Sudden overtaking of tank by algae (I think "brush algae"?)

[tortuga]

Changed more water than usual the other day as I was being lax and hadn't changed it for over 3 weeks (bad, I know). Within 3 days, I had this absolute covering of brown (almost red sheen) hairlike algae completely covering my plants, larger rocks, filter intake tube, and pretty much everything. From reading around here, I think I have it identified as brush algae (picture below for confirmation), and am a little annoyed that it sounds to be so hard to get rid of.

I'm not attached to the plants, and have decided it's probably easiest to just trash them and put fresh ones in, but unless I figure out how to rid the water of this stuff, I'm not going to bother since it'll just come back. Tank is too small for a chinese algae eater, and I can't get snails in my area (nearest place I know of that has snails is about 60-ish miles away), unless someone would be willing to send me some apple snails?

I figure changing the filter cartridge, scrubbing everything down really well, maybe pulling out gravel and rinsing real good, and ditching the plants might get rid of it? Would it still be necessary to treat with a chemical (flourish excel by the sounds of other threads) to keep it from coming back? Am I being too aggressive? I've just never had this type before, and it utterly took over the tank in a matter of days so it has me frustrated.

If this is brush algae (surrounding my poor betta Violet!), I think the solution is in the other threads. Just want to be sure what it is before I act on it.

If anyone could send me some apple snails (I like having snails in the tank), let me know and I can paypal you for them!

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[smaug]

That isnt brush algae,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I dont think so anyway.I have never seen algae quite that color but BBA is short [1/4"] and rather bristly in appearance.What you have there looks like diatomacios algae and will normally clear up with good water changes.It is most common in new tanks.What spectrum lighting are you using and how many watts?Pitching the filter cartridge is in effect getting rid of your cycled filter.Rinsing the gravel would have no good effects either.Are you using any ferts?

[tortuga]

It looks darker brown in person, and the red sheen is less obvious with eyeballs rather than camera. I'm not using any special lighting, it's the stock flourescent one that came with the hood (15watt 8,000K).

Not using any fertilizer, I tend to just replace the plants when they start looking bad. I figure the filter catridge is disposable, the biowheel would contain the bacteria?

I was leaning towards brush algae, figuring common in new tanks might be explained by my recent water change. I changed about 70% of the water that time due to the delay. This has typically been a pretty maintenance free tank. It's small but not much bioload. My snail recently died, so could he have been keeping this stuff in check? I just had one of the golden snails about the size of a nickel around.

[domjd05]

I'm sorry my friend but that is some insane looking algae.. I've never seen something quite like that.

I've had brownish-hair like algae before... but never to that degree/shade...

By the way- it took a complete tear-down to get rid of it.. never did figure out what it was/how it came to be.

[Lady Hobbs]

Holy cow. Makes me hungry for cotton candy. I would use an old toothbrush and see how much you can pull away from the plant and then get some Flourish Excel for your tank. You could just replace the plant but if it returns on new plants you'll probably end up needing Excel anyway so may as well try to save what you have.

[smaug]

Plants kept in the way you describe are doing nothing for the cleanliness of the water and are actually dirtying it instead. You would be far better off with plastic. That alien lookn stuff ain't bba, I'm certain of that. Its simply a brown algae or diatom algae bloom from an unstable environment. Keep better water by doing weekly maint. Good luck.

[Lady Hobbs]

Actually, I agree. If you are trying to keep live plants in a tank that doesn't have plant lights, then you are losing a battle anyway. Not many plants will grow under the light that come with the tank.

Good point, smaug.