I am a little confused about the black hair that is graoing on my amazon swords. They have been planting in a 29gal tank that i'm cycling with 1.5 in sarasa comet and two 1.5 inch shubunkins. I have tried to pull the hairs off the plant but they are deeply root and refuse to detach...is this algea?

I had put some of my snails in the tank and they have help clear out the other algea that were growing on the other leaves of the plants and and tank. The plant is doing well and has started growing several new leaves that are algea free. Here are the params of the tank when I tested it yesterday

pH =7.0
Ammonia =0.0
Nitrite = .5
Nitrate 40.0

ANy idea what the black hair is or how to get rid of it without cutting the few leaves that have it?

it is a type of algae....i was told it can grow rampidly in plant tanks by the guy i get my plants from....it is indeed, very hard to remove, i just keep yanking untill it pops off....

I think what you're seeing is hair algae It's growing on my plants too....I was told that if you have a lot of it growing that it could affect the growth of plants so it's better to remove it.But like smack said,it could be very hard to remove I ruined one of my plants trying to pull it off.....

thanx you guys....I ruined a few leaves pulling it off and the snails(who I put in to eat the algae) in my tank dont seem to like it either....the good news is that the plant is growing new leaves, so as it grow two new leaves, I break of the tips of an old leaf where the hair algea is growing off...and my plant is looking healthier each dayand my goldies are loving...

Also, I think the algae did help with the cycling of the tank...almost ready for the fry to get in there

I too had the same problem, thank goodness it has stopped, but I know what your talking about. That stuff is impossible to get off plants. I always snapped off leaves before I could get it off. Its such a pain... Like other posters said, try ripping it off, or lighting trying to rub it off, whatever it takes, but be gentle.. Dont wannat ruin the plant as well (ive done that a few times).

Thanx for the advice BigRedandBlindWillie..wil try to be gentle with the last ten leaves...I'm glad that it is not spreading to the neew leaves

Heya Tazz!

I just noticed you were having a problem with your plants! Sorry i'm so late, but i ran into quite the same problem with all of my swords (amazon, ruffled, borneo, and radican), it only seems to bother them. BUT the addition of a bristlenosed pleco fixed ALL of that. It will sit on the leaves and clean them until they are completely green again. I have read that the bristlenose has a tendency to munch on the swords if it doesnt have enough other foods to eat however, yet i think you wouldnt have a problem in your tank

I hope that helped!