🚀 go-pugleaf

An update on our attempts to deal with a bad case of "beard algae".

This type of beard algae, at least in our tanks, is bright green and
grows mostly on plant leaves.  It gets to about 1" (2.54 cm) long and
tends to look like long, green velvet.  It "blows in the wind" like
fields of wheat.  It is impossible to mechanically remove from the
plant leaf, unlike "hair" and "thread" algae.

The "Algae-Destroyer" product worked for us.  It is made by Aquarium
Pharmaceuticals and comes in tablet or liquid form.  It seems to be 
available at most fish and pet shops for $4-6 for 18 tablets (treats
90 gallons of water).  It's active ingredient is "Simazine".

We used the tablets at the recommended dosage.  We treated once,
changed 50% of the water after 1 week and treated again, also changing
the water after 1 week.  This cleared up the "beard algae" but had
little or no affect on red brush algae (black tufts) or the easily
removed hair and thread algae.

The treatment had no apparent affect on the fish (Melanotaenia, Corys,
Pekoltia, Farlowella, Ottocinclus) or most plants.  Only Nomaphila
stricta (temple plant) was adversely affected (as in, it pretty much
all died).
 
As a side note, a friend mentioned that Siamese Algae Eaters
(Epalzeorhinchus siamensis), a relative of Flying Foxes, snarfs up red
brush algae like crazy in his tanks.  We haven't had that experience,
but then, we tend to feed our fish and he dosen't.

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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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