green fern in tank?

Question

we have a tropical tank with no live plants in but there is something growing on the ornaments like a green fern plant it grows quickly and spreads , any ideas what it is and how to get rid of it , thanks

Answer 1

The fern like appearance is a give away. That's often called Black Beard algae and is very difficult to get rid of in a tank. The best option is to remove all items it is growing on and treat them in a weak bleach solution then scrub the items well under running water to remove any remaining Algae and to wash away the bleach. Then allow them to dry well before returning them to the tank.

Event his is no guarantee of completely removing the algae from your tank, but it will remove the majority and with several such cleanings you may be able to eliminate it entirely.

Algae killing chemicals will possibly kill it, but not entirely and it will certainly come back.. Futher, they are harmful to the tank and will in the long run only make matters worse. Please avoid them entirely.

MM

Answer 2

If it looks like a fern rather than a sort of moss or like an algal growth it is probably Java Fern.

They are often sold attached to bits of wood or rock where they root and grow quite rapidly.

If it looks a bit more like moss then it is probably Java Moss which can be a bit of a nuisance as it can spread over the glass, gravel, plants and anything else in the tank.

Answer 3

By your description of a fern like plant with small leaves that spreads and spreads rapidly....I know what it is. It is commonly known as duckweed and it could have mixed with other plants that you have bought. It will only need one or two leaves in the water and they will multiply and eventually cover the whole water area of your tank...it's a nuisance plant....get rid of it.

Answer 4

A description or photo of what was growing on the plants may have helped identify this (color, size). In most likelihood, it's either a type of algae or cyanobacteria ("slime algae"). If a true algae, it would be green, brown, grayish, or whitish in color, but the cyanobacteria would be brighter blue-green. You can look through the first link which shows photos of these to identify what you have, then use the appropriate link below for treatment info:
http://www.floridadriftwood.com/algae_identification.html
http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/algae/algcont.shtml - green algae
http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/algae/tonealg.shtml - beard algae
http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/algae/cyano.shtml - "slime algae"

Answer 5

it is probably algae growth,

You can just take out the decor, and wipe it with a paper towel.

No need to get an algae eatter or chemicals.

Answer 6

it sounds like algae is your tank to near direct sunlight,that can cause it you can do a partial water change and add a algae remover available from aquatic shops