benny0715 Posted April 1, 2016 Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 Anyway to get rid of it? I tried Excel / WC / Amano...nothing work on it. Im thinking to put Mollies in since I dont have baby shrimp in tank yet, will it work? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShrimpP Posted April 1, 2016 Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 The greyish, branching strands of algae is Staghorn. The green, long strands are Spirogyra. I haven't dealt with them first hand so I have no advice on what causes them or how to kill it. Do some searches on how others have killed the algae. http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm Maybe a blackout will work? I'm kind of surprised the excel spot treatment didn't melt your moss (or did you just dose the entire tank and not spot treat?). In my experience, true Siamese Algae Eaters (Crossocheilus siamensis, and their cousins such as Crossocheilus reticulatus) will eat hair algae, so they might do the job? But know that any of these are just "band-aids" and are not solving the root cause of the algae growth. If the tank is small, I wouldn't recommend keeping SAE in there long term (they are social fish and should be in groups, very minimum of 3). gillznglass 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DETAquarium Posted April 1, 2016 Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 If you can provide us with details of your tank it may help solve the mystery. Staghorn was something I have dealt with in the past when working with a high-tech planted aquarium. Usually an imbalance somewhere between lighting intensity/duration, lack of CO2, and/or fertilizers. Mr. F, Pokeshrimp and gillznglass 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokeshrimp Posted April 1, 2016 Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 Nothing will eat staghorn. You can spot treat with H2O2 it turns pinkish when dying. Like Deta said there is lilikely an imbalance in your tank, better to find that and fix it before battling the algae so you're not in a constant battle. gillznglass 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crackhead Johny Posted April 1, 2016 Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 If there are no shrimp in the tank you could see if the local petco carries Flag fish. While tehy may nibble hair and BBA I do not think they will touch staghorn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benny0715 Posted April 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 Heres my setting & Parameters 14"X10"X10" Eheim 2211 Ammonia 0 NO2 & NO3 0 PH: 6.4-6.5 TDS: 130 BioDigest: 1vial every 20days 25-30 CRS CO2 & Lighting: 8Hrs / 1bubble per 3Secs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DETAquarium Posted April 1, 2016 Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 How close is the light to the surface of the water? How much PAR? How many Gallons? Are you dosing any Ferts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benny0715 Posted April 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 2 hours ago, DETAquarium said: How close is the light to the surface of the water? How much PAR? How many Gallons? Are you dosing any Ferts? 14"X10"X10" 6 Gallons Not sure PAR but im using Finnex Plant+ 16" Its est. 3" above the tank When I build the tank i placed 4 Tablets of API Root Tabs at the bottom, besides that I didnt dose any ferts. And I started to dose 2X Excel from the day I see the algae. For the Staghorn its only happen on the right hand side moss tree and its not spreading. The big thing is the Green Hair Algae, its everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benny0715 Posted April 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 Went to my LFS, they suggested me to use Rainbow Stiphodon. Hope it will help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShrimpP Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 I've had several species of Stiphodon and they did nibble on hair algae. Wasn't exactly Spirogyra though as I haven't had that particular algae. Haven't had Staghorn either, so I can't comment. Let us know if they or do or don't though! Be cautious though, if they are scared or don't like your water, the goby may try to jump out, so keep the water 2 inches or more below the top of the tank. They prefer cooler water with higher dissolved oxygen, not so much co2 injected tanks with little surface agitation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benny0715 Posted April 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 Here's an Update, after 24hrs of battle. 85% of the Green Hair Alage & Staghorn was gone. The Rainbow Stiphodon really help. gillznglass and ShrimpP 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DETAquarium Posted April 4, 2016 Report Share Posted April 4, 2016 Do you have the ability to raise your lights another 3"+? gillznglass 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benny0715 Posted April 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2016 7 hours ago, DETAquarium said: Do you have the ability to raise your lights another 3"+? Im thinking to DIY a Raiser for my light. For now I just cut back the light hours to 6. Do you think I should take out the Rainbow Stiphodon after the battle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShrimpP Posted April 6, 2016 Report Share Posted April 6, 2016 Thanks for following up! Did you witness the goby eating the green hair algae/Spirogyra? Even the staghorn!? What other tank do you have that the goby could go to? Personally, I would relocate/rehome the goby since they really do need higher amounts of dissolved oxygen, and co2 injected tanks with minimal surface agitation just don't provide that need. Fish that are naturally from higher dissolved oxygen areas, tend to live shorter lives if kept without those higher o2 levels (doesn't need to be a high current cold river tank, but plenty of surface agitation with decent water circulation is enough). Just like another water parameter. If you have another tank that is larger, non-co2 injected, and more surface agitation, that would be better suited to keeping the goby. Food is another thing. Stiphodons are algae eaters, but they aren't that picky and will eat most commercial algal foods. They do love natural algae though and the microorganisms that come with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. F Posted April 6, 2016 Report Share Posted April 6, 2016 On 4/1/2016 at 3:17 PM, benny0715 said: 14"X10"X10" 6 Gallons Not sure PAR but im using Finnex Plant+ 16" Its est. 3" above the tank When I build the tank i placed 4 Tablets of API Root Tabs at the bottom, besides that I didnt dose any ferts. And I started to dose 2X Excel from the day I see the algae. For the Staghorn its only happen on the right hand side moss tree and its not spreading. The big thing is the Green Hair Algae, its everywhere. Had a similar problem on my 20L with a 30" planted+. Shortened photoperiod from 12 to 10hr, dosed excel every day, used CO2 injection, and started dosing N, P, and K (seachem) for macros as well as CSM+B for micros, as well as adding a few otos. All gone now. :] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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