"Michael" wrote in message
...
Oops, just realized that I said thread algae when in fact I have fuzz algae!

Fuzz algae (also sometimes called pelt algae or fur algae) is oedogonium. It is among
the most difficult algae to control: it spreads very fast; it is attached very firmly
to plant leaves and so can not be removed mechanically; and it withstands light or
nutrient deprivation very well.

Otos and SAEs will both help in reducing its spread by eating the shorter strands on
newly infested leaves. You should yourself remove the most infested leaves right
away. If your LFS has small SAEs, maybe you can ask if you can buy two of them and
bring them back in a year or so. Beware of the false SAEs.

Good plant growth and no excess nitrates (keeping it in the 3-5ppm range) will also
help control the infestation but might not be sufficient for the eradication of
oedogonium.

Since oedogonium is such a calamity and you don't yet have fish or a live filter in
your tank, maybe you'd like to use the peroxide treatment. You can use the common 3%
oxygen peroxide solution commonly found in drugstores. Something like 2 ounce per 10
gallon every day for just a few days might lead to the total eradication of
oedogonium with little damage to the plants. The fine hair will turn white and slowly
melt away. The stuff breaks down pretty fast in aquaria so you can add the filter 24
hours after the last dosing and some fish shortly thereafter. Don't add otos right
away for they will starve to death without algae and they are very picky on food.
SAEs will eat anything you give them.