Is this beard algae?

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Is this beard algae? Empty Is this beard algae?

Post  Betty 2014-03-20, 11:48

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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Post  cichlid-gal 2014-03-20, 12:56

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...  Laughing 
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Post  fishyladdy 2014-03-20, 13:31

omg i love this stuff figure out for me how it grows i want a tank full! lol
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Post  pbmax 2014-03-20, 13:36

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. Smile
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Post  Anthraxx 2014-03-20, 14:47

thats awesome looking, my best guess is you got a hitch-hiker from japan Razz. feel free to try and culture some other rocks and trade em amongst the rest of us Wink
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Post  MRTom 2014-03-20, 14:56

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 Smile 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 Smile
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Post  Betty 2014-03-20, 18:29

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.  Smile
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Post  dwarfpike 2014-03-20, 18:33

Anyone else see this and think it would be awesome in a fry tank?
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Post  fishNAbowl 2014-03-20, 23:51

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.
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Post  Betty 2014-03-21, 00:54

I tried searching for it and couldn't find it either.

Do you have any pictures of the wood?
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Post  fishNAbowl 2014-03-21, 08:32

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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...
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Post  Betty 2014-03-21, 10:25

Looking at the first photo, it looks like the same stuff. I wish I could grow all of those other beautiful plants.
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Post  LuminousAphid 2014-03-26, 22:31

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
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Post  pbmax 2014-03-26, 22:40

That's what cladophora is; be careful what you wish for.  Shocked 
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Post  bronzefighter 2014-03-27, 15:12

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.
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Post  fishNAbowl 2014-03-27, 16:04

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.
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