Grey - Black Algae, How do you kill this stuff?

[Mzungu]

Re: Grey - Black Algae, How do you kill this stuff?

Wow, that's some weird stuff you got there! Thanks for the close ups. They might have confused me more, though. But I think I'm leaning more toward what nacra said.

As for the clown loaches, if you can remove them for the course of the treatment, that would probably be ideal. They wouldn't necessarily be harmed, I wouldn't think, but any time you don't have to subject fishes to meds is good.

Keep in mind also what nacra said about the bio. filter, might want to keep an eye on your ammonia and nitrite. But all in all, I think most importantly would be to suck all that you can out of the tank and then start treatment.

mrairportjunke is having the same problem, but with green colored cyano.

http://houstonfishbox.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=5621

[Tiapan]

Re: Grey - Black Algae, How do you kill this stuff?

i cant decide if its a fungus or cyno- i would do like mzungu said and tried to get as much out as possible and then treat. I personally would try primifix first if it is a fungus. if it comes back then you know you need ethromycin (which is available at most big chains, just call and ask)

[TXHawgHunter]

Re: Grey - Black Algae, How do you kill this stuff?

Thanks everyone.  Picked up primifix and erythromycin on the way home last night.
Did a good old tank scrubbin, also.  Moved some plants around and increased air flow to the air stone to increase circulation in the area.  Will try the Primifix first.

[Mzungu]

Re: Grey - Black Algae, How do you kill this stuff?

Well, if it's a fungus, I would have to assume it is from uneaten foot that's decaying. That would be an easy fix - just siphon out of gravel and lessen the food amount.

[nacra99]

Re: Grey - Black Algae, How do you kill this stuff?

Oops... sorry... missed gettin back to this thread.

Very strange looking indeed. It's a tossup between fungus and cyanobacteria for me.
I'm leaning towards cyanobacteria because fungus usually grows ON it's host (e.g. eggs, fish, uneaten food etc). It's unlikely a fungus would spread onto glass and hop around in isolated spots on the glass like you have.

That being said, E-mycin is a pretty harsh treatment on your filter. You may have to cycle the tank again. Primafix (or any other anti fungal) is a less harsh treatment.
Since you have already waited for months, i'm sure a week or 2 more shouldn't be to big a deal.
You may wish to try the anti-fungal first. If it doesn't work, then that rules out fungus, so proceed to do the antibiotic treatment.
If it works, then you don't have to risk killing your biofilter with e-mycin.

Treatment and dosage for e-mycin was discussed in this earlier thread.
Like mzungu said.., be sure to complete treatment and continue treating for a few more days after the last of the grey stuff has disappeared. Make sure none survive to become resistant in the future.

http://houstonfishbox.com/modules.ph...t=erythromycin

[Tiapan]

Re: Grey - Black Algae, How do you kill this stuff?

nice lookin ram though