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hi all, I have two types of algae on my tank:

green algae that don't grow too mutch, just a bit on the sand and on the front glass, they are not really a problem, just clean the glasses every one or two weeks

Brown algae! Theese bastards are a nightmare! they grow all over my plants and rocks! what can I do? I don't wana use quimical products and I supose my two apple snails don't feed on them... I've reduced the light to 10h a day and put some thicker curtains on the windows near the tank - they grow slower but still they grow!

Brown algae grows in low light not too much light. In fact I got the most brown algae on a 55g tank with only 18watts of light in a dark room. Is your lighting actually high enough for the plants in the tank? Usually by the time I put just 1 wpg on a tank the brown algae gets outcompeted by green algae and plants.

Hi,
Brown "Algae" is actually not an algae but rather an
outbreak of Diatoms. This happens in water that has a
high silicate content (it becomes their "shells)
coupled with low light, and frequently, dead areas"
within the tank where there is little or no current.
Also aiding in its formation is poor tank
maintenance including lack of water changes and
not vacuuming the unplanted sections of the tank.

To get rid of it, increase your light over the tank,
do more frequent water changes (10-20% weekly) and
vacuum the gravel, a section at a time, either every
week or every other week. Lastly, check with your
water treatment plant, the water may be naturally high
in silicates, and your maintenance habits fine. Then,
increased light should resolve the problem.

Frank


Last edited by FRANK at 17-Nov-2005 17:56

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In addition to what Frank said:

Brown algae also has a field day when the tank is new (silicate from the glass) and, if I remember that right, from sand (containing silicate).

Is your tank new?
Did you add the sand recently or maybe stirred it up more than usual?

I went from one rant to the next with my brown algae in [link=My 125G]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Planted%20Aquaria/64425.html?200511171406" style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link]. Be warned though if you want to read about it, the log is now 20 pages long.

Hope this helps,

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

My maintnance is fine, I've increased the time the light is on from 8 to 10 hours and i'll add more current to the tank because i'm changing the filter for one more potent.

Seeing that Brown Algae is light problem what type of lighting do you have. You also mention you are upgrading your filtration what do you have now also what are you intending to buy.

Have a look in [link=My Profile]http://
www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/forums/profile.asp?userid=6741" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link] for my tank info

[link=Betta 11Gal Desktop &amp; Placidity 5ft Community Tanks]http://photobucket.com/albums/b209/keithgh/Betta%20desktop%20tank/" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link]

Keith

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