what kind of aglae looks like gray strands and sticks to the glass of the tank and off the plants ?

Question

it looks like a cobweb but its in side the tank also is it dangerous and what causes it ?

and no it is not fish waste i clean the tank properly test the water and do changes as necessary i have two tanks a 10 gal with two small blue catfish and a 55 gal with 2 pink gourami 2 rasboras 1 violet goby 2 danios the catfish will soon be in a 30 gallon tank or larger

Answer 1

Sounds like Fuzz Algae, which grows mostly on plant leaves as short, seperate strands. Easily controlled with algae eaters such as black mollies and siamese algea eaters.

Could also be Staghorn Algae, which grows in single branching strands and is gray-green. Tends to grow near the surface and on tank equipment. Soak the equipment in a 25% bleach/water solution to remove it.

Algae can not harm your fish, the only problem with algae is that it just looks bad. Actually, aquariums with algae are known to have easy spawning and healthy fry. But you know what happens when you have too much of a good thing, it turns into a bad thing. Nobody wants their tank glass covered in filth, plus cloudy water everywhere! To help....try keeping your tank out of direct sunlight or if you're leaving your aquarium light on too long during the day, you might want to cut down the amount of time. Algae can also come from the water your fish came from, the water in your tap, the air, or decorations and plants.

Answer 2

You may have a fungus and not an algae. Fungus is caused by an abundance of decaying material such as fish waste, plant matter, or uneaten food.

The fungus itself is usually not too dangerous, but it can quickly overrun a tank if not controlled.

You should identify the source and take steps to eliminate it. Feed your fish only as much as they can eat in two minutes. Trim back parts of plants that look dead or dying. Scrub the glass and vaccum the gravel often.

You may also want to increase the frequency and/or percentage of water changes for a while to remove the material and fungus.

Answer 3

This sound like bearded algae. Few fish eat it. The livebearers do seem to love it so a pair of guppy/platty/swordtail/molly would help. Also I'm told Siamese Algae Eater (SAE) - Crossocheilus siamensis eats it as well, but generally they are hard to find.

Answer 4

That is what your fish expels and tank should be cleaned.