Brown Algae

[Rob5]

I have got thin layers of brown algae on the tank glass, sand and on my plants.

I have been running my lights on a timer for 12 hours a day. I have been reading up on lighting times and i cannot find anything that says what lenght of time to have them on.

All advice will be appreciated!!!!!

 

[BigbruiserAl]

brown algae is common is tank which are less then 6 months old, whats your tank size, lighting, stocking and how long as been set up?

lights should be on no more then 8 hours

 

[guppi]

If it is a new tank you will be sure to get quite a lot at first then it should disappear. I would cut the lights down to about 8 to 10 hours.

 

[Rob5]

The tank has been running for 5 weeks now.

It is a second hand 80x35x45cm.

I am running a T8 20w aqua glow and a T8 power glo 20w

Currently i have 12 neon tetras and 4 panda cories

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Sound very normal for a 5 week old tank, did you do a fish in cycle ot fishless?

reduce your lighting to 8hrs for now

 

[Rob5]

I did a fishless cycle, and also used RO water from my lfs

Adjusted the timer so the lights run for 8hrs now

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Why are using RO for freshwater and are putting minerals back into the tank after using Ro?

 

[Zikofski]

hello,

yes i am having the same problem, my tank size is 30" x 12" and 15" tall

we have a 12" 8W Original Tropical Lamp

in my opinion it is to small i was going to get the largest that fits in the tank we do not have a night light and i was thinking about getting one of them any suggestions would be appreciated

but the brown algae is thick under the light and barely any where else, we have no live plants and a filter to big on specs for the tank but it works perfectly in my opinion

the algae appear within a week and i have been doing a partial water change very week and wiping the algae away is that recommended to? or keep it there? all help would be great thnx

 

[Rob5]

I am using RO on the recommendation of my lfs. In portsmouth our water is really hard and there are a lot of chemicals added to the water for human usage but not good for fish!!!

 

[Zikofski]

I am using RO on the recommendation of my lfs. In portsmouth our water is really hard and there are a lot of chemicals added to the water for human usage but not good for fish!!!

sos me being an idiot but whats RO and lfs?

 

[guppi]

You still need to re-mineralise the water.
RO is Reverse Osmosis lfs local fish shop

 

[BigbruiserAl]

I am using RO on the recommendation of my lfs. In portsmouth our water is really hard and there are a lot of chemicals added to the water for human usage but not good for fish!!!

/sigh another crap lfs by the sounds of it, chemicals will be removed when you add declor that are harmfull to fish, something like seacham prime is ideal.
how much do they charge you for the RO water?

 

[Zikofski]

You still need to re-mineralise the water.
RO is Reverse Osmosis lfs local fish shop

ahh okay thank you

 

[Rob5]

They charge £3.47 for 25 litres of RO water

I wasnt told about adding minerals afterwards!!!!! Thanks for that

The fish are doing well at the moment but will have to research and look at adding minerals at the next water change

 

[BigbruiserAl]

In honesty mate i would switch to tap water ro is unessary for fresh water unless you have discus,£3.50 is expensive as well my lfs charges £2 for 25l
I next water change i would mix in 20% tap water then after that next water change 40% and so on untill you are 100% tap water. when you on 100% tap water buy yourself a bottle of prime and you will be fine