Algae Types
Contents:
- How do I rid myself of hair algae once and for all?!!
by ac554/FreeNet.Carleton.CA (David Whittaker) (10 Feb 1998)
- Algae Identification
by Bill Hamlin <wjhamlin/hydro.mb.ca> (Thu, 21 Jan 1999)
- Algae I.D.
by Karen Randall <krandall/WORLD.STD.COM> (Mon, 29 May 2000)
by ac554/FreeNet.Carleton.CA (David Whittaker)
Date: 10 Feb 1998
Newsgroup: rec.aquaria.freshwater.plants
"Zapped" (zapped-at-nycap.rr.com) writes:
>>You are both wrong. The SAEs will eat a number of algae species
>>including the black brush, but not hair algae.
>>--
>>Dave Whittaker
>>ac554-at-FreeNet.Carleton.ca
>
> Hmm... let me get this straight. Is brush algae the same as beard? And hair
> algae, is that the greener coarser stuff?
>
> --Zapped
I'll use the designations of the authors of Baensch Atlas II.
Black brush algae: red algae from the genus Audouinella
It looks like an upside down shaving brush whose base is strongly
attached to objects, the glass, and especially the edges of slowly
growing leaves. SAEs are the only fish known to eat this form.
Pelt algae: green algae for the genus Oedogonium
Single short strands proliferate quickly and are strongly attached
to the epidermis of leaves and stems. SAEs love this.
Beard algae: red algae of the genus Compsopogon
The SAEs eat this as well. Sort of a tangled mess strongly
attached to leaves.
Filamentous algae: green algae of the genus Spirogyra
This is what is referred to as "hair algae," and it consists
of long thin light green filaments. It is loosely attached to
plants and in a sense, often smothers them. One can remove it
mechanically. Ameca splendens is said to eat it and possibly
some barbs. It grows very quickly. There is also a similar-
looking species which Baensch calls free-floating thread algae.
It is a guess as to what might eat it. Perhaps Bristlenose
catfish as I have none of this stuff in tanks with these fish.
Of course hair algae may mean different things to various
people.
So for an algae-free tank: Ameca splendens or rosy barbs,
crossocheilus siamensis (SAEs), ancistrus sp. (bristlenose
catfish), and ramshorn snails (the small brown or red type)
If anyone every discovers a consumer of green spot algae or
better yet, black spot algae, please let me know.
Regards,
--
Dave Whittaker
ac554-at-FreeNet.Carleton.ca
by Bill Hamlin <wjhamlin/hydro.mb.ca>
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999
For those interested, here are two algae identification keys that have
been recommended to me by a phycologist.
Dr Elliot Shubert wrote:
I am not aware of any taxonomic keys of algae on the web. I assume you
are
interested in keys that determine to species. There are many:
Prescott, 1962, "Algae of the western Great Lakes area"
Prescott, "How to know the algae" (to genus with some species examples).
Dillard, 1991, Freshwater Algae of the Southeastern U.S.
by Karen Randall <krandall/WORLD.STD.COM>
Date: Mon, 29 May 2000
>Anyong know of an algae ID site or book? I sorta want to know the names
>of the various algae growing in my tank. Less and less of it everyday,
>but I find I can't follow the conversation on various kinds of algae. I
>had no idea there were so mean kinds until I saw them in my very own
>tank.
I have a book that I really like called "How To Know The Fresh-water Algae"
by G.W. Prescott, published by Wm.C. Brown Co., ISBN 64-20452. It's out of
print, but there seem to stll be a number of copies floating around. Last
Time I talked to him, Lee Finley had a copy or two. His E-mail address is:
lfinley@loa.com. I don't think it's very expensive.
Algae are pretty interesting when they're not driving us crazy!<g>
Karen
The Krib
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