BEST way to get rid of Black beard algae?

[Cory Catfish]

I currently have Blackbeard algae in one of my tanks. I have tried plucking it off, dipping it, drying it, but it refuses to come off. Does anyone have any ideas/suggestions to get rid of it?

[Trillianne]

If you have sufficient room in your tank... a Siamese Algae Eater will mow it down.

You may also find some luck in using Flourish Excel

[PhillipOrigami]

Dont manually remove it. IIRC when you mess with it it releases spores.

Flourish Excel will help.
Check your CO2. It is caused by fluctuating levels of CO2 a lot of the time. If you are running DIY, upgrade to pressurized or somehow stabilize the levels. If you aren't running CO2... perhaps turn off airstones...?

[Cory Catfish]

I'm pretty cautious about using chemicals in my tank, because last time I used an algae killer, it killed my marimo balls. However, I''ll consider using it.

Unfortunately, I don't have room for an SAE.
Ah, airstones. it's funny, because the tank which I have airstones in has null problem with algae. Not even diatoms. No, I don't have a bubbler for this tank.
No CO2 for this tank, my plants say NO to it...

[PhillipOrigami]

It will kill moss and vals most of the time.
Someone used many amano shrimp on a small tank, which led them to eventually eat BBA.

1000th post. Aye, it was worth it.

[Lady Hobbs]

I cut off as much as I can. It can be triggered by lights on too long, high phosphates or an abundance of nutrients. I also use a phosphate remover and don't let my nitrates get too high. I do not use CO2.

Here's an article on it that gives a few solutions.

http://fishyaquaria.wordpress.com/20...ush-algae-bba/

When I was having my biggest problem with it, I would dip the plants in a 20 part water to one part bleach. Many plants will handle the bleach well. Others not so much. Amazon Swords or Vals do not appear to like it much but Ludwigia and Anubias do fine, as well as others. Just about a minute is long enough and it's trial and error to see which plants can tolerate it.

I have also used peroxide with a dropper and treated it right in the tank. I have also used Excel but really don't like to. I had my problems with Excel and am not nuts about the stuff because it's toxic. (You need an airstone if treating with Excel.) It killed my meteor minnows and killed 4 of my albino corys......(had no effect on the others for some reason.) If you use it, use it as directed.

All BBA will stop growing even if dosing in recommended doses but it may not kill it off as fast as double dosing. More safe, tho. Several plants also can not survive Excel so more trial and error to see what can tolerate it. Vals will die right off but will come back.

I would try to get rid of as much of it as possible and then add your algae eaters. There is only so much an algae eater can eat and BBA grows very quickly and gets out of control very quickly.

It's wicked stuff and I hate it. Best to prevent even getting it and cut off what you find as soon as you see it. Lights should not be on more than 8 hours a day. All decorations, rocks, etc, can go into a bleach bath and either air dyed before returning to the tank or soaked in dechlorinatored water.

[Cliff]

I'm pretty cautious about using chemicals in my tank, because last time I used an algae killer, it killed my marimo balls. However, I''ll consider using it. .

Just as a warning, your moss balls will not like the excel either. You my want to consider other options if you still have moss balls in your tank

[Aeonflame]

Keep an eye on your nutrient levels, as mentioned above. In the short term, you can trim the pants with algae growth on them. Hardscape can be removed and treated with peroxide.

[Gogi]

+ 1 to Lady Hobbs. I have followed her advise on this issue from another thread and i am currently holding off the BBA horde's advance in my shrimp tank. I also adjusted my feeding, so that it is enough for a growing shrimp colony while not overfeeding. It is very tricky, just be patient.

One other thing I did was add water sprite. I have good lighting and it grows fast beating the BBA to the nurients. All of my other plants are growing and the new growth is all BBA FREE!!!
In my other tank I had room for 2 SAE and two weeks all BBA was gone.
GLHF

[Goes to 11!]

I'm pretty cautious about using chemicals in my tank, because last time I used an algae killer, it killed my marimo balls. However, I''ll consider using it.

I cant tell you if it kills moss 'most of the time' but FYI 'Moss balls' ARE algae, Not actual moss. This is why they did not cope well with an algae killer.

Stay ahead of it like Gogis example and you will be fine.