This will most likely be my last post on Brush algae as I've managed to successfully control it using large doses of Flourish Excel. I've written my experience with this nasty stuff here.
This image apparently shows Brush algae under a microscope.
Here are a few last comments and observations I gathered from fellow hobbyists in an email forum discussion.
On the topic of Brush algae, in the reference book "How to Know the Freshwater Algae" by author G.W. Prescott: This type of alga is found in irrigation ditches in far western United States.
Other Treatments and Methods:
- Excel spot treatment with a syringe.
- Hydrogen peroxide treatment with a syringe.
- Keeping water fresh is good insurance against Brush Algae.
- Some hobbyists physically remove host leaves and then do major water changes when it shows up in their aquarium. (I was looking for ways to avoid this)
- Some hobbyists "nuke" the tank. They dismantle the tank and clean it thoroughly, thus, starting over. (I was looking for ways to avoid this)
Other Conditions that may encourage Brush algae:
- Many Fish: Some have said that particular alga thrive in water that has excess dissolved organic carbons (metabolic waste) from the fish and decaying plants plus relatively high levels of Phosphate coming from fish food. The build up of fish waste and dissolved uneaten fish food, changes water chemistry leading to unpleasant complexities.
- John Glaeser made this observation: Though I can't prove it, I suspect Brush being opportunistic attaches to valued plants that have for whatever reasons are experiencing some sort of limiting factors in their growth equation........ thus reducing their growth or becoming nearly stagnant and less active. It seems when this happens colonizing algae attach to leaves and leach out nutrients.
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