Bad Algea?

[dster7]

I have had my 12 gallon aquarium running for a little over a month now and a dark orange/brown type of algea has grown on my plants, rock cave and the front glass of the aquarium. When I first started up my aquarium I had the light on for 7-8 hours, and now I have been having it on for 12 hours a day for the past week, not noticing a difference in the algea's color.

Is this bad and why am I not growing green algea?

 

[Colin_T]

if the algae wipes off and floats around it could be blue green algae (Cyanobacteria). Otherwise it is just brwon and green algae and you can wipe it off the glass or add some algae eaters like snails.

 

[mark.w.jones]

Algae in any form is not great. Brown algae is usually harmless diatoms and common in newly set up tanks. Just wipe it off your plants with your fingers and use a glass cleaner / scraper on the tank sides itself. It usually goes after a while. Best cure is lots of fast growing plants. Egeria densa, Hygrophila sp. , Limnophila Sessiliflora and Straight Vallis are all pretty good bets.