Newsgroups: rec.aquaria

In rec.aquaria, Neil.Frank@launchpad.unc.edu (Neil Frank) writes:

    Simazine can also affect plants, including val, as well as fish.  I hope
    George takes careful notes, so he can report back on any deleterious
    effects on his plants and fish!  And, of course on any successes.

Some success with "Algae-Destroyer" (sounds like some kind of DAK electronic
ad ...).

We added the Algae-Destroyer last weekend and stopped adding DuplaPlant-24
trace elements for the time being.  Today (Friday) we have noticed a 
definite decline in hair algae.  We are going to do a 50% water change this
weekend and try one more dose.  We are using it at the recommended dosage,
1 tablet per 5 gallons.  

We have noticed no adverse affects on fish (Rainbowfish, Corys, Pekoltia,
Farlowella) or snails (Malaysian trumpet).  No affect on Anubias, Rotala,
Bacopa, Samolus, Crupts, E. hormani, Hydrocotyle, Java Fern, Java Moss
or Amoracea.  Nomaphila stricta seems to lose a few more leaves than usual,
but still looks healthy.  

I would like to clarify what I am calling "hair algae".  This is bright 
green and only grows on plant leaves.  Individual strands have a very fine 
texture but it grows in thick patches and looks just like a green beard.  
It grows up to 1.5" (3.81 cm).  It cannot be removed mechanically.  I would
prefer to call this "beard algae", but the original poster call it "hair"
algae so I followed suit. 

What I call "hair algae" tends to grow in bright green clumps in the gravel,
around the base of plants like Echinodorus and around mechanical objects.
It has a coarser texture than "beard algae".  Beard algae will ripple
in the water current, hair algae tends to form twisted clumps.  Individual
strands can get to 1-2" (before we remove them).  This is easy to remove
mechanically by twirling a toothbrush in it. I have heard that folks in 
Europe culture this for fish to eat. 

We have also had a form of this that grew in much smaller clumps and was a 
grey-green.  It tended to form individual pieces that looked like stag
horns.  We call this "staghorn algae".  

Some plants get a peach-fuzz like algae growing on them which seems to 
grow in individual strands about 1/8 high.  Most algae eaters seem to 
relish this type.  Maybe it's a less active form of beard algae.  I would
call it "peach-fuzz" algae. 

If we get the iron concentration above 0.15 ppm, we tend to find "thread 
algae" growing off some of the stem plants.  This grows in long, thin
strands up to 8-12" long.  Very easy to mechanically remove. 

The final type we have seen is "red brush algae".  This is grows in black 
tufts about 1/8" high and tends to collect on slower growing leaves like
Anubias and some Echinodorus.  It also likes mechanical objects like 
heaters, powerheads, etc.  It cannot be removed mechanically.  We remove
the affected leaves.  

Maybe if these descriptions are applicable, we could add algae descriptions
to the FAQ to facilitate these discussions.  If anyone has an algae 
reference book (Neil?), maybe scientific names could be added, as well as
marine types. 

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George L. Booth                                Author, Aquarium Fish Magazine
booth@hplvec.lvld.hp.com                      Member, Rainbowfish Study Group
Software Development Engineer               Member, Colorado Aquarium Society
Manufacturing Test Division            Member, Aquatic Gardener's Association
Hewlett-Packard Company                Author, Aquatic Gardener's Association
Loveland, Colorado                Founding Member, The Colorado Aquarium, Inc
         /\                     Member, The Colorado Aquarium Plant Committee
    /\  /  \/\           Chairman, The Colorado Aquarium Filtration Committee
___/  \/   /  \___  Member, The Colorado Aquarium S.E. Asia Exhibit Committee
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Newsgroups: rec.aquaria