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blackish-gray hair algae
Problem - I have a tank that has been set up for six months. The past
month i noticed a hairy blackish-gray algae growing. The algae only grows
on plants, rocks, and ornaments, I have not seen any growing on the glass.
It is very tough, holds tightly to the surface. The algae has several
hairs that will grow from a central node on the surface of the object but
their are many nodes of this algae on the objects and plants and it grows
quite thick. If I dont find out how to stop it soon it looks like it will
take over the whole tank.
Setup - A 50 gal. tank with a Magnum 350, bio-wheel pro 60, aquaclear 200,
DIY Co2. I have two Spectramax and 1 Colormax bulbs giving me 120 watts of
light. I only have gravel in the bottom of the tank.
4 Angels, 2 Rams, 2 Firemouths, 2 bleeding heart tetras, 5 platys, 2
mollies, 1 hatchet fish, 4 neons, 3 octinlinus(? small algae eaters that
wont eat this type of algae) and 2 small bala sharks.
3 Java ferns, 2 Cabomba, 1 Red Ludwigia, 1 Water Wisteria, 1 Amazon Sword,
Hairgrass, 1 Hornwort, and 4 plants which i just brought as "assorted
potted". I have had good plant growth, the hairgrass is spreading and the
wisteria has grown wildly. The plants have grown tremendously and I keep
them trimmed regularly.
Water Quality - Ph 7.1. Ammonia, nitrites and nitrates all test at 0.
Hardness is 70ppm. I keep the tank at 78 F.
Maintenance - I change 10% of the water weekly. Add 1 ml of Seachem
Flourish a week. I run the micron cartridge in the magnum all the time and
change it every two weeks. I use carbon in the aquaclear which I change
every month. I leave the lights on ten hours a day.
This is my first tank, Ive had good succes so far and have always been able
to find answers to questions or problems that I have had but this is a
problem I cant seem to figure out. First, I dont even know what kind of
algae this is, and I dont know what might be out of balance. Any
information would be greatly appreciated, it looks like my tank is falling
apart!!
Michael