What is this stuff?

quasar

Piranha
MFK Member
Jul 16, 2012
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Montreal, Quebec
So for the passed few months this algae fur looking stuff grows in my aquarium. It grows on any surface, and is even on the glass (can scrape it off at least). Any ideas what this is and how I can get rid of it?


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Rtc/tsn

Redtail Catfish
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Apr 22, 2021
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So for the passed few months this algae fur looking stuff grows in my aquarium. It grows on any surface, and is even on the glass (can scrape it off at least). Any ideas what this is and how I can get rid of it?


View attachment 1488982View attachment 1488984View attachment 1488985
Looks like some type of beard or hair algae. Honestly jealous. I’ve been trying to get this stuff to grow since I got my first ever aquarium. I just really love the way it looks. What I do for algae in my tanks if pour quite a bit ( maybe half a cup) of hydrogen peroxide let it sit a couple hours and then do a gravel siphon and it all comes out pretty easily.
 

Jexnell

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Jul 17, 2017
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It's brown beard algea. If you let it go it will cover everything I know cause I did.
20210321_194734.jpg
You have to eradicate it fast, or it will overgrown everything. Its near impossible to get rid of. At this point its spreading across your whole tank, in your filters etc. I dont know of a chemical way to kill it, heard chinese algea eaters will and the only thing that eats it. Even if you scrub/scrape everything there are still portions of roots in tiny nooks and cranies and it will regrow from that. But it eats nitrates, so if you like it let it go. Makes for a super natural looking tank.
20210323_165839.jpg20210321_224707.jpg20210321_224308.jpg20210110_170909.jpg
 

Rtc/tsn

Redtail Catfish
MFK Member
Apr 22, 2021
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Cincinnati
It's brown beard algea. If you let it go it will cover everything I know cause I did.
View attachment 1488986
You have to eradicate it fast, or it will overgrown everything. Its near impossible to get rid of. At this point its spreading across your whole tank, in your filters etc. I dont know of a chemical way to kill it, heard chinese algea eaters will and the only thing that eats it. Even if you scrub/scrape everything there are still portions of roots in tiny nooks and cranies and it will regrow from that. But it eats nitrates, so if you like it let it go. Makes for a super natural looking tank.
View attachment 1488987View attachment 1488988View attachment 1488989View attachment 1488990
I love the look it gives. It’s gorgeous.
 

quasar

Piranha
MFK Member
Jul 16, 2012
932
115
76
Montreal, Quebec
It's brown beard algea. If you let it go it will cover everything I know cause I did.
View attachment 1488986
You have to eradicate it fast, or it will overgrown everything. Its near impossible to get rid of. At this point its spreading across your whole tank, in your filters etc. I dont know of a chemical way to kill it, heard chinese algea eaters will and the only thing that eats it. Even if you scrub/scrape everything there are still portions of roots in tiny nooks and cranies and it will regrow from that. But it eats nitrates, so if you like it let it go. Makes for a super natural looking tank.
View attachment 1488987View attachment 1488988View attachment 1488989View attachment 1488990
So i guess in a nut shell, is it a sign of an unhealthy tank? Or it's just something that happens? I just want to be sure nothing bad happens by leaving it
 
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Jexnell

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So i guess in a nut shell, is it a sign of an unhealthy tank? Or it's just something that happens? I just want to be sure nothing bad happens by leaving it
Not a sign of a unhealthy tank. Brown beard algea is just a very aggressive plant and very hard to remove. As seen in my pics it doesnt bother fish at all, more so it helps them by removing nitrates, and creating lots of area for microfauna to grow.
 
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CrazyPhishMan

Potamotrygon
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Feb 13, 2017
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ive seen someone remove the decorations, spray with hydrogen peroxide, let dry and add to the tank. the algae turns red and the fish eat it. i think it was cory from aquarium coop
 

Deadeye

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If you have a culture of scuds, they will destroy it. I was able to kill most of the bba in my tank by removing decor and putting it in my scud tank, in a week or two, the decor was spotless. Then repeat with more decor.
 
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