Is this algae?

**MissMaddylyn** · 05-04-2012, 04:29 PM

This stuff is growing all over my plants, and anytime I try to clean them, they just fall apart and end up floating everywhere in my tank. My Nitrates are going nuts because of this, the strands collect all the excess food particles!

These were brand new plants when I got them and put em in my tank, so I have no idea where they came from.

**MissMaddylyn** · 05-04-2012, 04:29 PM

https://www.dropbox.com/s/uavzwq3tlodqa5w/IMAG0879.jpg

Just in case the photo doesnt show up, it didnt on my end.

**escamosa** · 05-04-2012, 11:38 PM

The picture still doesn't appear to be working, Maddy.

**Cermet** · 05-05-2012, 11:14 AM

Good idea to give us the numbers on nitrates. What lighting do you use and how long? Do you add ferts - if you do, what type(s) and then, how often do you add them? Water changes - both how often and amount (as well as tank volume.)

**MissMaddylyn** · 05-18-2012, 09:20 PM

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lff8gr7cpdai8bt/IMAG0879.jpg

Sorry the image didnt work, this should, otherwise I give up, lol

Im just using the regular 150W 120V bulb. Nothing fancy. About 10-12 hours a day. Sometimes more. I usually turn them on when I get up and off before I go to bed, or go to work late. I know I need to cut back on that already, but none of my other tanks are having algae problems. (anymore)

No ferts as I dont have live plants. I do weekly 20% water changes as my ram loves clean water.

I DID have a big BB, cleared up after a major 50% WC. I added some stress coat as well and a mechanical filter. A lot of the strands cleared up and went away. I also added some live hornroot(?) plants that float along the top, my lfs guy said it wouldnt be a bad idea, and my ram likes shade.

So what was this stuff? Someone suggested that it may have been the slimecoat from my fish?

**Cermet** · 05-19-2012, 10:17 AM

Looks very much like fish coating with some brown algae.

As for your light - it is the wrong color temperature and may be causing algae issues. A standard 120 volt bulb is very yellow - ideal for algae, very poor for plants. When you say 10-12 hours and more, that is far too much light duration. Your tank size? Is the 150 watt bulb a single or dual bulbs? If dual bulbs, are they 150 each or is it the sum?

Regardless, you should get a CFL bulb(s) with the correct color spectrum (temp.) Without CO2 or ferts, you should have no more than 2 watts/gal intensity.

They sell specific aquarium plants CFL's (with screw in bulbs) on line at:

http://www.americanaquariumproducts....erCompact.html

Or, get a unit(s) from the hardware store - they should carry 6500 K (temp)