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Hello all,

I only have brown algea, why is that. Only brown algea, and how is it made besides light?

I don't believe light either high or low is a factor for brown algae. It's silicates causing the brown algae.

Is this a newish tank, what's the substrate.

A lot of substrates will have some silica, some more then others, that will leech into the water. Water changes and time will diminish the amount of silica and therefore the algae. It's quite common in new tanks, it'll peak and burn itself out eventually.

Water changes will speed the process by removing silica, as will keeping the glass clean and the plants as free of it as possible (it comes off easy).

You can get silica removal resin but it's a PITA to use.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

It has only been up since easter.

Ok not a new tank. What's the substrate ?

If you have room a few Ottos will clean it up fairly quickly and keep it clean.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

fishys_cant_fly,

How long do you have the algae already?

How does it look besides being brown (strings, bushels)?

Did you mess a lot with your substrate and then it appeared?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

it looks like a muddy color, like the wood part of a pencil, not the lead. I havge medium black rocks as substrate. A lot more appeared today.

Well,

you answered one of three questions, that's a start.

This is from the Algone website:

The cause: excess nutrients, silicate and silicic acid are the ingredients for a diatom bloom. Silicic acid enters the aquarium by using tap water; substrate can contain silicates that leach out over time.

So again the question if you recently messed with the substrate (rocks).

Or maybe you changed your fertilizing routine (if you do such things) or feeding habits (or food type).

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

it doesnt really bother me, and its not big. but how long will it stay?]

That's what LITTLE_FISH is trying to find out. If it's been there since the tank was first setup and you haven't done anything to the tank then it probably isn't going away anytime soon. If you recently messed with something then we'd have the cause and could figure out how to either get rid of it or keep it from happening again. To figure it out though you need to answer questions.