Brown Algae Problem

[JasonandJill]

Hi all. A couple of weeks after cleaning everything, the rocks, shells, pebbles, plants (not real) and glass become brown. I assume this is algae.
Looking at one of the pinned threads it seems that it can be caused by too little light. I'd previously thought too much light caused it and had changed the lighting from about 14 hours to around 8 hours a day. The problem is the same no matter how long the lights are on.
The temperature of the water is currently 77/25 but i can safely turn this down to 75/24 if it helps.
The water itself is crystal clear.
Anyone got any thoughts or suggestions on how to remedy this?
Water readings are 0 Ammonia, 0-0.1 Nitrite, 0.25 Nitrate and PH around 7.5
I do 1/3 water changes (100 out of 300 litres) every 2 or 3 weeks
Thanks all

 

[SlyPolak]

How old is the tank? Brown algae (diatoms) ususally become a nousance in freshly setup tanks because of tiny ammonia and nitirite spikes and should disappear in a few weeks as the tank matures....

What is your current Nitrite reading? If its ANYTHING over 0 I recommend WATER CHANGES!!! enought to take it down to 0
What kind of test kit are you using?

 

[JasonandJill]

The tank has only been running for 2 months. It wasn't new. The filter media was "still wet" and i used some water from my other tank when I set it up as well as a good dose of bottled bacteria.
Unfortunately I got hours mixed up with minutes when calculating if the filter would still be viable and in addition have since realised that bacteria aren't in the old tank water anyway.
Nitrite is currently a very pale pink in comparison to the 0.1 kind of pink on the chart.
I use an Interpret easytest kit (tablet type)
Thanks

 

[SlyPolak]

The tank has only been running for 2 months. It wasn't new. The filter media was "still wet" and i used some water from my other tank when I set it up as well as a good dose of bottled bacteria.
Unfortunately I got hours mixed up with minutes when calculating if the filter would still be viable and in addition have since realised that bacteria aren't in the old tank water anyway.
Nitrite is currently a very pale pink in comparison to the 0.1 kind of pink on the chart.
I use an Interpret easytest kit (tablet type)
Thanks

Bottled Bacteria = USELESS, bottled water

2 months is still very new, If I were you I would just live with it for a few more weeks and eventually the diatoms will disapoear as soon as they appeared.... Its good that you seeded with mature media but it should still take a few weeks... I think its not "fully" matured until its atleast 6 months old..

About your nitrite issues I would do water chnages until you see a very apparent 0 , Im not sure about your test kit because I have never heard of it but I guess it has to be better than strips..... ever thought of the API Master? Thats what I use and would recommend (also MANY others on here)

 

[JasonandJill]

Thanks for that advice, i'll do some smaller water changes every couple of days and live with/clean off the algae for now then.
I keep looking at that test kit. It seems easier to use but the hard part is getting my wallet open!!

 

[Harlequins]

You are getting readings for ammonia and nitrite,keep up regular daily water changes to keep these has close to zero... i agree with sly your tank is still new and hasn't fully cycled and the small ammonia/nitrite spikes are causing brown algae,given time this will settle down and the algae with subside.