brown algae problem.

4946 Views 21 Replies 6 Participants Last post by cocolodecorazon, Feb 9, 2013

rexpepper651

Discussion Starter · Feb 5, 2013

i never had a brown algae problem before. just in the last two weeks its been taking over my tank. covering the glass. ive had the tank up and running for almost a yr now. ive been reading it could be from my sand which i had just put in like 3 weeks or a month ag o. i dont leave my lights on very long between 9-11 hrs a day. is that to long? it doesnt seem to be getting on anything else besides the glass. my plants all look fine. i did notice my snails were eating it but they arent cleaning it completely. what can i do to get rid of this crap? ive been waiting for a magnet glass cleaner for a week should be here tomorrow. other then wiping it off every could days is there some special trick to get this stuff to stay out?

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Byron

· #15 · Feb 6, 2013

From the photos, this does not look like diatoms to me. How easy is it to clean off of the glass? Can you rub it off with your finger, or does it take a sponge or scraper?

It looks more green than brown, and this would be due to the light.

Oxygen is not relevant to this, it is more the water movement, but this can work both ways.

Byron.

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Byron

· #17 · Feb 7, 2013

rexpepper651 said:
i didnt try using my finger but i did use a scrubber on a stick an it was a lil tuff to get off

That is what I expected; this is not diatoms. Reduce the light, which may be intensity and/or duration, whichever. Don't stop all plant fertilizer or the plants will likley suffer. But once a week with a comprehensive like Flourish is sufficient.

If this is on the glass, ambient room light can be a factor. Daylight entering the room and evening room lighting can add to the tank light.

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Byron

· #20 · Feb 8, 2013

cocolodecorazon said:
So from reading the posts above I gather that the brown algae is nothing to really worry about. Just wipe it off and let the tank take its course. My tank has been cycling for about 5 weeks and the numbers are good: PH=8.2, Ammo, nitrita, nitrate=0, but yesterday I noticed that there were a couple of small spots where some brownish stuff was growing. I figured it was algae and part of the cycling process, so I just wipped it off and kept staring at the tank for about an hour. I only have 3 damsels, 1 blenny and couple of hermit crabs in it, but I am getting ready to start stocking it. Will it be ok to start?

If it comes off easily, it is likely diatoms. Diatoms, or commonly brown algae though not a true algae, are common in new tanks. It takes a couple months for a tank's biologicy to establish and settle.

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