Quick question re hair algae

[morfin]

Ok, so I have my planted tank that wasn't doing well in the plant stakes. Earlier posting, good advice, much fertiliser and now some wonderful green growth starting. However I noticed I have hair algae - not a huge amount and only on the ambulia at present, but its growing well. I twirl it round my tweezers every couple of days to take what I can out but it grows back. I believe it kicked off due to the change in seasons meaning there was a small shaft of direct sunlight for about half an hour every morning - that has been eliminated. Question is will the hair algae die off now that the plants are taking off and will choke it out, or am I in for a long fight, in which case any ideas. I know about squirting excel on direct but am not keen on anything that will potentially impact the fish. Have reduced lights to 7 hours full with half an hour each end with only one light on so total period 8 hours. Can reduce more if needed but its that interesting trade between growing the plants and growing the algae. Anyway suggestions welcome.

[kinnadian]

To be more clear, is this black hair/beard algae, or regular green hair algae?

Good work eliminating direct sunlight, this does indeed propagate algae very quickly.

If it is regular green hair algae, it will stop growing if plants consume all nutrients and fertiliser. You may have to mechanically remove a lot of it, or get an algae eating fish (siamese algae eaters are good).

Note that if you are overdosing CO2 or fertilisers, the algae will be eating this and growing. I would recommend reducing your dosing by 50% then start slowly increasing until you get algae again.

If it is black hair/beard algae, it is likely here to stay. If it is this I can respond with a more thorough reply.

[morfin]

Thank you kinnadian. It's the long green thread algae, and over the last day I think I have seen a decrease in it - the forest has really taken off ver the last day alone. I had though of a Siamese algae eater but don't know a lot about them and I was trying not to add any more fish to the tank - more cos I can't be bothered with the quarantine than anything . Having said that I do have one or two of my dwarf sag with some old black beard on it, which isn't getting worse but if you have time still keen to know your thoughts? The ferts are root tabs as all my plants are stem plants, and I think, touch wood they are winning the war. They have only been in for a week so it's really only just starting to take off

[alexyay]

When you say green hair do you mean

Thin, grows without needing to attach to plants

Attaches to plants

A bit thicker, translucent, more "stringy" (doesn't kinda fall apart in your fingers, pretty strong) - the American Flagfish shown in this pic love this stuff.

I've only dealt with 2, 3 and a browner version of 1.

For the brown version of one, I only got it in my low light tanks with very little flow. It also stunk. So upped the lighting, and the flow.

For 2, I got this mostly in the tank that was outside - so reducing lighting got rid of this one for me (I kinda like it, so I leave it on driftwood and stuff anyway)

For 3, I grow it purposely lol. I find excess nutrients (specifically iron) really get it growing (and I was recommended that I dose less iron and ferts if I wanted to get rid of it). It does grow more in my low-light tanks, but my high light tanks probably have lower nutrient levels than they need and it doesn't last long with the american flagfish lol.

Regarding the SAE - they're schooling fish so you should definitely get more Our group of 5 is really rewarding - they're surprisingly social! I tend to not bother QT fish unless they're from a tank which visibly has sick fish, or you have a tank with very expensive fish.

EDIT: I misread that and thought you had a singular one. I love these guys whether I have them for algae or not - they're one of my favourite fish. But they definitely need a lot of space (I'd say 200L minimum) and a good group. I recommend them just because I love them

RE: BBA, I find the best thing is to get stable CO2 (I found it grew when the DIY CO2 was on and off and if I forgot to refill it), and to dose Excel. You can either dose excel daily (most plants will flourish with this anyway) or dose excel straight onto the algae for a week or so and you'll find it goes a reddish colour, then dies off. Our SAEs will eat new tufts and any tufts that you scrape off (they loooove this!) but left the big stuff alone.

[morfin]

Hmmm it's thin and flows and bright green, but is all attached to my plants. When you take it out and sort of rub it between your fingers it disintegrates but it takes a bit to destroy it. I'm wondering re the SAE's then. Tank is 300l and got cories, 4 bristles, harlequins, rummies and 6 discus (hence the quarantine) but I would get my fish from Ron and he always has the best quality.

I really like what the ferts are doing to the plants, so would be keen to let them continue for a while if poss without upsetting everything again........ So if I have a non-play with everything again solution and the fish are cool then might be good. Got 8 cories, 4 bristles, 9harlequins and 9 rummies with the discus, so it shouldn't be overstocked.

Although looking online, my tank is 29 degrees so not sure they would like that much?

[kinnadian]

SAE won't like 29 degrees any more than the Corys will, I've found >27 degC the Corys get a significantly shortened lifespan and are more prone to disease.

SAE definitely love stringy algae though.