Brown Algae?

[OohFeeshy]

Hmm... Methinks the 20 has brown algae. It looks like lots of brown slimy specs on the glass. If anything its due to low oxygen levels as it gets plenty of light. So, what to do? I can wipe it off, but it comes back very quickly. What small plecs eat brown algae? I don't want otos, too fragile, so I was thinking a BN. Do they eat brown algae?

EDIT- I've heard apple snails eat it too. But can these multiply if you have one?

 

[The-Wolf]

yes bristlnoses will eat it
yes applesnails will eat it
no apple snails are not hermaphroditic,
you need a male and a female to reproduce them.

Diatoms are, I've recently found out, caused by high silicate levels
you can purchase a silicate absorbing filter media, although increasing lighting levels is just as effective.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Good good. Thanks Wolf. I'll try an applesnail first, then move on to a BN. I think I saw a shop with them..... Lightings on between about 7am and 9pm, which is when I wake up and go to bed.

 

[Rodders]

I have an apple snail, he just eats my plants.
I got lots of little snails that eat it all but they destroy plants too.
My ottos dont eat it.
My plecs dont eat it.
Extra light doesnt solve it.

I might look into one of these silicate absorbers

 

[OohFeeshy]

So do apple snails eat plants then.... Hrm. Then I'll get a couple for my betta tanks, but I don't want a plant eater in the 20. I'll just scrub it off for now. Anyways, are BN's better in pairs or are they OK singly?

 

[Annastasia]

I think pairs are best, but you can keep them singly. I have one in one of my tanks, and he seems to do okay. But I have a pair in another tank, and they always hang out together.

Also, none of my Bristlenoses ever touched Brown Algae. I don't know if mine are weird...but I just thought I'd add that.

 

[OohFeeshy]

There seem to such mixed responses... Goodness. Can anyone help? Do they eat it or don't they?

 

[The-Wolf]

according to applesnail.net, no they do not eat plants
I have 26 applesnails and not one plant fatality yet.

 

[FishEnthusiast]

As far as apple snails go, there are two types. One that will eat plants and one that will not. I too have diatoms in my 55G. I put my apple snail in there, he ate them like a pig. He did not eat my plants.

This link is good for checking snail types

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=75554

A quote from the above mentioned article

"There are many other apple snail species in genus Pomacea, and there are also others from the genera (the family is Ampulariidae) Afropomus, Asolene, Felipponea, Lanistes, Pila, Saulea, and Marisa. Most of the other ones available in stores than P. bridgesii aren't suitable for planted tanks (Pomacea canaliculata and Marisa cornuarietis), but they are still really interesting species. If you think you have regular apple snail but it eats plants, you most likely have P. canaliculata. If you have an apple snail that is closer to 4 inches, you might have P. insularum or P. haustrum."

I have common pond snails too. They eat the diatoms, but for some reason leave my plants alone. My guess is there is way too much brown stuff to keep them occupied

HTH

 

[Rodders]

according to applesnail.net, no they do not eat plants
I have 26 applesnails and not one plant fatality yet.

I watched mine eat a who plant at once

Doh!!!!

 

[The-Wolf]

Then I doubt very much you have a true applesnail Pomacea bridgesii (effusa), you proberbly have one of the same family but not an applesnail.

these are the other "applesnails"
Pomacea (pomacea) canaliculata (Lamarck, 1819)
Pomacea (pomacea) insularum (D'Orbigny, 1839)
Pomacea (pomacea) lineata (Spix, 1827)
Pomacea (pomacea) doliodes (Reeve, 1856)
Pomacea (pomacea) haustrum (Reeve, 1856)
Pomacea (pomacea) gigas / maculata (Perry, 1810)

 

[Nospherith]

Can't believe noone has mentioned otocinclus yet. Get a bunch of those things and the brown will be gone in no time. Also, increasing light and decreasing nitrates (more plants) wouldn't hurt either.

 

[OohFeeshy]

I mentioned otos! I said I didn't want them becasue they were too fragile. Hopefully I'll get more plants this weekend, The tank looks a bit plantless so I need to fill it up... BTW, are algae magnets worth the price? TBH it looks as if you are better off scrubbing it.

 

[eudielynn]

I've tried it all, otos, plecs, snails, lighting. Nothing has worked but elbow grease and scrubbing everything. I'm told it happens in new tanks about 2-3 months old. Mine is about 3 months now, and I'm praying it will give up eventually. I am trying lights out on the tank for a week now, as that was another suggestion. I hope you've had better luck than I've had getting rid of it. And if you find anything that does work, PLEASE let me know.

 

[Joby]

I've only ever seen brown algae in my tanks when they are just coming up to being cycled. I put a couple of L134 Leopard frog plecs in my last one and the stuff was gone overnight and has never been seen again

I use bristlenoses in my large tank and they do a fab job of cleaning up, hardly ever see any algae and I haven't had to get the magnet scrubber out for 2 months now

Both of these plecs only get up to around 5" so not huge and they're in with community fish and even the L134's were in with betta fry and never touched them.

I did try otos but the three died across the space of a week and the tank was stable and had been cycled for a while when I introduced them so I agree with them being "fragile"

Hope you find an answer to your algae problems