Beard on plants

Mr Fish · 11-09-2005, 08:30 AM

I have some java fern and some other sword plant and it looks like dark, thick hairs are growing out of the leaves... is this some kind of disease?

**Damon** · 11-09-2005, 09:13 AM

Sounds like BBA (Black brush algae). Could be beard algae also. Neither one fun to deal with. Flourish excel will kill it.

Thomas · 11-09-2005, 09:51 AM

I found it extremely difficult to get rid of this algae, although it is not a disease

**Damon** · 11-09-2005, 10:18 AM

The easiest way is to remove the infected leaves and add Co2 to the tank. If the tank does not use Co2 then try the excel. Bleaching the plants is a last resort.

Thomas · 11-10-2005, 01:57 AM

I do add CO2 but the algae seems stronger than my plants. As per your reply in another thread, I will try Excel.

Many thanks.

garfieldnfish · 11-10-2005, 05:03 PM

If you have room left for some fish, Siamese Algae eater and the Florida flagfish will eat this stuff.

**Damon** · 11-10-2005, 05:14 PM

What are your co2 levels. At 30-40ppm it will halt the growth of bba. You will still have to remove whats there. Excel will kill it.

flamingo · 11-10-2005, 05:32 PM

I only get that stuff on this wierd mondo grass stuff I buy. I get it sometimes when I use this one fert from tetra. It doesnt spread from plant to plant IME and it never damaged my plants.

Very ugly to look at sometimes and darn near impossible. Something to do with too much iron in water makes it grow I guess, thats what i've been told.

**Damon** · 11-10-2005, 06:20 PM

Its caused from lack of co2 or fluctuating co2 levels.

Thomas · 11-11-2005, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simpte

What are your co2 levels. At 30-40ppm it will halt the growth of bba. You will still have to remove whats there. Excel will kill it.

I think my CO2 level is about 25ppm. But as it is a DIY type (Hagen), fluctuation is inevitable. If you said fluctuation will lead to this algae, I'm afraid there is nothing I can do

Can I use Excel to kill the algae in that case?

Thomas · 11-11-2005, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garfieldnfish

If you have room left for some fish, Siamese Algae eater and the Florida flagfish will eat this stuff.

Thanks. First time I heard of Florida flagfish. According to this http://www.floridadriftwood.com/alga..._flag_fish.htm, this fish seems very useful in removing algae. The trouble is I have never seen them in LFS.

A couple of questions:

1) Will this fish also eat brush algae (this site says they eat "hairy algae")?

2) Can I use Excel when I have also got the "tea bag" fertilizer from Greenline in the tank (and a few tablet fertilizer)?

garfieldnfish · 11-11-2005, 07:38 AM

If you have a decent LFS in your area they can special order them. I have seen then only occasionally in mine and the males are really pretty.

**Damon** · 11-11-2005, 10:13 AM

1. yes
2. yes

Thomas · 11-14-2005, 02:41 AM

Many thanks for the replies

11-09-2005, 08:30 AM	#1
Mr Fish Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Age: 36 Posts: 128 User Feedback: (0)	Beard on plants I have some java fern and some other sword plant and it looks like dark, thick hairs are growing out of the leaves... is this some kind of disease? __________________ FISH FOR LIFE

11-09-2005, 09:13 AM	#2
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982 User Feedback: (0)	Sounds like BBA (Black brush algae). Could be beard algae also. Neither one fun to deal with. Flourish excel will kill it. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

11-09-2005, 10:18 AM	#4
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982 User Feedback: (0)	The easiest way is to remove the infected leaves and add Co2 to the tank. If the tank does not use Co2 then try the excel. Bleaching the plants is a last resort. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

11-10-2005, 05:14 PM	#7
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982 User Feedback: (0)	What are your co2 levels. At 30-40ppm it will halt the growth of bba. You will still have to remove whats there. Excel will kill it. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

11-10-2005, 05:32 PM	#8
flamingo One Word: Croutons. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wisconsin Age: 17 Posts: 1,897 User Feedback: (2)	I only get that stuff on this wierd mondo grass stuff I buy. I get it sometimes when I use this one fert from tetra. It doesnt spread from plant to plant IME and it never damaged my plants. Very ugly to look at sometimes and darn near impossible. Something to do with too much iron in water makes it grow I guess, thats what i've been told. __________________ If you put "u" instead of typing out the actual, shocking, three letter word... i'm not going to read your ramblings. I'm so behind it's not even funny.

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11-09-2005, 09:51 AM	#3
Thomas Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 97 User Feedback: (0)	I found it extremely difficult to get rid of this algae, although it is not a disease

11-10-2005, 01:57 AM	#5
Thomas Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 97 User Feedback: (0)	I do add CO2 but the algae seems stronger than my plants. As per your reply in another thread, I will try Excel. Many thanks.

11-10-2005, 05:03 PM	#6
garfieldnfish Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 661 User Feedback: (0)	If you have room left for some fish, Siamese Algae eater and the Florida flagfish will eat this stuff.

11-10-2005, 06:20 PM	#9
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982 User Feedback: (0)	Its caused from lack of co2 or fluctuating co2 levels. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

11-11-2005, 07:38 AM	#12
garfieldnfish Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 661 User Feedback: (0)	If you have a decent LFS in your area they can special order them. I have seen then only occasionally in mine and the males are really pretty.

11-11-2005, 10:13 AM	#13
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982 User Feedback: (0)	1. yes 2. yes __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

11-14-2005, 02:41 AM	#14
Thomas Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 97 User Feedback: (0)	Many thanks for the replies

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