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16.6. Staghorn Algae

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Author : David Bogert

Published :

Time To Read :
1 minute
Difficulty : Level 6

Excerpt :

Staghorn algae is a type of red algae that forms coarse long strands of gray green to solid green color. Sometimes it is almost white colored. It is very unsightly. It grows on the edges of plant leaves as well as on the edges of almost any hard surface. Composed of coarse strands or tufts, ... Read more

Staghorn algae is a type of red algae that forms coarse long strands of gray green to solid green color. Sometimes it is almost white colored. It is very unsightly. It grows on the edges of plant leaves as well as on the edges of almost any hard surface. Composed of coarse strands or tufts, it grows in dense patches. It is very similar to black beard algae.

Staghorn Algae
Staghorn Algae
Aquarium Staghorn Algae
Aquarium Staghorn Algae

It sometimes forms long strands six inches or more in length which wave in the current. It is soft, slippery, and grows rapidly, yet clings tenaciously to plants and cannot be easily removed by hand. It generally comes with high nitrates or high iron.

Staghorn Algae
Staghorn Algae
Green Staghorn Algae
Green Staghorn Algae
Aquarium green staghorn algae
Green staghorn algae

Note that the green staghorn algae above is somewhat similar in appearance to a common water plant called Java Moss.  Newbies often confuse the two.

picture of an Aquarium plant called Java Moss
Java Moss

Here is a link to an article on controlling all different types of algae including staghorn algae:

16.2. Controlling Algae