpike]

Black hair algae came in on the last load of plants i bought. My community tank has been quite badly affected by it. Does anyone know how to combat this nuisance.

[mralgae]

Red algae: Also called Black Beard Algae (bba), or Black Brush Algae. Short hairs (1/4" long), closely packed together. Appears dark green, black, or dark red. Grows on plant leaves, and sometimes on decorations/substrate. Often grows all around the edges of plant leaves.
BBA thrives in situations of high phosphates. Phosphates come from fish waste, excess food, and occasionally will be present in the water supply. The best way to eliminate BBA is to let the plants out-compete the algae for the nutrients.

In heavily planted tanks, BBA will often show up when the plants have used up all the nitrates. This causes plant growth to slow or stop, which leaves the excess phosphates available to the algae. By supplying extra Nitrate to a planted tank, it allows plant growth to continue until all phosphate is consumed. Then plant AND algae growth will slow/stop. As long as a usable (5-10ppm) level of Nitrate is maintained, the the plants will continue to use up the available phosphate, effectively controls BBA and other phosphorus-dependant algaes.

Very few fish will eat BBA. The most famous one is the SAE (Siamese Algae Eater). But even these fish won't be able to control it you don't have the phosphate level under control. Another fish rumored to eat BBA is the American Flag Fish.

If all your stats are corect then another way of removing it is to manualy remove it b4 planting.

also have a read of steve hamptons views on it.

www.aquariaplants.com/alqaeproblems.htm

[jackpike]

I decided to cut back on the light the tank was recieving to try and control the black hair algae. It seems to be working all be it very slowly.