Has this ugly black fuzz ever grown on the tips of plant leaves or on the rocks in your aquarium? If so, it’s probably Black Beard Algae (BBA), which is also called Black Brush Algae. Though there are many kinds of algae that can grow in freshwater fish tanks, black algae is one of the hardest to get rid of. but dont get discouraged!.
Dosing liquid carbon products will help stop the growth of black algae, but they can also be used to get rid of it from plants or other things that it has contaminated. Flourish Excel by Seachem is a very popular liquid carbon product. There are two methods you can try with liquid carbon: spot treating or double-dosing in a separate container.
It’s best to treat your tank spot-on with BBA if you can’t get the plants or things that have BBA out of the tank. That’s it—just use a pipette or dropper to drip the liquid carbon right onto the black algae. Be careful not to overdose the aquarium with the additive.
If you’re able to remove the contaminated plants and hardscape from the tank, then follow these steps:
This should kill off the BBA. If you’re using this method on plants, make sure to research that plant’s vulnerability to liquid carbon. Some plants, like Crypts and Vallisneria, are sensitive to these kinds of tools and may get hurt by them.
The 3% solution, which is hydrogen peroxide, is a common household item that you can use to get rid of many types of algae in the aquarium. Keep in mind that the recommended dosing is approximately 1. 5 ml per gallon of water.
In the same way that liquid carbon can be used to treat tough spots, Black Beard Algae can be spread on those spots with a dropper or syringe. But you should turn off your filter before you do this and leave it off for 15 minutes to an hour after you’re done.
You can also put it in a spray bottle and spray it directly on BBA-infested areas; this is useful for bigger tanks or areas with a bigger BBA problem. Do this when the water level is low enough during a water change to let the algae rise to the surface. Allow to sit for at least 5 minutes before flooding the tank again.
Another option is to place the affected plants and objects in a hydrogen peroxide bath for 3 minutes. You should notice the H2O2 causing the black algae to bubble up and turn red/pink. That is a sign that the hydrogen peroxide is killing the algae. Afterwards, you can attempt to gently remove the dead algae by lightly brushing with a toothbrush. If youd rather not risk damaging your plants, simply place them back into the aquarium. Allow algae eaters like Amano Shrimp or Siamese Algae Eaters to remove the algae for you.
There are a few aquatic specimens that are known to eat BBA. Arguably, the best fish for the job is the Siamese Algae Eater. They are known for eating black algae as well as other types of algae. The only thing you might worry about with these fish is that they can get up to 6 inches long as they get older. Other black beard algae-eaters include Florida Flagfish, Amano Shrimp, and Nerite Snails.
BBA is known for being one of the hardest to get rid of, but SL-Aqua Z3 BBA Remover wants to get rid of it for good! It has a special formula that kills spores and slows down reproduction to get rid of BBA over time. Pair dosing with a consistent maintenance routine and algae problems will subside. SL-Aquas Z3 BBA Remover is safe for use in fresh water and won’t hurt aquarium plants or fish as long as the dosage instructions are followed.
Aquascapers have seen great results when adding Algae Control to both algae prevention and treatment. It’s made from only organic plant-based ingredients and is 100% safe for your plants and all animals, even shrimp and snails. After the Buce Plant team tested Algae Control carefully, they found that it is an easy and reliable way to control algae growth in freshwater aquariums. If you want to get rid of black beard algae, you should use a dropper or syringe to treat the algae only where you see it.
If you’ve already had trouble with Black Beard Algae and don’t want to go through it again, read these tips and tricks to keep it from showing up in your planted aquarium. Here are 6 tips to prevent black beard algae in the aquarium:
We know it sounds like a broken record, but one of the best ways to keep ANY kind of algae away from your aquarium is to never let it in. When you put together a new tank, you should always make sure that everything that goes in it is clean. If youre reusing old hardscape, substrate, etc. , thoroughly clean everything first. Most importantly, you should always put all plants that are going into your planted aquarium in quarantine and/or give them a bleach dip. You can also use all tissue culture plants.
Plants are the number one competition against BBA for nutrients in the aquarium. Plants that grow quickly, like stem plants or floating plants, use up more nutrients than plants that grow slowly, like Buce or Anubias.
A major way to boost the growth rate of your aquarium plants is with steady CO2 injection. It makes plants grow much faster when CO2 is mixed with water. If all the conditions are right, the plants will beat the BBA.
Like many algae, BBA loves an abundance of light. Black Beard Algae in your aquarium can be fed by a bright light or a light that stays on for a long time. This makes the algae spread faster. You could lower the amount of light in your aquarium (we suggest no more than 6–8 hours a day) or use a dimmer to lower the brightness of the light.
As mentioned previously, low CO2 or fluctuating CO2 levels can cause Black Beard Algae. Not only is it important to raise CO2 levels that are already low, but it’s also very important to keep them stable so that the tank always runs for the same amount of time and at the same BPS. Make sure to use a drop checker to easily monitor CO2 levels in your aquarium.
If you want to learn more about how to add CO2 to an aquarium and keep it running well, click here.
It’s very important to change the water in your tank regularly. At least once a week, or twice a week if ammonia levels are high, you should do this from the time you set up your tank until it’s running smoothly. The amount of nitrates and other nutrients in the water will go down because the “old” water, which may be full of nitrates, will be replaced with clean water.
Most importantly, performing maintenance such as physically removing the BBA is important. It is possible to cut off infected leaves so that they don’t break down and release ammonia and more algae spores into the water. A lot of nitrogen doesn’t get into the system either because fish waste and leftover food are regularly vacuumed up.
Overfeeding is a common occurrence amongst hobbyists in the aquarium hobby. If you do all the right things to keep your aquarium in good shape and still see a lot of black algae, it could be because you are feeding it too much.
Many times, the waste you remove during water changes is less than the waste the BBA makes, so it can still grow. Try feeding less food to your fish and see if that helps with the issue. Do not forget that your fish will be happy if you feed them only once a day.
Thoroughly cleaning your aquascaping tools is especially important for those who have multiple tanks. If this algae won’t go away in one aquarium, make sure you clean your tools after doing any kind of maintenance on them before using them on another tank. This is the quickest and easiest way for Black Beard Algae or any other kind of algae to spread and show up in a tank that wasn’t having any problems with algae.
If you have any questions regarding this article, please DM us on Instagram, Facebook, or email support@buceplant. com so we can assist you – @buceplant.
Aquarium hobbyists dread encountering black beard algae. This stubborn strain thrives in planted tanks and coats surfaces in dark, shaggy tufts that are tough to remove.
While manual scrubbing and chemical treatments provide some control, the best long term solution is enlisting algae eating fish to consume black beard algae.
But what fish readily devour this menace? In this article, we’ll overview the characteristics of black beard algae and profile the top fish species proven to feast on it.
An Overview of Black Beard Algae
Black beard algae, also called BBA, is a dark colored short filamentous algae. Key identification features include:
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Color ranges from dark green to jet black,
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Forms dense, tough tufts resembling beard stubble
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Tends to first appear on slow growing plants, especially anubias and java fern.
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Spreads rapidly under high light, low CO2, and excess nutrients.
While unsightly and difficult to remove, BBA poses no harm to fish or live plants. But controlling it is an ongoing battle. Let’s look at fish that can help win the war on black beard algae.
Best Algae Eating Fish for Black Beard Control
Certain fish species actively consume hair algae like BBA as part of their natural diet. Here are the top black beard eating fish:
American Flagfish
A small North American native fish that voraciously devours black beard algae. Their appetite for BBA is unmatched. Must be kept in species only tanks due to aggression.
True Siamese Algae Eater
As juveniles, these fish eagerly graze on black beard algae. Similar looking Chinese algae eaters are less effective. Ensure acquiring true Crossocheilus siamensis.
Twig Catfish
A tropical suckermouth catfish that rasp algae from surfaces with toothless jaws. Their slender bodies allow access to tangled BBA growth. Peaceful community fish.
Florida Flagfish
Close cousin to the American flagfish with an equal craving for hair algae. Another species-only candidate due to mild aggression towards tankmates.
Bristlenose Pleco
Small armored catfish that feed on plant matter and algae. Their robust jaws scrape black beard algae well. Avoid common plecos which focus less on algae.
Rubberlip Pleco
Another small pleco with an appetite for hair algae. Peaceful and compatible with most community tanks. Help consume BBA before it spreads.
Effective Secondary Consumers of Black Beard Algae
The fish listed above will actively seek out and feed on black beard algae in the tank. Here are some secondary options that will eat BBA when encountered:
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Otocinclus Catfish: Focus on soft green algae but will pick at BBA too.
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Amano Shrimp: Primarily graze on soft algae but will gnaw on BBA.
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Nerite Snails: Prefer soft green algae and diatoms but will occasionally eat BBA.
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Mystery Snails: May incidentally ingest some BBA while grazing on other surfaces.
While they don’t directly target black beard algae, these species help erode BBA colonies when present. Think of them as supplementary consumers to deploy with primary BBA eaters.
Fish to Avoid for Black Beard Algae Control
Some algae eaters offered in pet stores simply don’t consume black beard algae, or only eat it opportunistically. Avoid the following false solutions:
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Common Pleco: Focus on driftwood and wafers, not BBA. Grow too large.
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Chinese Algae Eater: Aggressive, poor BBA grazer despite reputation. Eats slime coats.
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Silver Flying Fox: Target soft green algae. Will not curb a BBA outbreak.
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Clown Loach: Uninterested in hair algae as they prefer microorganisms and worms.
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Goldfish: Will consume some BBA when present but won’t suppress growth.
Stick with purpose bred black beard eating fish species and you’ll reclaim the tank from rampant BBA growth. Now let’s address some common questions about managing BBA.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fish That Eat Black Beard Algae
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about using fish to control black beard algae:
What fish consume BBA naturally?
American flagfish, Siamese algae eaters, twig catfish, Florida flagfish, and bristlenose plecos are primary natural consumers of black beard algae.
How many American flagfish for a 55 gallon tank?
Start with 4-5 juvenile flagfish for a moderate BBA outbreak in a 55 gallon aquarium. Reduce to 2 fish once algae subsides.
Do albino bristlenose plecos eat BBA?
Yes, albino and calico color morph bristlenose plecos have the same appetite for hair algae as wild forms.
Should I get a Chinese algae eater for BBA?
No, they are aggressive and ineffective BBA eaters. Go with true Siamese algae eaters instead to tackle black beard algae.
What tank mates work with flagfish?
Due to mild aggression, avoid small fish like neon tetras. Go with robust fish like barbs, rainbowfish, gouramis, desktops, and larger tetras.
Conquer Black Beard Algae With The Right Fish
Don’t resign yourself to perpetually battling black beard algae. Introducing a clean up crew of efficient BBA eating fish will clear this pest from plant leaves, decor, and tank surfaces.
Combine primary hair algae grazers like flagfish with secondary consumers like otocinclus to achieve a lush, algae free aquascape. Your tank occupants will enjoy a more naturalistic habitat free of unsightly black beard tufts.
What Exactly is BBA?
Audouinella is the scientific name for black algae. It’s a genus of red algae that exists in both freshwater and saltwater environments. In the aquarium hobby, the type of Audouinella we see is often called “black beard algae,” “black brush algae,” “black algae,” or “BBA” for short.
These things grow on the edges of leaves, driftwood, stones, and other decorations. They look like dark hair patches. Contrary to its given name, black algae can either be black, dark green, or dark red in color. BBA likes to grow where there is a lot of traffic, but it can also be found where there isn’t much traffic.
What Causes Black Beard Algae?
Like all other algae, the main reason BBA grows is because of an imbalance in the aquarium. This imbalance is most likely due to an abundance of nutrients. Because there are too many nutrients, the black algae will use them to grow and spread throughout the tank. If you don’t take care of your plants properly, use too much fertilizer, have low or changing levels of CO2, too much light, or any combination of these things, black beard algae can grow.
A tank that hasn’t been routinely cleaned can have a lot of waste and organics built up. These organics decompose and add nitrates into the water, which both live plants and algae use to grow. It’s important to remember that fish that are overfed or aquariums that are too full will produce more waste.
Most often, there is no CO2 or fluctuating CO2 levels in a tank with BBA. BBA can get the carbon they need from hydrogen carbonate much more easily than any other plant in the tank if there isn’t enough CO2. Further to this, black algae can separate the carbon from the hydrogen carbonate ion. This makes hydroxide ions, which raise the pH. This process is called biogenic decalcification, and calcium carbonate forms. The algae then use this to strengthen the walls of their cells. This is bad because it makes it harder to get rid of the algae and harder for animals that eat algae to digest.
Because of this, aquatic plants grow more slowly when CO2 levels are low, so they can’t take up as many nutrients. This leaves the black algae with the potential to use the excess nutrients to grow.