Thread or Spirogyra algae

[jweis]

Before I went on vacation for 10 days I had a bit of thread algae in my 11g tank. It is now MUCH worse. Almost every plant is tangled with it. I pulled out what I could but there is no way I can get it all and this tank has aqua soil substrate so I don't want to pull up the plants completely.

Any suggestions? I was thinking about buying 10 -15 amanos and seeing if they could eat the stuff.

It is a real bummer because other than the thread algae the tank looks really good right now.

EDIT: As I look at more pics on the web, I think it might be Spirogyra algae instead.

[scientist0724]

Ugh...I had the same problem with one of my small shrimp tanks. I basically turned off the lights for 3 weeks (luckily the plants were all low light plants and thus were not greatly affected) and threw in about half a dozen Amano shrimp. Ta-da! Problem solved!

Arlene

[jweis]

Ugh...I had the same problem with one of my small shrimp tanks. I basically turned off the lights for 3 weeks (luckily the plants were all low light plants and thus were not greatly affected) and threw in about half a dozen Amano shrimp. Ta-da! Problem solved!

Arlene

Of course all my plants in that tank are high light. Perhaps if I cut the light in half and go crazy with Amanos I will have a chance to save the tank. It is filled with shrimp too, so I dare not dose too much Excel. ugh!

[halak]

This thread might be your answer if that is what you have:
http://www.gwapa.org/forum/viewtopic.ph ... nfar+algae

[Cavan]

rosy barbs

[jweis]

rosy barbs

The rosy barbs would get fat eating all of my shrimp. Why eat chicken, when yummy lobster is being served?!

[jweis]

This thread might be your answer if that is what you have:
http://www.gwapa.org/forum/viewtopic.ph ... nfar+algae

I did a 50% water change, but it sounds like I need to be more aggressive. Does anyone know if the shrimp can handle that heavy of a dose of Excel? I have both RCS and CRS in that tank.

[Aaron]

This thread might be your answer if that is what you have:
http://www.gwapa.org/forum/viewtopic.ph ... nfar+algae

I did a 50% water change, but it sounds like I need to be more aggressive. Does anyone know if the shrimp can handle that heavy of a dose of Excel? I have both RCS and CRS in that tank.

If I recall G's findings were to dose per the bottle's instructions. That shouldn't be dangerous at all.

You can also do a hydrogen peroxide spot treatment on the really bad spots. Turn off the filter and other flow. Use a syringe to spot treat bad spots. Let sit for 20 minutes and then do a large water change. I've used about 50 mls of it in my 50 gallon tank in this manner without ill effects to shrimp.

[jweis]

This thread might be your answer if that is what you have:
http://www.gwapa.org/forum/viewtopic.ph ... nfar+algae

I did a 50% water change, but it sounds like I need to be more aggressive. Does anyone know if the shrimp can handle that heavy of a dose of Excel? I have both RCS and CRS in that tank.

If I recall G's findings were to dose per the bottle's instructions. That shouldn't be dangerous at all.

You can also do a hydrogen peroxide spot treatment on the really bad spots. Turn off the filter and other flow. Use a syringe to spot treat bad spots. Let sit for 20 minutes and then do a large water change. I've used about 50 mls of it in my 50 gallon tank in this manner without ill effects to shrimp.

OK, thanks for the suggestion. For now I have turned off the light and I will have to wait until Friday to do some serious treatment. Just when I thought this tank was doing great....

[krisw]

Just curious, while on your vacation were you auto-dosing? I've had cases where ceasing dosing altogether fixed the problem while on vacation.

Otherwise, all of the treatments prescribed above will work.