Algae Problem

[KrystaK]

I have two tanks and both have algae problems

In my 20 gal it's just brown algae, all over the glass on ever side, including below the substrate line. It takes four days after I've cleaned it off before it shows yup again but it always comes back I have two rather large pieces of Bog wood in the tank as well as Java moss and Amazon sword plants and some hornwort.
I bought the tank used and I haven't changed the light bulb, he said the light was better for growing plants, so I left it.
I added a bubble wall to try and disturb the water more as I read that would slow the algae's progress. (And I've tested it, it does work, but not as well as I would like)


In my 30 gal there is brown algae, but only ever below the substrate line, (And only at the front of the tank, where everyone cans see it) so when I clean it off it disrupts the sane and my bottom layer of rock had started to come through (which I don't like at all )
On my amazon sword plants in this tank there appears to be Fuzz Algae (I read the algae guide and think that's what it is. It hasn't spread to any other part of the tank, its just on some leaves)


I'm not really worried about the algae, it's just an extra cleaning step that I don't want to go through, so I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how I could minimize it, if not eradicate it from my tanks?

I was thinking of getting an algae eater of some type, but especially in the 30 gal where its only under the substrate line, I don't think one would be helpful

 

[max1e]

i've bought myself a sail fin plec for a similar reason(it helps with the glass and plants). unfortunately i have it on my sand too, drives me nuts+it looks awful after a few days like yours. good luck

 

[Welshweeks]

A team of ottos will help and wont add much to your bio load.

 

[FishFanatic04]

How long are your lights on? Do you have strong flow through the tank?

 

[KrystaK]

I get up around 9 in the morning, so that's about when they go on, and the lights go off whenever I go to bed, usually between 10 pm and 1am. (I know, that's a lot of light)
The current in my 30 gal is probably a 3 or 4 on a scale of 1-10, with my 20 gal probably being a 4-5, the Java fern in my 20 gal grows much faster than in the 30 gal so I assume that tank is more plant (Including algae) friendly

I think I may go get a few Otto's, as they're on for 1$ CAN at Petsmart this week But I don't know anything about them, I'll do some research

(But any advice on lighting or current to help minimize my algae would also be delightful

Thanks

 

[FishFanatic04]

Honestly, the first thing I would do is drop the lighting period. You may see the algae is resolved just by reducing the photoperiod. 8 hours or so is the most I would leave my lights on. I actually only have them on 6 hours right now.