What is this Algae

[Jamie McGrath]

This algae is growing around the edges of my Anubis plant and it is also growing on the lower stems of some of my stem plants. This algae is impossible too scrape off, it looks like Tar that has washed up on a beach. Dose anyone know what this stuff is? how is it caused and what I need to do to stop it coming back? I hope someon out there can help, many thanks in advance.

 

[Tim Harrison]

Ooh...well OK, that's pretty disgusting...are you sure it's algae?

 

[Jamie McGrath]

Ooh...well OK, that's pretty disgusting...are you sure it's algae?

It grew in the tank, could it be something else?

 

[Nelson]

Does it look the same under water ?.

 

[Jamie McGrath]

Does it look the same under water ?.

Yes it dose look the same under water!

 

[Nelson]

Sorry,I thought it looked like BBA out of water.

 

[Paulo Soares]

Never saw nothing like this..
Maybe is a invader. Some kind of a shell of a larvae ... Scary..

 

[zozo]

It still could be an algae form, tho encrusting algae are commonly found in marine invironment known as coralline algae and most of them are red algae spieces. Like our BBA is a red algae looking black. Some encrusting algae are discovered in freshwater as well...

Here is a caresheet about Anubias, down at the page is a series of close up pictures of black encrusting allgae on anubias leaves..
http://www.aquariumcarebasics.com/aquarium-plants/anubias-barteri/

You could try to spot treat it with peroxide and see if it dies of and changes color..

 

[sciencefiction]

It looks like BBA to me. It could be in a different stage of its life cycle, hence the distinguished appearance.