Branch Algae?

[Orion]

I have been having an odd break out of a form of algae that I am completly unfamiliar with in my 10 gal planted tank. It looks black while in the water, but when I take it out it is a dark green color. This stuff grows unlike any I have ever seen. it will start to attatch itself to anything, filter, glass, plants, and then start to branch out, looking almost looking like a root system would. I have 2 SAE's and one CAE, and they dont touch the stuff. Would ottos? The only way so far I have been able to remove it is to take it out with my hands.

Has any one experinced this type of alge before?
Tank specs:
30w flouresent lighting, 12-14 hrs day
DIY co2
liquid fert twice a week
ph 6.4
ammonia 0
gh 8
kh 9
nitrite 0
nitrAte 20

 

[JKO]

I had the same thing. I used this stuff called brite N clear by mardel. It worked in about 10hours and it claers your water!!!!!

 

[1979camaro]

is it hair-like?

 

[Orion]

camaro-yes, once I get it out of the water it does look like hair.

JKO-I'll look into it, but I dont think that any type of algae destroying chemicals would be very good for my plants in the tank. Its not so bad right now that i would be willing to risk it.

 

[Orion]

This is a pic of the stuff that has attatched to the glass.

 

[adamj]

Your tank is becomming self aware! BEWARE THE ALGAE TERMINATOR! lol


that looks like staghorn algae.

"Staghorn algae: Looks a lot like hair algae but branches profusely like "deer antlers". Dull green to gray in colour, diffucult to remove mechanically because it rips the plants leaves if pulled off. Easily controlled by Florida Flag Fish. "

 

[Orion]

self aware? That would explain those weird noises coming from the living room at night!

 

[adamj]

lol

 

[Paul]

Yep thats staghorn algae alright. Get yourself a couple of Florida flag fish. they love the stuff. Even if they don't eat it, they'r cool looking fish.

 

[Orion]

LFS rarley gets FFF in. Is there any other fish that might eat the stuff?

 

[adamj]

you could buy one online possibly, http://www.floridadriftwood.com/subcatmfgprod.asp?0=229&1=230&2=-1&6=1

dont know anything about that company so i'd prolly give them a call and drill them on their fish.

 

[Orion]

Update on algae

I am afraid to say anything about this, dont want to bring bad JuJu onto my tank, but the algae is totaly gone. I doubled the light about 2 weeks ago and it just fazed out rather quick. It was totaly gone within the first 4 days. Not sure if it was because of the lighting was so much more intense that it made the plants use more nutirents ( That was my therory, thus why I did it), or if mabey so much lighting killed it. I dont think the latter holds much ground, so I am going with the plants.

Funny too, because I had a 7 gallon with the same algae problem, and in it, I cut the lighting by half. It hasnt totaly gone away, but I can tell it has retarted its growth quite a bit. I really need to put some more ancharis (sp) in there and I would say that would kill it all out.

LOL, now I am probably going to go home and all my tanks will be covered in the stuff!!! Bad JuJu I tell you.

 

[Scrumpy]

I had it for about 6 weeks then got some SAE's which ate it all in a day. Funny yours didn't like it. Now if only I could get rid of this black sooty stuff I'd be happy!