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Hi all!

My tank has only been cycled for about a week now, and I've had brown algae for almost a month. I have reduced my feedings to once a day and only a little sprinkling of flakes. The situation has improved by the water change and vaccuming I did last Tuesday, but it's definitely still there. Now, I've noticed some green algae appearing just on the top of my one and only decoration. I have a sparsely planted tank with no ferts. My water parameters are amonia 0, NitrIte 0, NitrAte 20. I also leave my light on for about 14 hours which I'm guessing is probably too long? So, what would you suggest? Increase the water changes, add more plants, reduce feedings even more, less light, algae eating fish??


*Mitch*

Hi,
First, the brown algae is an outbreak of diatoms and
with water changes, and time, will be eliminated.
Its source is excessive silica (SiO2) in the water.
This usually occurs in a newly set up tank as the
gravel is actually a form of silica and the dust
and fragments are what the diatom use for
"shells" or "skeletons."

Your light(s) are on too long. Most limit this time
to between 10 and 12 hours, max. With the few plants
that you have, I would cut it back to 10 hours.
Algae is an opportunistic feeder. By that I mean it exists
everywhere, and fills niches. If you have too much of one
nutrient, and not enough of another it will thrive on the
excess. Water changes, tank maintenance (including
vacuuming the unplanted parts of the gravel) can bring it
under control. Algae eating fish work, but lets face it,
a given fish can only eat so much, and if it gets out of
hand, you would really have to pack the tank with them to
make any real difference.

Finding the cause(s) of the algae and correcting it(them)
is the only real solution.

Here is a site that describes the various types of algae,
what causes it, and how to control it:
http://www.otocinclus.com/articles/algae.html

Hope this helps...

Frank


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

Thanks a lot, Frank. Appreciate your help


*Mitch*