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I have some brown algae forming on my tank. I have been planing on getting a clown pleco, so would he be sufficient in takign care of this problem or is it somethign else? If ottos would be better I guess I coudl get a couple of those as well. I know that some tyes of algae are not exactly algae at all so I wanted to make sure that this is the kind that is really algae.


Christina

Hi,
"Brown Algae" is actually an outbreak of diatioms.
It usually occurs in new tanks, and is the result of
low light, poor maintenance, and an excess of Silicates
in the water. All of which are easily resolved.
Regular water changes of 10-20% of the tank capacity.
Running the lights for not more than 10hrs/day.
Vacuuming the gravel, a section at a time.
Using "Otto's" to help eat up the algae.

Here is a site that addresses the Brown Algae issue:

[link=http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/algae.htm]http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/algae.htm" style="COLOR: #FF00FF[/link]

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

[font color="#800080"]My tank was fine until Wednesday evening when I got home. I had not been home since Sunday afternoon because there was a family emergency and I could not get back to check on the tank. The lights were on for 3 days straight so I am sure that is what it was. I know I need to get a better ligth for the tank but I will have to wait little longer for that. If the ottos will eat the brown algae I will not have a problem with getting a group of them. They will go just fine in the tank with my tetras.

The water quality in the tank is just fine I checked it as soon as I got home to make sure. I also did a water change this morning so the water is clean. I ALWAYS vacuum the gravel well because I don't want a dirty tank. I do weekly water changes and take good care of it. Next tiem I will jsut have to either turn the light off when I leave town for more than a day, or I will ahve to call someone to turn it off for me.

Thanks for answering my question!


Christina
[/font]

Hi Christina,
When you vacuum the gravel, don't vacuum the entire tank.
The most of the bacteria that runs the Nitrogen Cycle
live in the gravel and also in the filter.

When vacuuming, mentally divide the unplanted parts into
three or four sections and vacuum only one section per
session. That completely cleans one section, and then
gives it three or four more intervals to recover before it
is vacuumed again. This allows the tank (bacteria) to
survive and keeps the nitrogen cycle from having to
develop all over again.

Frank


Last edited by FRANK at 25-Nov-2005 15:43

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Actually, I thought I was being lazy because I didn't want to vacuum the whole tank. I don't vacuum the whole tank. I just vacuum "around" the plants, because I don't want the plants coming up again after I had to replant them. After they "reroot" them I will probably vacuum the tank a bit better. I am going to get 2 or 3 ottos tomorrow I think so they can take care of the algae problem.


Christina

I finally have soem pictures of my tank. So without further adieu her is my brown algae.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c227/dvmchrissy/25gallonOverviewedit.jpg

As soon as my fish get better from the stress induced ich, from a stupid mistake on my part, is gone I will be getting some ottos to take care of the algae problem.

in the meantime I guess I will jsut have to try to scrape some of it off.


Christina

Last edited by dvmchrissy at 28-Nov-2005 20:40

I was hoping and thinking that brown algae was from too much light. I have a fairly new 55g with brown algae everywhere. Even my new BN isn't enought to take care of it, though he is trying. It is all over my plants, along with the mystery whitish stuff. I had it before in my 10g, but when I planted it, the algae went away. Now I just have some green spot, which they say is a sign of a healthy tank.
I am hoping that the plants I have coming this week will help take care of the brown algae. I vacuum atleast once a week, and not always the whole tank, and change 30% of the water once a week now, and still have it.
Try adding more plants, if you can. Maybe that will help. I didn't have as much brown algae before I upgraded my lighting so that tells me mine is not from too little light, my experience though. :%)

*Kristin*

Well I have decided I will never leave my house aagain unless absolutely necessary. Everytime I do, my tank does something stupid!

I know the beginning of the brown algae was my fault. I shoudl have jsut left the ligth off in the tank! I am guessing I am going to have to scrape it off the tank for now because after that so called alge eater killed almost half the fish in my tank I got mad and took it back, well that stressed out my fish so much that now I have aanother breakout of ich in my tank ]:| I am gettign so sick and tired of this. If I had somewhere to put my fish cor a couple weeks I would just tear down the tank and start over! ]
That would also give me a chance to pick out all the colored that is mixed in with the black... That would be tedious though... Sorry there I go rambling again!

Anyway what I as trying to get at is the algae is worse. Is there anything I can do to get rid of it until I can get somethign that will eat all of it.

I was planning on gettign somethign that eats algae anyway but I didn't know I need it to eat an algae overgrowth!


Christina


Last edited by dvmchrissy at 30-Nov-2005 20:30

Try to get an automatic timer for your lights, the consistency is better for the plants the fish and against algae, as you can more accurately control the amount of light it gets and when. They really are not expensive at all.

I've given up in my battle with any type of algae or glass and rock covering/smothering organisms. I just can't win in my new house. I've finally gotten at least the BGA to calm down after leaving the "swamp" alone for months.

I have been contemplatign getting a timer for the light anyway. I will definitely do that for my 55 when I get it set up. Unfortuntely I will most likely hav eto tait until after christmas because I don't think I will ahve the time or money to get it righ tnow. I love the holiday but it really sucks that they all have to come at once! My birthday, then a week later is thanksgiving, then my grandma's bday, then christmas, then new year's, then my mom's bday it all happens within in like 45 day of each other! It is driving me nuts I tell ya! How come christmas wasn't REALLY in July! that would have been soo much more convenient....Sorry there I go again! I swear I am a mess sometimes! Well, I will get a timer that is not an problem. I am also going to get some ottos to get rid of the algae as well because I have a castle ornatment in the tank and the algae is all over that. It looks cool because it makes it look a lot more real; however, it will eventually cover the entire castle if I am not careful.

Well Hopefully I haven't bored you guy too much. I am sure that I will be able to get rid of the algae as soon as I get some ottos.


Christina

I have a dwarf pleco who loves brown algae. Before I got him my tank was overrun with the rusty-colored stuff; I couldn't keep up with it even though I was scraping the glass almost daily.

Within two days of the time I put the pleco in there, he had it completely cleaned up, and I've never had another problem -- and it's been more than two years since then.

If you go with a pleco, though, make sure of two things: First, that the particular species you're considering likes brown algae (not all of them do), and second, that the pleco won't get too big for your tank. I bought mine from a knowledgable pet-shop owner, and he's been perfect for my tank -- small and hungry! He's a really great fish ...

What is the scientific name for the dwarf pleco? I don't know what the look like. I have been researching plecos for jsut that reason. I don't want to get one that won't eat the algae. I have been thinkign abotu getting a few ottos instead. I know they like brown algae so we will see.


Christina

From what I've read, SAE's are good for large tanks and Ottos are perfect for smaller ones. Good luck!