I have a 20 long aquarium, freshwater, with guppies, and ghost shrimp. As of late, the rocks, gravel, and plants have a purple, fuzzy.....growth. What the heck is it? is it dangerous to the fish, and how would I be rid of it!? I was thinking 12 gauge, but i think I read somewhere that lead is poison to fish. Thoughts?
2007-07-04 06:01:21 · 7 answers · asked by fretnoise900 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
If it purple it's likely a cynobacteria and not an algea.
You can treat your tank with maracin at 1/2 the normal dosage and that should help clear the problem.
However you'll want to find out what you are doing wrong, which almost certainly includes over feeding and poor water quality.
2007-07-04 07:34:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
While this might be cyanobacteria and another answer suggests, red/purple cyano is more common in marine tanks and blue-green cyano is more common in freshwater. See these photos to make sure that's what you're dealing with:
http://www.aquamax.de/Shop/Artikelbilder/Zusatzbilder/Algen%20im%20Aquarium_Blaualgen%20-%20Cyanobacteria_STUG_cyano1.jpg
http://www.sloreef.com/bojan/Cyanobacteria_files/Cyanobacteria1.jpg
If so, there are other ways of eliminating it than using erythromycin (an antibiotic), which will disrupt the beneficial bacteria that cycle the ammonia in the tank. See this for methods and details: http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/algae/cyano.shtml
It's also possible that you're seeing a type of brush algae that is a purple/gray: http://www.floridadriftwood.com/brush_algae.jpg
Here's a link for eliminating this type:
http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/algae/tonealg.shtml
Since you mention using lead would be harmful to your fish, I considered that you might want alternatives to using chemicals which would subject your fish to possible ammonia or nitrite poisoning in the next few weeks. The alternatives in the links may not eliminate the stuff as quickly, but there's a lot safer for your fish.
2007-07-04 18:41:15 · answer #2 · answered by copperhead 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Test your freakin water!!! When was the last time you siphoned your gravel? Maybe never? The algae you see is called hair algae, and there are only a few fish that will touch the stuff. It is not toxic, but like I said, fish don't seem to like the way it tastes. You can get it off your decorations by soaking in a mild bleach solution and then soaking the decorations in a very high solution of dechlorinator.
2007-07-04 07:14:01 · answer #3 · answered by fivespeed302 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
precise you could now desire to bathe your aquarium on your man or woman if the algae is purely too plenty present day in the tank yet in destiny use a protein skimmer clear out this is going to help it stops algae to strengthen and in case you have this protein skimmer exchange its cartridge wish this helps
2016-11-08 03:40:28 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be poisionious to your shrimp if they nibble on it. change the water, clean the tank and start with new water.
It also could be something about the ph level.
2007-07-04 06:59:49 · answer #5 · answered by beaglepuppylove 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is deadly and get rid by a forough clean and a special liquid can be put in to help treat.
search internet
2007-07-04 06:13:42 · answer #6 · answered by jamie c 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
why the neck would you think 12 quage that would kill your fish from the blast and the shots arent made of lead they are made out of steel if there made out of lead then they would kill you if you touched them and i have no clue what the purple stuff is
2007-07-04 06:04:46 · answer #7 · answered by tkerbag 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋