I have only had 1 brief experience with either beard or brush algae. I
purchased a plant from a discount pet store (Petco) only to get it home and
upon closer inspection, notice a dark algae firmly attached to the leaves.
I realized that I was in trouble, so I dumped the plant into my quarantine
tank (reason #937 to have one) which is populated with ramshorn snails. Not
the jumbo striped snails in pet stores, but the good old fashioned ramshorns
that will grow up to 1/2 inch in diameter. I expected the nasty stuff to
take over the tank, but the ramshorns polished the plants clean in no time.
If you are interested, send me your address off list and I'll put a few in
the mail for you, but you probably have them in most any pond near your
house.
Moon-
I'd be REALLY careful if you get that sample from BG. Be sure that you do
not share equipment between tanks until you are sure you like the plant and
can control it. Beard and brush algae can be very easy to move from tank to
tank by spores.
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