Brown Algea (maybe) on tank and ornaments

WisFish

Okay. How big a tank? Water temp? and are you adding ferts?

WisFish

It could be too much or (more likely) too little light, too much of some fertilizer (if you're adding them cut back) or a temp issue. With the water changes, the other levels look good.

bigk_54

I think my light has 2 55 w bulbs, I have a 55 gal tank and I just got some fertilizer tabs that said that a 10 gal tank needs 6 tabs (think they are api) but I put 3 in strategically by my plants and my temp is always between 75-78.

I just changed out about 18 gal of water and cleaned every bit of algea that I could find, well see what tomorrow brings. I have some head and tailight tetras in there and they don't have their distinctive colors anymore :( this is depressing

WisFish

Firstr off I agree with an earlier post. You'll always have some type of algae in the tank, the type depends on many factors. But it sounds like you got a new light? You said the tank was setup for 6 month but the light was on it for 2 weeks or so? If so, then the obvious question is, what's the difference between the old light and the new one. If it's new, are the bulbs 6500K daylight bulbs? I usually equate brown algae with not enought light, either not intense enough, the right K rating or not enough duration.

WisFish

I forgot 1 more thing. You always want to stock a variety of fish that eat algae if you haven't already.

Tyyrlym

Don't stock a fish to try and cover up a lack of maintenance.

Otos: Can be finicky eaters. Some will eat only algae and once the algae in your tank is gone they starve to death. Some will learn to like the food you supply, and never touch algae again. It's rare to find one that will eat algae and supplied foods.

Plecos: Some are tank busters, growing to over a foot. Others stay smaller. They all need some real driftwood in their diet. They also tend to be better algae eaters when younger and when they get older they tend to ignore algae altogether. They're also big messy fish.

Chinese/Siamese Algae Eaters: There are three kinds of algae eaters that get this name. One eats algae when small then grows into a large aggressive fish that will kill other fish. Guess which kind is the most common.

Shrimp: Depending on the variety some eat algae, some only eat one or two kinds of algae, and they're all very sensitive to water quality. Some fish also enjoy a nice shrimp snack.

Trying to have a fish control your algae is just a bad idea. Almost all the "algae eaters," bring whole new sets of problems to your tank. Identify the cause of the algae and fix that, don't buy a fish to try and cover it up.

WisFish

I have both types of algae eaters, Chinese & Siamese. After several years I have yet to see any of them kill any fish. The only fighting I see is between the Chinese Algae Eater and the red-tailed shark. And the Shark always starts it. I agree that water changes and water chemistry should come first, but adding algae eating fish to a tank should never be viewed as a negative.

Here's more:

Algae control: Stock your tank with algae-loving herbivores

Tyyrlym

I don't view having algae eating fish as a negative IF you want them in there because you enjoy them. Adding in fish just because you expect them to clean your tank for you is a great way to wind up disappointed with fish that don't eat the algae like you want them too, don't eat enough, or eat it all and starve to death.

bigk_54

NO NO NO I was mis understood. Tank has been set up since I think April 08, then added light in like late July and it was like the middle of Sept. that I started getting this Algea. I have a nova extreme t-5 light, should I try switching out the bulbs with a different kind of bulb? If so what would someone suggest? I think that it has 10000k in it when I got it.

I also have some "scavengers". I have one pleco, had 4 cory cats (think I have 3 now) and had 2 loches.

I also keep up on the matenance of my tank. Every week I was changing out about 10 gal of water (give or take for evaporation) and now I am up to about 15/20 gallon since I am trying to curb this problem. EVERYTIME I test my water it is the exact same! Rites and Ammonia always 0, Rates 5-10, and pH 8.2-8.5 range (which ALWAYS has been that way)

Does anyone that has some knowledge of plants know if my plants can be causing this?! Last weekend we trimmed them up took anything that looked dead off them and they are now back to the new schutes bright green and lower on the plants a brownish color and when you feel them they are slimy with a brown tint.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOU HELP!

WisFish

Yes. Change the bulbs to 6500K or 6700K bulbs. They're usually called daylight bulbs. 10K is too high.