Getting Rid of *UGLY* BLACK ALGAE [Plus Bonus Tips!]

[@BenOchart]

Aquarium Co-op affiliate links for products mentioned (using these links helps the channel): 55 gallon planted tank light here: www.aquariumcoop.com/collections/all/products/aquarium-co-op-easy-plant-led?sca_ref=3301874.0yH4KEHjB2 Co-Op Phosphate filter Pads: www.aquariumcoop.com/products/phosphate-media-pad?sca_ref=3301874.0yH4KEHjB2 Other planted tank products used: Root tabs here: www.aquariumcoop.com/products/easy-root-tabs?sca_ref=3301874.0yH4KEHjB2 Easy Green Fertilizer: www.aquariumcoop.com/products/easy-green-all-in-one-fertilizer?sca_ref=3301874.0yH4KEHjB2

[@Boss-zo4lw]

You can get a strip of lead type plant weight, you can snip a piece off and wrap it loosely around the Rhizome , you can then drop it where ever you want, and move it where ever you want, no glueing or lines involved, in one tank i covered the floor with it this way like a carpet lol. Depending on the piece you can have it even out in the open and just positioned so you dont see the weight or Rhizome etc, you can put the Anubias anywhere you want now. The strips cut with scissors too or even by hand.

[@Les-OZZYTHEOSCAR]

That's new info I've never heard before. Trimming the roots promotes the growith on anubias. Will have to give that a try myself

[@catsailor8621]

Same here! Didn’t know that before! 👊

[@Rick-xy4bt]

What beautiful countryside, and every time you show footage of that LFS, it looks amazing. Makes me want to take a road trip to Nashville just to see the scenery and the store!

[@BenOchart]

Do it! 😀👍🏻

[@TheChefAquatics]

Thank you Ben for all your videos. My name is Harry and it was Awesome meeting you at the Acuatic Critter Yesterday! I needed some advice on the black algae since I have some in my 90 Gallon planted tank and a little in my Discus Tank. I am definitely going to follow your advice. I really appreciate your channel and your effort to keep us Fish keepers doing better in this Hobbie. Again thank you and Awesome to meet you!

[@BenOchart]

Hi Harry! I hope that your fish is doing better. Yes, it was nice running into you. The next phase of my black algae experiment will include SAEs. I’ll compare who did a better job. Take care!

[@TheChefAquatics]

@@BenOchart Thank you. I appreciate you. Take care.

[@Ryan-nn4lt]

I love those Algae eaters you bought. They are very active. They just don’t seem to stop eating and moving. Love them!

[@BenOchart]

They went right to work. Very cute. We’ll see if they’re effective with the BBA. If not, watch for phase 2 of the experiment where I’ll try Siamese Catfish and nitrite snails😀👍🏻

[@paulneuman6021]

Some pretty country there in Nashville. Have a friend that lives in Crossville TN . Going to visit him September 2024

[@Whips_World]

If the ottos don't work out, Prime Time Aquatics (Jason and Joanna) have a tank chock full o mystery snails that they drop plants into and have them clean. It's pretty impressive.

[@BenOchart]

I had a Mystery snail, “Gary”. He was very cool. Maybe I’ll get some more. Like a plant car wash🤣

[@catsailor8621]

Very helpful video, Ben! Have lots of black splotches on my Anubias plants, although not quite as hairy. Your Oto’s seem to have a good work ethic as they got right to it. Might need to try this strategy! Thanks!

[@davec1294]

Hey Ben great video , I used to have a Archer fish and yes they will spit water at insects above water.I used to have a aquarium about 75% full and have some floating plants or sticking slightly out of water and give him a few crickets once in a while, a very unique fish indeed.

[@BenOchart]

They are also good looking fish IMO. Thanks!

[@jensleasman1838]

I have a school of six Congo Tetras in my 72 gallon bow front tank and they’re always active, with such a beautiful colouring.

[@BenOchart]

I love both their coloring and fins

[@jensleasman1838]

@@BenOchart Yes, their fins are gorgeous.

[@paulneuman6021]

Hello Ben . Hope you had a good Easter weekend.

[@BenOchart]

I did and I hope you did as well.

[@terjehimle3107]

Nice video. i also have the otos and love them. But the best way to get rid off/kill everything but the plant i Bleach bath 1:19 ratio Perfect every time :)

[@droeksonfishkeeping]

I have Ottos in several of my tanks. Essential that you feed them at first with blanced zucchini and a bit of algae wafer to get their conditioning up or they die, I don't see the right type of algae in your aquarium. They are great for eating biofilm and the plaque type soft diatom algae but they have never eaten Black Beard Algae (or hair algae) in my aquariums at all. The only fish that eats that in my experience are Siamese Algae Eaters (NOT Chinese Algae Eaters, those are a menace). They sort it out in no time. They grow much bigger but should be fine in a 55 or any of your larger tanks when you need to move them on. Get yourself a couple of small ones.

[@jjr2568]

Ben, I also had a BBA problem on my anubias and decor in my 125 planted community tank until I went and got 2 siamese algae eaters. Between 2 weeks they disappeared any trace of black beard algae. Otocinclus are great algae eaters but don't touch bba. Just make sure you don't get CHINESE algae eaters because they also don't touch bba and become territorial as they mature

[@BenOchart]

Great tip. Thanks!

[@n_demonheart5533]

I second that! We did some research and got ourselves a couple of siamese algae eaters (steered away from the chinese ones, we even saw them chasing other fish at the fish shop already!!), they are super cool fish and the BBA is gone, as an interesting note I'll add they don't have swim bladder so when they're not swimming they sink to the bottom of the tank, I guess because of this reason, they love just sitting on top of the plants leaves, using them as a hammock 😂 they're super peaceful fish, they love to swim together, and they love eating BBA, so definitely worth it 🥰

[@jjr2568]

@@n_demonheart5533 also SAE don't grow giant like the chinese ae

[@n_demonheart5533]

@@jjr2568 True that 👍

[@brianjeffries207]

Congo Tetras are great in a group on your tank. They have amazing coloration when you get them in your own tank.

[@andytchir8601]

Ottos are great for this. I've had awesome results with rosy barbs to clean up the black coarse algae. They rip at it and tear it off the plants.

[@BenOchart]

Rosy Barbs? That’s a GREAT tip! Thanks!

[@stevebulazo8319]

Have you ever used Seachem Flourish?? Works as long term treatment if you dose as per the instructions. If you are willing to pull the plants and want faster results, you can dip them in 100% Excel. Leave in for maybe 1/2 hour. If it works, algae will die quickly - in a few days the algae will be dead. . I have done it and been successful with it.

[@andytchir8601]

You bet Ben! I moved two female rosy barbs into a newer tank and the almost immediately started to eat the black beard algae. They did this in the previous tank they were in as well. It's impressive

[@souviksay]

Oto won't work for BBA (black brush algae). SAE (Siamese Algae eater) worked, but try to get small sized SAE.

[@trenapatzer3631]

My nerites love black algae. My piece of wood grew a ton of it and they’ve been munching on it since. 😊

[@walterotiepka1460]

Otos help peroxide works well, less light floating plants fast growing stem plants.

[@scotttucker8127]

I use floating plants such as salvinia or duck weed and frogbit to help shade out the lighting for the Anubius and my crypts and java Fern low light aquarium plants, the plus is it also helps keep nitrates in check and provides cover for the fish to feel more secure which helps especially with timid and shy fish species to come out more and not hide so much...hope this tip helps you out...stay fishy my friend's

[@Whips_World]

Once I heard it, I couldn't stop hearing it 😂 Were you sucking on a cough drop throughout that whole narration? 🤣 You're a lucky man to have a fish store that nice. I'll have to check it out next time I'm passing through on the was to Cookeville 😁

[@BenOchart]

No. There might have been a mosquito in your ear 🤣🤣🤣

[@Whips_World]

@@BenOchart 🤣🤣🤣

[@HalfManHalfCichlid]

I could never get Otos's to survive very long. Have Siamese algae eaters (SAE's) in all my planted tanks and zero BBA. BBA was a plague for several years in my anubias tanks. I learned to never do chemical treatment of BBA, to have SAEs and the anubias needs to have proper lighting and nutrients. BBA generally only attacks if something else is wrong and the anubias are not growing properly

[@FrozT99]

We have 2 or 3 ottos that occasionally munch on the bba on the anubias. We also have 3 american flagfish that occasionally do as well, along with the swordtails...good luck with the bba!

[@joeader6046]

Glad I could help believe me you've helped me very very much I learned a lot from watching your Channel

[@joeader6046]

Siamese algae eaters only got two about four-and-a-half in I keep them in my 55 community tank

[@Dachshund_Smokey]

I have never got a Otocinclus to eat black beard algae. Diatom all day long and never stop.

[@JimGuz56]

I purchased 5 Otos along with an albino bristlenose pleco and a chocolate zebra pleco for my 200 gallon tank about 2 weeks ago hoping to accomplish the same. I have them in a 20 quarantine but it has no algae so I’ve been feeding them zucchini, algae wafers and repashy soilent green. Hopefully they are all eating. Its hard to tell if its the same Oto or they are taking turns. Since Otos are wild caught I’m debating whether to use the Aquarium Co-op quarantine medication method before adding them to the main tank.

[@markfranklin8831]

No I haven't but after seeing you put them in I'll be trying some myself but I would of moved the wood as well because bba is probably there also imo. Do you know what type of plant that is you replaced with,TIA. 💯💗✌️👍

[@chrisdavidson3180]

I believe that is an El Nino Fern 🤙

[@joeader6046]

I still think you should check out the black ghost knife fish

[@Purplelady1961]

Glad you had luck with the Oto's, but mine are downright lazy until I introduce something else that may replace them on the job, then they start acting like they're working. I had 3 Siamese Alge Eaters and they had the BBA gone in less than a day. I recently had to rehome them because as you said they are aggressive and I started losing Cardinal Tetras. Now the Oto's are back to "pretending" to work and the BBA is starting to run rampant again. I think I'll go back to my LFS and get the Snail (I don't remember what kind it was) they showed me that had cleaned the tank there. It was a bit pricey, I think it was $16.99.

[@BenOchart]

Nerite snails? I’ve heard they eat BBA. When my SAE put on size I’ll transfer them to the 90 or 210 Cichlid tank

[@davidmccann2633]

I actually have some rally green alge growing on my rock ornaments, I actually rally like it I think looks rally cool on the rocks ,, I love my community tank and all my little pet fish the thing is if I git some atosinklets they might eat all my lovely cool looking green alge lol

[@BenOchart]

I don’t mind green algae (except on the front panel). It’s black and brown algae that I don’t like.

[@blackmatrix9000]

Hi Ben, I concur with everyone on SAE, I have one (around 5 inch now) in my 68 gallon and he eats everything, never found an algae he doesn't touch !

[@BenOchart]

I’m getting a couple 😀👍🏻 Did you find them to be aggressive?

[@blackmatrix9000]

@@BenOchart Also he is very mild mannered, never been agressive with anything in tank which is a mixture of barbs , keyholes, platies, apisto and rosealines.

[@blackmatrix9000]

@@BenOchart I've seen the update on your BBA experiment tank and looks like your SAE has done the business ! Glad it worked out for you, I'd be lost without my guy :)

[@kbalaz]

I have Ottos in my 46 and they don't even look at bba.

[@darrenlockhart252]

I think you need to get some Rosline sharks. They are so cool.

[@BenOchart]

Very tempting

[@ursanbear]

I had BBA issues. Got some ottos, young pleacos, amano shrimp, nerite snails, and young SAW. Operative word is "had"

[@BenOchart]

Do you recall which one of those critters worked the most on the BBA?

[@ursanbear]

@@BenOchart All of them picked at it, but it was the Amano shrimp that seemed to have gusto for it. They'd stay at the BBA from start to finish on whatever it was on while the fish would "nibble and move on" Strangely, my BBA is gone, EXCEPT for an electrical cord that's going to my Sicce Syncra. I'm wondering if the electrical field isn't comfortable for them. My anubias and java ferns are almost completely BBA free.

[@timadams306]

Seachem makes a phosphate remover in a bag just like purigen. Never needed to use it.

[@BM-fw4xt]

I have used hydrogen peroxide ln a spray bottle on my anubias before for bba and other algae as well. Just a thought.

[@johnmaude5065]

What’s the filter you have in that tank, the sponge filter looking one?

[@BenOchart]

A Marineland Emperor 400

[@johnmaude5065]

@@BenOchart thank you 🙏

[@davidrix804]

Hi ben,i have a dirted tank with amazon sword and anubias and red rupen recently planted around 6 weeks ago and getting fed up getting brown algie,i leave light on around 12 hours a day,i have snails in tank and afraid ti use chemicals incase i kill them,please help me with this,as so annoying,thank you✌️✌️✌️🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@markbaumgardt2868]

I have a VC 10 I highly recommend this fish when they show breeding dress stunning and a silhouette all to their own with those large lips I have one gorgeous

[@rockyandmiles9889]

I always thought it was called “plop and drop” 🤔😂

[@BenOchart]

Perhaps, but flop works for me 🤣🤣🤣

[@rockyandmiles9889]

@@BenOchart it’s perfect 👍🏻😄

[@raisinggoldfishonabudget7058]

I seen that on some of my plants, I was wondering what it was now I know I just cut the leaves off & leave the good 1's.

[@fast45]

Congos are amazing

[@BenOchart]

I’m thinking a few in the 90 gallon would look good.

[@pacae911]

Hi 👋 I have a question , I want to buy one aquarium of 120 gallons but my question is I need the FLUVAL FX4 ? The specifications of this product is for aquariums of 250 gallons , but I saw other KZbinr where he said you need to buy the double power , that is okay ? Or I need to buy the FLUVAL FX6 (for aquariums of 400 gallons? 😳🤯

[@Amberdogproductions]

Some will depend on what you are stocking. I've used both filters and they work great and easy to service. But if you have long fin fish you could run the fx4 or 5 just fine. You could also run the fx6 in that tank. Me personally I'd run the 6. It gives you an extra basket to work with. For reference, in my 300 I'm running 2 fx6 filters for filtering for years now, and I've added an extra fluval 307 that only has purigen in the baskets in bags of course. Crystal waters.

[@markquasebarth2858]

What was the name of that fish store that you went to and maybe the address cause I was gonna be in that area in a couple of months

[@272roby]

Too much light for Anubias, they are penumbra plants. Black Helmet Nails are the best solution for any kind of algae, I have 5 in the tank, they work so hard that it looks too clean, almost unnatural.

[@StratosLoft]

Otos are very sensitive go slow . They do good on algae I never had a hair algae but they take care any film algae .

[@benc3214]

I would give your Anubis a spray with 3% hydrogen peroxide outside of the tank leave it for a few minutes give it a rinse and it would probably kill it.

[@BM-fw4xt]

Be careful. I had a beautiful fish get hung up in some thread I used just like that and died. It got wrapped up around the gill plates. Really don't know how but it did unfortunately.

[@joeader6046]

No not at all I have tiny little fish in the tank and they don't bother them at all they're very peaceful

[@BenOchart]

Thanks Joe!

[@stewartgraham2495]

I have 8 Ottos and they do not touch Black algae

[@BenOchart]

Stay tuned for the follow up

[@joeader6046]

Siamese algae eaters do a great job but they have to be Siamese algae eaters not something that says Chinese algae eaters or something similar it has to be Siamese algae eaters I have two of them and my tank is pristine

[@BenOchart]

Are they aggressive?

[@jjr2568]

@@BenOchart no

[@crystalc9036]

A group of Congo tetras would look beautiful in your tank in lieu of the ones destroying your plants

[@BenOchart]

Are congos plant friendly?

[@crystalc9036]

@@BenOchart if they are well fed they will not nibble on plants. They will hide in them though. On second thought they may not work in your tank either

[@ravenspurlin5361]

Ottos don’t eat BBA. You need Siamese flying Fox or flag fish.

[@andrewdaniel4728]

Ottos won’t eat black algae. Only nerites and Siamese algae eaters / flying fox

[@BenOchart]

I’m keeping an eye on it and will add SAE & nerites as “phase 2” of my experiment. Thanks.

[@andrewdaniel4728]

@@BenOchart the good thing about nerites is the won’t breed unless it’s brackish so you won’t get over run. I suffered constantly with BBA. Check your po4 levels. I removed decor and sprayed it with hydrogen peroxide. Plants I just filled a syringe and spot treated affected plants within the water it’s seachem flourish excel (any algacide will do)