small black strands growing on plants in fish tank?

Question

what is this ? how do i get rid of it , without getting rid of my plants ? oh yea what causes it?

Answer 1

I hate when people give bad advice. Algae is not caused because of high nitrates. Algae in a freshwater (or salt water) tank is caused because of phosphorus/phosphates. Algae is a good sign the tank is healthy. However too much isn't good either. the Black Hair/ Brown Hair algae you have can be formed due to higher phosphorus levels in your tank. I can can be. Since algae can also come from too much heat or light. Even a small amount of sunlight is enough for algae to grow.

The simplest solution is go ahead and wipe it off (this doesn't fix the problem), but an even better solution, you can buy phosphorus pads which can be cut and added to your filter. they run about $2.50 for a large square. Rinse it out when you clean your filter. You will see results in less than a week. Leave the filter in the tank and remember to clean it out every now and then.

Answer 2

It is a form of algea that is hard to kill without chemicals. You can purchase an algea-killing chemical anyplace that sells fish. They even have a type that is safe to use in a planted tank. Using bleach is NOT a good option. It may kill any fish you ever put in it because it is almost impossible to rinse out completely. So in the future, use the algea-killing chemical, it will not harm your fish, and you won't have to dismantle your tank, which also kills the good bacteria in your filter that is keeping your fish healthy. It is easier to control algea than to fight it, though. In an unplanted tank, shorten the amount of time your tank lights are on. In a planted tank, some fast-growing plants and some carbon dioxide are good controllers, because the fast growing plant uses all the nutrients, including the carbon dioxide, before the algea can get any, basically starving it away.

Answer 3

Is it like blackish green fuzzy stuff?
http://www.plantgeek.net/articles/gg_algae_faq/bba4_tb.jpg
Kind of like that?
If so, that's black beard algae. It's a tenacious bugger and algae eaters won't touch it. You should probably introduce some sort CO2 source to your tank to keep algae at bay, a Do-It-Yourself would be fine if your tank is under 40 gallons. Take an empty 2Litre coke bottle, rinse it well. Take some airline tubing. In the cap of the bottle, drill a hole that is slightly smaller than the width of the airline tubing. Cut the airline at an angle, poke it through the hole, grasp it with pliars and pull it through. Voila, sealed and perfect. Inside the bottle, put 1 litre of warm water and 1 cup of sugar and let the sugar disolve. Then add 1/2 tsp of baking yeast, close the bottle, and attach the end of the airline to a CO2 airstone or a CO2 diffuser (ebay has them for 5$). It'll help the plants, too.
Of course, make sure you aren't overfeeding, and keep your lights on only 9-10 hours per day.

Answer 4

What you most likely have there is black or very dark green algae. You can gently rub it off of plants with firm leaves but tat always leaves some to grow back very soon. The most likely cause of this algae is high nitrates. Algae is a nitrate sponge, using whatever nitrates are available in the water. Higher plants (the plants you want) use nitrates, but only in fairly small amounts and only use it well when other criteria are also met. They need adequate lighting, the correct minerals in the correct amounts and the tank in the proper temperature range to name the major items. Many other smaller items affect the plants too. Try finding a few websites on planted aquariums and read up on them. A little detective work will be needed to find out what the problem in your tank is and how to best fix it for you and your tank. Check out several sites, compare notes and differences, then come back with whatever questions the new information brings up. It's honestly to indepth to completely figure out without much, much more information about your tank. Best of luck!

Answer 5

It is a form of Algae called 'beard algae' or 'black algae' and is difficult to get rid of as most fish will NOT eat it. The usual solution is to get rid of any leaves with it on. It will not rub off like green algae! Test your water and take the readings to your local aquarium shop, they will give you the best advice or go on to one of the fish-keeping sites. High phosphate levels, over-feeding of fish and too much light are the main causes of algae problems especially in tanks that are not heavily planted.
www.thinkfish.co.uk or www.practicalfishkeeping.uk are both very good sites to visit!

Answer 6

it is algae we had the same problem here it is because the filter in your pump is not fine enough we got a cushion thing from the pet store and it works we cut the hair as we called it and cleaned the stones in the tank and now we have no problems

Answer 7

That sounds like net larvae to me. You need to net the top of the tank with a fine mesh or if not put the lid on it. Hope this helps.

Answer 8

it's algea. it's natural. you don't really want to get rid of all of it, it's heathy.

you can get:

a small school of dwarf cory cats, or regular cory cats, or oto's, or plecos....... just make sure you have enough room for them.

an algea scraper to get the algea off of your tank walls and stuff.

plant cleaner - don't use soap,,,, you can swish them in the water that you take out of your fish tank when you do water changes, it'll stay healthy that way.

good luck!! hth!!

Answer 9

Probably algae caused by to much light in the tank (is it near a window?) put a pleccy in your tank it will eat all the algea on the sides of the tank and on the plants.

Answer 10

sounds like algae...you can purchase an algae eating fish to put in your tank and it will eat it up. they're called algae eaters.