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On to my next problem....

In my established cichlid tank (90g), I'm recently finding lots of black algae. At least I think it's algae. I've never seen it before. It's "fuzzy" and "hairy" looking. I've had normal amounts of brown and green algae, but this is different and far more sinister looking. The fish all seem fine and unfazed by it.

Can anyone identify what it might be? Is it dangerous to the fish? Where'd it come from and how do I get rid of it if necessary?

Get SAE's
we have 'em
$5 ea

what are SAEs?

Oh shoot
I should read closer

when you say cichlid tank
are they south american or African cichlids?

big or small cichlids?

Black beard algae
is usually never seen in cichlid tanks
2 reasons:
cichlids eat algae (at least Malawi cichlids)
&
black beard algae hates hard water
(which is usually the water in Malawi cichlid tanks)
______________
SAE's (Crossocheilus Siamensis)
are shark like fish
usually used in planted aquariums
to eat most of the black beard algae
...but...
you wouldn't put a small SAE
in with large cichlids
cuz they would get killed by large cichlids

...so anyway
find out what your water chemistry is
what kind/size cichlids you have
&
how much light you have
& get back to me

African cichlids
Most are pretty large, most in the 3"-5" range
Have a few fry in there too, about .5" that have survived and are now swimming amongst the big guys

Chemistry when I checked this afternoon was all very good. I forget the numbers though - I'll check tomorrow when I go in to school and get back to you.

I'll double check on the light amounts too.

Is black beard algae dangerous to the fish? It has to be that - that's a perfect description of what it looks like.

Haplochromis and peacocks (Aulonocara) are not good algae cleaners

Labeotropheus, Pseudotropheus (Metriaclima) and some other Mbuna are good algae cleaners

Black beard algae is noxious (poisonous)
which is why
not much eats it...
if you get a real thick crop of it and
you don't change water often
the toxic aroma builds up and builds to stressful levels
(human example: Easter Lilys: ewww, yuck)

Black beard algae rarely thrives in hard alkaline water.

If it's not bothering you, and not bothering the fish,
just leave it.
If you don't like it
physically remove it with a scrubber and a siphon tube.