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 L# General Freshwater
  L# brown algea
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Subscribebrown algea
ckk125
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Big Fish
Posts: 320
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Registered: 30-Jul-2005
male malaysia
hey ppl..the tank which i currently house my 17inch jardini is being infested by brown algea...when i do any water changes, i'll clean it but it keeps on coming back...i cannot put any pleco in there cuz he'll eat or kill them...any suggestions?
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:56Profile MSN PM Edit Report 
Bob Wesolowski
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Mega Fish
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Registered: 14-Oct-2004
male usa
"Brown algae" (diatoms)

This is often the first algae to appear in a newly set-up tank, where conditions have yet to stabilise. It will often appear around the 2-12 week period, and may disappear as quickly as it arrived when the conditions stabilise after a couple of months. It is essential to minimise nutrient levels to ensure the algae disappears - avoid overfeeding and carry out the appropriate water changes, gravel and filter cleaning, etc. Limiting the light will not deter this algae, as it can grow at low lighting levels and will normally out-compete green algae under these conditions.

If brown algae appears in an established tank, check nitrate and phosphate levels. Increased water changes or more thorough substrate cleaning may be necessary. Using a phosphate-adsorbing resin will also remove silicates, which are important to the growth of this algae. However, as noted above, it is essentially impossible to totally eliminate algae with this strategy alone. Due to its ability to grow at low light levels, this algae may also appear in dimly lit tanks, where old fluorescent bulbs have lost much of their output. If a problem does occur, otocinclus catfish are known to clear this algae quickly, although you may need several for larger tanks, and they can be difficult to acclimatise initially.

There are some very plausible theories as to why this algae often appears in newly set up tanks and then later disappears. If the silicate (Si) to phosphate (P) ratio is high, then diatoms are likely to have a growth advantage over true algae types and Cyanobacteria. Some of the silicate may come from the tapwater, but it will also be leached from the glass of new aquaria, and potentially from silica sand/gravel substrates to some extent. Later, when this leaching has slowed, and phosphate is accumulating in the maturing tank, the Si ratio will change in favour of phosphate, which is likely to favour the growth of green algae instead.

The above is from thetropicaltank.co.uk

So, it appears from your post that your jardini has affected your water quality. Clean the substrate, do several massive water changes and put it on a diet for a day or three to see if it helps.

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:56Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tr6tim
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Enthusiast
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male usa
Also up your lighting. I had a huge problem with diatoms and doubling the wattage solved it quickly.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:56Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
ckk125
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Big Fish
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male malaysia
im having a 17 inch jardini there....he'll eat any algea eaters that i put in there..
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:56Profile MSN PM Edit Delete Report 
Fallout
 
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How old is the tank? What do you have for substrate and what type of replacement water are you using?
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:56Profile Homepage ICQ AIM MSN Yahoo PM Edit Delete Report 
ckk125
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Big Fish
Posts: 320
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male malaysia
its been there for almost 3 years...it doesnt have any substrate..i couldnt put anythg as the jardini might hurt itself while chasing the frogs that i usually feeds him...replacement water?tap water?
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:56Profile MSN PM Edit Delete Report 
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