Brown Algae....is It Phosphate Related?

[Cheffi]

Here is a pic of some disgusting brown algae (assume it is). If I scrub it off of the glass it's back the next day. Assistant in Maidenhead Aquatics said it was high phosphates in my tap water causing it. Does this sound correct? She has sold me Cleanwater No Algae, looks like 2 large teabags of filter media. Apparently they only last 2 months anyway.

Has anyone got any other suggestions before I put this into my filter?

Sorry for poor photo quality I'm still practicing.

 

[The-Wolf]

brown algea or more precisly Diatoms are caused by lack of light.
they are a silica based life form and are often seen in a new tank as a result of an abundant supply of fresh silicon.

The cure is more light, either add another source or keep the current light on for longer.

 

[Cheffi]

brown algea or more precisly Diatoms are caused by lack of light.
they are a silica based life form and are often seen in a new tank as a result of an abundant supply of fresh silicon.

The cure is more light, either add another source or keep the current light on for longer.

Light is on from around 10am to around 11pm. Do you think it should be on even longer?

 

[The-Wolf]

how many watts per gallon?
uif less than 1WPG then you should add another light source.

don't worry too much about diatoms they have a habit of going away on their own after a week or three

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

brown algea or more precisly Diatoms are caused by lack of light.
they are a silica based life form and are often seen in a new tank as a result of an abundant supply of fresh silicon.

The cure is more light, either add another source or keep the current light on for longer.

Light is on from around 10am to around 11pm. Do you think it should be on even longer?

Your lights are on plenty, have you tested your tap water for nitrates? High nitrates can sometimes fuel algae, adding live plants will help take up excess nutrients in the tank and prevent the algae from coming back.

 

[Cheffi]

brown algea or more precisly Diatoms are caused by lack of light.
they are a silica based life form and are often seen in a new tank as a result of an abundant supply of fresh silicon.

The cure is more light, either add another source or keep the current light on for longer.

Light is on from around 10am to around 11pm. Do you think it should be on even longer?

Your lights are on plenty, have you tested your tap water for nitrates? High nitrates can sometimes fuel algae, adding live plants will help take up excess nutrients in the tank and prevent the algae from coming back.

Yes water comes out of tap at 10ppm nitrates but plants are not an option as I'm having a Malawi setup. I suppose I'll just wait until it goes then. Probably not worth putting those bags into media either. Oh the light is 30w and I have a 30w moonlight tube too.

 

[Callum]

i once had brown algae and green algae the people at my lfs didnt have a clue but after 3 months it vanished and i got hair insted also i was told brown algae can also be caused by too much co2? is this true?