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i just noticed today, my patch of glosso are not doing as well now. the older leaves are dying off because of brown algae covered all the older leaves. and the substrates near that area are all turning brown as well. so as the new leaves spread around, the old ones are dying, feels like a never ending circle of.... hopelessness :#(

my other plants are all doing fine, very very minor algae growth in other parts of the tank. i do have 2 SAE and 2 otos, but i guess they arent touching the algae around the glossos

here are the tank specs...

29g, 79-82f
ph 7.6
kh 11
co2 9
nitrate less than 5
3.2 wpg (but the front has slightly less light)
eco-complete substrate
lights used to be on for 12 hours, now only 10. 2pm-midnight

i am not sure, but i think its probably a lighting problem?? because recently i slided my main lighting fixture towards the back a little bit, maybe that caused the brown algae growth near the front??

Last edited by greenfootball at 17-Jun-2005 17:19

Green,

Is this a relatively new tank? Brown algae is generally diatomaceous algae associated with new set-ups. The following information is from an internet site:

This is often the first algae to appear in a newly set-up tank, where conditions have yet to stabilise. It will often appear around the 2-12 week period, and may disappear as quickly as it arrived when the conditions stabilise after a couple of months. It is essential to minimise nutrient levels to ensure the algae disappears - avoid overfeeding and carry out the appropriate water changes, gravel and filter cleaning, etc. Limiting the light will not deter this algae, as it can grow at low lighting levels and will normally out-compete green algae under these conditions.

Otocinclus will feed on brown algae as may some larger sucker mouth catfish such as bristle nose. Water changes will reduce the growth of the algae and leaves may be scraped to reduce the amount of algae.

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

well...probably, by moving ur light to the back may have trigger the growth. im surprise that the ottos r not even touching it. just continue doing water changes and remove decaying leaves and gravel vac and hope that the ottos will notice the buffet under.

if u notice that the glossos start to grow taller instead of spreading...u have the indication that...u better return the light where it used to be. gudluck

It sounds like you've got a glass top...correct? You could always add another light...glosso likes 4-5 WPG right?

Ottos are a shoaling fish, and tend to be more outgoing and will go out in the open more when there's like 10 of them. I've got 2 ottos right now and they're rather shy...I used to have 9 of them and they were always swimming around the tank scrubbing EVERYTHING together...it was freaky...

My suggestions-
Get another light (maybe a 20w or a 2x20w)
Get metal reflectors if you don't already have them (aluminum foil works alright too if you smooth it out good)
Get more ottos and SAE's
Dose nitrAtes (ask babel 'bout that)
Check yer phosphates...if you have them, get rid of them
I don't know much 'bout CO2, but you might need more
Dose a few ferts if you don't already...the plants need to outcompete the algae for nutrients
Wait for a few weeks or a month...as Bob said, brown algae shows up in new tanks...

I hope all goes well...good luck

yah, the tank is old, but i just newly swapped the gravel out, so maybe that triggered it?? i will definately wait to see and continue with water changes.

In all likelihood the new gravel did trigger it... new silica!

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

I agree with Bob here - whenever I dig up some of my gravel (flourite) I end up with some type of extra algae growth. I've noticed that it's minimized if there is an abundance of co2 in the tank.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients