I keep a number of live plants in my aquarium and although i am quite meticulous about keeping the tank clean, some of my plants (mainly the ones with large leaves) seem to have some sort of black film over them. Additionally, I keep some larger rocks in the aquarium and these too have this black coating/film on them. The castle I keep in there; however, has a green film and appears to be more like algae (which I might add I tend to have a battle on my hands in terms of trying to keep it under control). Is there anything I should be doing differently and/or is there any way to better control this black film and the algea (short of a tank full of plecos)? Looking forward to the responses :)
2006-12-08 07:22:32 · 9 answers · asked by Dee G 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
Is it black beard algae (aka red algae)?
http://www.plantgeek.net/articles/gg_algae_faq/bba3.jpg
This probably the worst type of algae because no one will eat it (so do NOT get a plecostomous or an algae eater - they will not eat it) and you can't wipe it off.
You need to fertilize your plants with trace elements for plants with no phosphates. Supply extra Nitrates (you can buy this in a petstore), and put some sort of DIY CO2 injector into your tank (google it, it's easy to do, all you need a coke bottle, some yeast, some sugar, airline tubing, warm water and a big or silicone). Take your affected plants out of the water, cut off affected leaves and give them a quick dunk in Hydrogen Peroxide, or a 1:19 bleach:water solution. Rinse them completely after. Your plants won't look pretty, but the new growth will be algae free.
P.S.: you're right in not wanting to get a tank full of plecos. Plecos don't really eat algae; they may nibble at it, but they need to have a staple diet of zucchini / algae pellets. Some plecos are carnivorous. Chinese Algae Eaters do eat algae when they are small, but they grow in moody, aggressive, 6-8" CARNIVOROUS bast*rds. Lol. If it is algae, but not BBA, you could get amano shrimp or cherry red shrimp to eat it... But your wisest sollution is to target the cause of the algae.
2006-12-08 07:31:04 · answer #1 · answered by Zoe 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
black film/coating on aquarium plants....what is it and how do i get rid of it?
I keep a number of live plants in my aquarium and although i am quite meticulous about keeping the tank clean, some of my plants (mainly the ones with large leaves) seem to have some sort of black film over them. Additionally, I keep some larger rocks in the aquarium and these too have this black...
2015-08-06 08:59:46 · answer #2 · answered by Frederica 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
AAAAAHHHH1 I've been waiting for this ? I had the same problem and my water turned a real dark green too. Go to the pet store and ask them for Phosphorous filters. They come in sheets so you can cut them to the size you need. I keep them in my tank all the time and there is no more slime, no algae, and the blackspots were on the glass but they are gone too. I have an oscar that i got when he was a baby and he is huge now almost a year old.
2006-12-08 08:26:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Reverse Phone Number Look Up Services
2016-04-22 16:23:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The black coating is probably another form of algae. Try getting a couple algae eating fish. You may need to buy a better filter which will help.
2006-12-08 07:33:37 · answer #5 · answered by Mandy 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
That is algae. You should get rid of it or it will take over. You can get algae eaters, I recommend plecustomus and Chinese algae eaters, but there are many more. I think there are Siamese algae eaters too.
2006-12-08 07:27:10 · answer #6 · answered by Jill 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hello sounds like a kind of algae. i would contact your local pet store to find out if its bad or harmless. how long do u leave your lights on for? fish and plants need atleast 8 hrs daily.
2006-12-08 07:31:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
reverse phone number search compiles hundreds of millions of phone book records to help locate the owner's name, location, time zone, email and other public information.
Use a reverse phone lookup to:
Get the identity of an unknown caller.
Identify an area code.
Recall the name of a person whose number you wrote down.
Identify an unfamiliar phone number that shows up on your bill.
https://tr.im/5qWh2
2015-02-16 02:26:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Zoe is right.... minus the adding nitrate...
check your tank for nitrate.. i bet it's off the charts...
Keep it under 20ppm by doing regular water changes.
i had the same problem.
ps... find a hillstream loach/borneo sucker... they're peaceful algae eater... their max size is 2 inches.
2006-12-08 07:57:01 · answer #9 · answered by professorminh 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that it will be better for you to take your plants out and rinse it and at same time you are to use filtered water and which is free from iron. Thanks.
2006-12-08 08:02:01 · answer #10 · answered by kazi_lateef 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋