Algae HE double toothpicks

[tomaquar]

I took the rock out of the tank, brushed the algae off with a tooth brush, changed the water, wrapped the tank in black plastic and turned off the lights. Three days later I turned the lights back on and the algae has grown back !!!!

HOW DOES ALGAE GROW WITHOUT LIGHT, NITRATES OR PHOSPHATES !!!!????

At this point Im considering Marie Laveau.

Truly any and all suggestions are welcomed.

 

[neoalchemist74]

Does it look like feathers or is it hairy.( I'm sure theres a joke there somewhere)

 

[tomaquar]

it looks like the algae you find in fresh water ponds, fine and hairy.

 

[Jarret]

Probably because using a toothbrush won't remove every single piece of algae on your rock. Just because you don't have any nitrates/phosphates showing up on your test kit doesn't mean they are not there.

The algae could be consuming the nitrate/phosphate in order to grow thus it seems like you don't have anything wrong but when in reality the parameters are off.