Blackbeard in an aquarium: what is it, why does it appear and how to get rid of it?

Many aquarium owners are faced with a black beard. It is a problem for an artificial ecosystem, but there’s nothing terrible in it. However, people must remember that eliminating algae will require a lot of effort, knowledge and time.

Blackbeard is a specific red algae that belongs to Bagryanok’s kingdom; it was brought from southeast Asia. The plant looks like black thready moss. Algae has the ability to cover an aquatic plant that grows slowly, using it as a substrate. The black beard not only looks unattractive, but also harms the rest of the flora in the aquarium. Algae obscures leaf plates and destroys tissue. In addition to plants, an aquarium resident is able to settle on driftwood, soil and even scenery.

The height of this representative usually reaches 5 centimeters. This plant is characterized by a high rate of reproduction and growth, which is quite dangerous for aquarium plants. Algae does not harm the animals that live in this artificial ecosystem.

Crimson, Vietnamese, black beard, deer horn belong to the general group of underwater plants, which have the same nature of occurrence and a slight difference in structure.Since the appearance of these algae is similar, as well as people confuse them, there are irreversible consequences after fighting them. The black beard has the appearance of tassels, which consist of hard strings that are painted in dark shades: from green to black. It mainly grows on vegetation, soil and artificial objects in the aquarium, while doing harm to it.

The Vietnamese is presented in the form of threads that are collected in a bunch and grow from one point. The color of this algae has various shades of green.

Blackbeard cannot be called a parasite, because it does not harm the animals in the aquarium. This algae can cause damage to green underwater vegetation, ornamental plantings, especially sluggish. The black beard grows and covers the foliage of the plant, while saving it from the necessary amount of light.

When a black beard appeared in the aquarium, it is worth considering the reasons for its spread. The main reasons why this alga can appear in a new or old aquarium are:

• not frequent change of water - in aquariums, due to rare cleaning, substances accumulate in the form of nitrates, phosphates, which cause the spread of algae;
• low light - if a lamp has not been changed in an artificial ecosystem for a long time, then it shines dimmer; As you know, dim lighting is the best environment for the growth of algae;
• excess food in fish - since black beard is a food for many types of fish, with a large amount of food coming from the environment, they simply stop eating algae;
• too many fish in the aquarium - from the overpopulation of the ecosystem comes the production of nitrates and phosphates;
• substrate accumulation - if a strong filtration occurs in the aquarium or large fish over-dig the soil, then the remaining biomass can rise to the surface of the soil; in this case, the algae that was lurking receives a favorable environment for reproduction and growth;
• planting plants or decoration items that were previously infected - on snags, stones, plants, black swaying villi may be present, which are a black beard.

If the black beard has already attacked the aquarium, you should prepare to fight it. To eliminate the scourge, you can use various drugs and chemicals. Algicides are a quick option to get rid of this problem, but it is not always safe. When choosing drugs on a chemical basis, it is worth treating the process with all responsibility.

To minimize the risk of using algaecides, read the instructions carefully. It’s worth remembering that A product containing copper sulfate can harm invertebrates such as cancer, shrimp, snails, and many plants and animals.

The safest substances are those that contain monolinuron and glutaraldehyde. They can be in liquid, tablet form. When using these drugs, the black beard will begin to disappear already on 3-4 days.

The safest options for eliminating black beard using chemicals include baking soda. It must be added to the aquarium in the amount of 1 gram per 5 liters of water. Soda is able to change the usual pH level for algae, from which the black beard will die. Before using this method is specify the tolerance of soda to other inhabitants of the ecosystem. You can also buy in the store Algimin, after using which the black beard will cease to grow and subsequently die.

One of the most powerful and effective remedies against black beard, flip flops can be called "Anti-Borodin." This drug can be called effective and at the same time safe. With its help, unwanted algae in the aquarium are destroyed quite quickly. The good effect of Antiborodine is based on the presence of glutaraldehyde in it. This tool destroys the black beard and its relatives at the cellular level.

In some aquariums, black beard becomes a real problem for its inhabitants. In order to avoid difficulties if you want to get rid of algae, you should properly care for the artificial ecosystem. Wherein no need to overpopulate the aquarium, to prevent the accumulation of a large amount of organic matter, not to overfeed the inhabitants.

Biological methods that help destroy black beard.

• Adding Siamese algae eater, loricaria catfish, and girinoheylus to the aquarium. These species of fish are highly effective in wanting to bring out a black beard and a Vietnamese. Best of all, the above living organisms cope with their task with an empty stomach, so it is better to underfeed them.
• Use of young ampullarium. They effectively eat fouling audocinella.
• Planting plants which are characterized by the rapid growth, for example, of Wallysneria, Kabomba, Elodea, hornwort.
• Acquisition of Cladophores. This is an interesting type of algae that looks like a fluffy ball. It can not only decorate the aquarium, but also compete with other undesirable vegetation. Kladofora absorbs a large percentage of nitrites, nitrates, phosphates, which feeds the black beard.

The second option to clean the surface of unwanted algae is to restart the aquarium. To clean the tank, you will need to perform the following steps:

1. transplant fish into another container with water;
2. remove decor elements, vegetation from the tank, drain water along with the substrate;
3. make disinfection of the aquarium and decorations with a solution of manganese, hydrogen peroxide or boiling water;
4. the soil should be calcined in the oven or treated with boiling water;
5. vegetation needs to be processed and quarantined;
6. make the launch of the aquarium.

Using a black beard helps using batteries. This method does not imply the resettlement of residents. Copper wires are drawn from the contacts, which are lowered into the aquarium for two days. The influence of the microcurrent will not negatively affect the living creatures of the ecosystem, but the black beard will certainly perish.

At the heart of preventive measures regarding the appearance of a black beard is nothing complicated, namely:

• regular cleaning of the aquarium;
• feeding the fish in the amount that they are able to eat in minutes;
• refusal of overpopulation of the ecosystem with fish;
• the use of drugs for feeding strictly according to the instructions;
• the settlement in the aquarium of living organisms that eat algae;
• water temperature should not exceed 26 degrees;
• with strong aeration, it is recommended to install a filter in the form of a flute or rain;
• Prevent direct sunlight from entering the ecosystem.

The vegetation that has just been bought and is planned to be planted in the aquarium should be treated with hydrogen peroxide. This event promotes the resolution of spores. Algae is part of the ecosystem, so do not panic when you find a black beard in an aquarium. It is necessary to determine the cause of the appearance of this vegetation and, using the above methods, remove it from the ecosystem.

Further on how to get rid of a black beard in an aquarium.