Brown Algae

[poshcatz]

Hi, may I ask for some advise please.

I have a small tropical set-up which has been up and running for about 5-6 months now.

Recently I have started getting this brown algae. So I searched the forums here and found advise about it being caused by not enough light, and that the only way to get rid of it is to take out and scrub the artificle plants.

I have done this on 3 occasions, and also had to take out some of the gravel and scrub this too, and it is still coming back with a vengence.

Any advise?

 

[afishdude]

too much light!

cut down on light, and feeding.

if you have no live plants do a blackout day or two, leave the tank compleatly dark and cover with towls or something, only feed the fish a litle food and let no light in. that should take care of most of it.

 

[poshcatz]

Thanks afishdude. What is the appropriate length of time to have the tank light on?
The tank is in my kitchen and is in a corner where it does not get much natural light.
I usually have the lights on from about 5pm until about 1am.
I cant understand why this has only recently started to happen.

 

[afishdude]

8-12 hours for live plants

4-6 hours for just fish.

i have mine on for 12-15 on planted aquariums and i have algae but i have snails that love to eat it.

any sunlight hitting the tank will cause algae to grow.

 

[poshcatz]

Thanks I will give your advise a go.

 

[Bullrock74]

too much light!

No. It's not enough light. The tank never had the brown algae before, but six months later it does. That means it is time to replace the light bulbs. Normally, lights will last longer than six months, so it makes me believe the lights when brand new are only barely enough to keep the brown algae away and it takes very little decrease in light output for the brown algae to gain the upper hand and begin to flourish. Get more lighting over the tank and the conditions that favor the brown algae will no longer exist.

 

[poshcatz]

Thank you Bullrock74, this is what I had read before, but assumed that I was wrong after fishdude replied. Now I am totally confused. I had not thought about the light bulbs. Is there nothing I can put in the water that will clear this up?

 

[Bullrock74]

I had not thought about the light bulbs.

I'm guessing you have only the lights that came with the tank? Often lights included with tanks are not sufficient to provide conditions that allow green algae to form. I would recommend you increase your lighting which will encourage green algae to grow instead of trying to find something to kill the brown algae.

 

[doresy]

Hi, no fun when you get conflicting advice

This worked for my tank and it must be your own decision as to whether it will work in yours.

My tank plants, decorations and 3d background were covered in a brown and in places, mouve goo. Also had black traces on the plants.

After experimentation with light times I settled for 3 hours AM and 5 hours PM. Ambient light in the room is low with little or no direct sunlight.

I scrubbed decorations but the goo returned rapidly

Finally I resorted to an additive......eSHa PROTALON-707. ANTI ALGAE TREATMENT CLIK HERE

It is a week course and turns your water green for a few days and kills snails too!

After about 3 weeks the turnaround in my tank was amazing! It says it is not a miricle cure but it was for me

My plants are flurishing and apart from a few patches of hair algae on some leaves (now cut off) my decs and background really are clear and have been so for a month now.

Apparantly, it doesn't work for everyone but it certainly did for me!

You will, of course, get members advising against put anything in the tank and to a degree I agree but if you try everything else then why not give science a go