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	brown algae and silk plants
andrea Enthusiast Posts: 267 Kudos: 194 Votes: 0 Registered: 12-Feb-2004	Argh!! I can't seem to get the brown algae off my silk plants!! I can clean it off, but obviously I'm leaving some of it on there, because it grows back in a couple of days. Plastic plants are easier to clean, but this is in my 6 gal betta tank... and he needs the silk ones. Any brilliant ideas? I was told by someone in a LFS to use diluted bleach, and then just used a dechorinator to rinse with... but that makes me a little nervous. Help?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003	I've used bleach on plants, rocks, even a piece of driftwood ....I didnt' have any negitive effects. Use extra dechlor, as well as let it sit in the sun (light breaks down bleach). You might want to look into the root cause of the brown algae . Maylasian trumpet snails seem to like munching on mine. Combining MTS with a phosphate remover in the filter has helped the tanks that had been plagued with the stuff. ^_^ [/font]
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
andrea Enthusiast Posts: 267 Kudos: 194 Votes: 0 Registered: 12-Feb-2004	Got it. I'll give the bleach a go... and see if it comes back. I can't figure out what's causing the algae! It's a 6 gallon tank with ONE fish in it. You wouldn't think I'd have alot of nutrient buildup. I do a little 25% water change ever week, and my water is testing perfect. (I've been camping out on the water quality because this is that betta who finally recovered from fin rot after months and months, and I don't want it to come back) Any ideas on what might be causing it?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003	Excess phosphates, and sillicates from the food. I'd had a terrible time with them in my 10 (recieved weekly water changes as well) and wasn't overfeeding. Also had them come up in my 20 after I had someone tank sit for me .....Adding the phosphate remover (similar to carbon it gets placed in the filter) helped alot . ^_^ [/font]
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
andrea Enthusiast Posts: 267 Kudos: 194 Votes: 0 Registered: 12-Feb-2004	Ah ha... I will order some of that, and see if that helps. Thanks!!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
Light_Bright Moderator Posts: 1156 Kudos: 1403 Votes: 351 Registered: 16-Jan-2002	Also light will cause brown algae growth. I get it on my silk plants in my 2 gallon betta tanks. Do you have a tank light? (how long is it left on) or is the tank getting direct sunlight? Mine gets direct sun and the tank walls will get brown algae as well. I clean it off once a week at least. ___________________________________________ If at first you DO succeed, try not to look astonished.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26


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