GrahamC Posted May 30, 2012 Report Share Posted May 30, 2012 My neighbour gave me some plants which I have in a small tank, but all the roots were covered in hair algae. Now the bottom of the tank is covered in the stuff. I have managed to remove a lot of it, and have fed it to the gold fish with a good outcome. It gets processed into small cylindrical blocks. I am now wondering since this stuff seems to grow so easily where I can use it as a nitrate reducer. I've seen projects where they grow algae on screens under intense lighting to do the same. But here I could take the algae and feed the fish. I already have a separate tank which is siphon fed from the HOB, and then feeds back into the main tank by siphon as well. I keep some duck and oxygen weed there so that the goldies can't eat it all in one go. Maybe I can just fill it with hair algae instead? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loginthesand Posted May 30, 2012 Report Share Posted May 30, 2012 the problem is you can't control where the algae will grow so if its in your main tank or a sump its going to spread, personally i use floating plants like indian fern and water hyacinth to remove some of my nitrates. the indian fern doesn't seem to interest my silver dollars or giant gourami as food so thats why i chose it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted May 30, 2012 Report Share Posted May 30, 2012 I would destroy the water hyacinth if I was you. Best to do it soon before you are offered an extended holiday at Her Majesty's pleasure, free meals and a substantial fine. It is an unwanted organism and one of the worst. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted May 30, 2012 Report Share Posted May 30, 2012 ...and don't just throw it away either! Burn it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaron11 Posted May 31, 2012 Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 I got this in my tank. so i just control it will get some stuff its black beard ????? i havent moved anything into my other tank.. i live with it.. it aint that bad but it does wreck the look of your plants Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted May 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 I'm not concerned if it gets into the main tank because the gold fish will just snack on it. Just wondering if it will do the job though. I can only try to see if it will but I suspect the gold fish produce too much nitrate for anything except a heavily planted tank .. which they would then proceed to demolish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted May 31, 2012 Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 by hair algae I guess you mean: Or the long tangled mess? I have heard of the short algae being used for nitrate removal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted May 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 This stuff ... and a tangled weave it sure is. It's got bits of fine pumice trapped it in when I pulled it out of the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shell Posted June 3, 2012 Report Share Posted June 3, 2012 Almost looks like moss...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markvs Posted June 3, 2012 Report Share Posted June 3, 2012 I have problems with that algae too. My main solution at this time is to use an old comb for 2 reasons 1 I only have valls in tank,with guppies 2 I dont have enough hair to need it myself :slfg: I was told here that my tank does not get enough light to grow plants, but as the valls and algae grow I am hap :yaw2: py... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted June 3, 2012 Report Share Posted June 3, 2012 Graham if you're trying to get rid of the algae perhaps you should go down that road instead? black out the tank or turn the lights down to a few hours or something?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted June 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2012 I can certainly consider this once I grow enough to fill my "sump" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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