Algae Problem?

[laura_gr]

Hi, I've had my new tank up and running for 4 weeks now (4 weeks since i added fish), over the last week i've noticed a sudden growth of a brownish algae over my rocks, is this safe or have i got a problem? It wipes off ok, but is hard to remove from the main rock since my fish hide under this when i clean the tank. Is it ok to leave on this rock or do I need to clean it all?

Thanks very much

 

[WILDER]

Its normal on a newly set up tank, just wipe it off and rinse the rocks under tap water.

http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/algae.htm#brown

 

[ox5477]

Algae is a common prob in many tanks....two ways to deal with it....

1. Get animals that munch on the stuff and it won't stand a chance. Obv plecs and snails will devour the stuff faster than it can grow (but both can be messy and make you vac your tank more often). Many other fish like mollies love to much up algae but they will not do as good of a job as a plec or snail will do, but will help to impede the algae a little.

2. Set up your tank for real plants. CO2 supply, plant substrate under your gravel or sand, and lots of light. The plants should compete with the algae and the plants should win. Even if you still see some algae, do a break in the middle of the day. That is.... turn the light on in the morning, turn it off for an hour at about lunchtime, and then turn it back on till later when you normally would turn it off. It won't hurt the plants but it will through off the cycle of the algae photosynthesis. (I've never had to do this, but I've heard that it works to combat the algae)