Is this beard algae?
+6
MRTom
Anthraxx
pbmax
fishyladdy
cichlid-gal
Betty
10 posters
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Is this beard algae?
I've been doing a little research to try and figure out what this algae is and beard algae is the closest I can find. This was a nice-looking piece of seiryu stone at one time. I like the look of the algae, but wanted to identify it so I can figure out if there is a problem with the tank that is causing it to suddenly start growing. I haven't seen this type of algae in any of my tanks before.
The tank is only 2.5 gallons with one betta and one baby bristlenose. It gets large water changes at least twice a week. I've got a Marineland led light that stays on about 10 hours a day -- maybe too much light for such a small tank. It's been the same set up for a couple of years; moving the plecos out as they get too big.
The color difference is because I had the tank light on in the first and off in the second.
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The tank is only 2.5 gallons with one betta and one baby bristlenose. It gets large water changes at least twice a week. I've got a Marineland led light that stays on about 10 hours a day -- maybe too much light for such a small tank. It's been the same set up for a couple of years; moving the plecos out as they get too big.
The color difference is because I had the tank light on in the first and off in the second.
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Betty- Contributing Member
- Join date : 2010-07-05
Age : 64
Location : McKenna
Re: Is this beard algae?
Not sure what that is Betty but its a pretty algae...looks like moss.
I have some seiryu stone also in my tanks and they like to grow algae. I really do like the look of yours. And you know your cichlids would kill for algae like that if its something they would eat...
I have some seiryu stone also in my tanks and they like to grow algae. I really do like the look of yours. And you know your cichlids would kill for algae like that if its something they would eat...
cichlid-gal- Lifetime Member
- Join date : 2012-09-28
Age : 66
Location : Ephrata, WA
Re: Is this beard algae?
omg i love this stuff figure out for me how it grows i want a tank full! lol
fishyladdy- Lifetime Member
- Join date : 2013-06-04
Location : snohomish
Re: Is this beard algae?
That doesn't look like beard alage to me; I've never seen it in that color, though otherwise it does look similar.
It does look a bit like cladophora - the genus that includes marimo moss balls. I have that stuff in a bunch of tanks; it grows short on surfaces like in your photo, but it can also send out long, stringy pieces.
Edit: And yes, shortening the photo period will slow it down.
It does look a bit like cladophora - the genus that includes marimo moss balls. I have that stuff in a bunch of tanks; it grows short on surfaces like in your photo, but it can also send out long, stringy pieces.
Edit: And yes, shortening the photo period will slow it down.
pbmax- Lifetime Member
- Join date : 2011-12-23
Location : Olympia, WA
Re: Is this beard algae?
thats awesome looking, my best guess is you got a hitch-hiker from japan . feel free to try and culture some other rocks and trade em amongst the rest of us
Anthraxx- Lifetime Member
- Join date : 2011-04-24
Location : Tacoma
Re: Is this beard algae?
I don't think this is black beard algae, but I do get blooms of similar stuff when I leave the lights on longer than 10 hours a day in my big tanks. The platies and shrimp keep it trimmed to about 2mm long This stuff makes some great pearling! That said, that stone looks like a lost cause... if you kill the algae, it will turn brown, and I haven't figured out a good way of brushing it off after that without also polishing off the nice rough edges of the seiryu stone. Have you been dosing any fertilizers to that tank?
Another alternative I just thought of: put that stone in with some hungry amano shrimp! That should clean it up pretty quick
Another alternative I just thought of: put that stone in with some hungry amano shrimp! That should clean it up pretty quick
MRTom- Lifetime Member
- Join date : 2013-09-08
Age : 45
Location : Mukilteo
Re: Is this beard algae?
Thanks everyone. I do like the way this stuff looks -- it's kind of cool the way it flows in the current from the filter, but I don't want it to get much longer than this.
No fertilizer added.
I'll stick another rock of some sort in there and see if it will grow.
No fertilizer added.
I'll stick another rock of some sort in there and see if it will grow.
Betty- Contributing Member
- Join date : 2010-07-05
Age : 64
Location : McKenna
Re: Is this beard algae?
Anyone else see this and think it would be awesome in a fry tank?
dwarfpike- Lifetime Member
- Join date : 2012-05-06
Location : Monroe, WA
Re: Is this beard algae?
I thought this was a form of bacteria like BHA. I posted about this same type 'algae' months ago. For the life of me I don't remember what it was recognized as or find the post.
I have a large piece of woOd with this stuff growing all over it. Totally like how it looks.
I have a large piece of woOd with this stuff growing all over it. Totally like how it looks.
fishNAbowl- Lifetime Member
- Join date : 2013-09-05
Age : 50
Location : LK. Stevens, Wash.
Re: Is this beard algae?
I tried searching for it and couldn't find it either.
Do you have any pictures of the wood?
Do you have any pictures of the wood?
Betty- Contributing Member
- Join date : 2010-07-05
Age : 64
Location : McKenna
Re: Is this beard algae?
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A couple older random photos Betty. Lights are off currently, could get more after work. But you can see it. I plant ferns right on top of it...
A couple older random photos Betty. Lights are off currently, could get more after work. But you can see it. I plant ferns right on top of it...
fishNAbowl- Lifetime Member
- Join date : 2013-09-05
Age : 50
Location : LK. Stevens, Wash.
Re: Is this beard algae?
Looking at the first photo, it looks like the same stuff. I wish I could grow all of those other beautiful plants.
Betty- Contributing Member
- Join date : 2010-07-05
Age : 64
Location : McKenna
Re: Is this beard algae?
looks like someone blended a marimo ball and then pasted it all over the rock and it somehow lived and grew back... would be awesome if it worked
Re: Is this beard algae?
That's what cladophora is; be careful what you wish for.
pbmax- Lifetime Member
- Join date : 2011-12-23
Location : Olympia, WA
Re: Is this beard algae?
I get the same thing in my tank. Looks nice at first, but if you're not careful it can spread and start covering/killing some plants.
bronzefighter- Senior Member
- Join date : 2013-09-26
Age : 34
Location : Everett
Re: Is this beard algae?
The stuff growing on my wood looks a lot like the fuzzy stuff growing on a moss ball. It grows remarkably slow and dies under full light. The wood in my tank has been submerged for about 10 years.
fishNAbowl- Lifetime Member
- Join date : 2013-09-05
Age : 50
Location : LK. Stevens, Wash.
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