brown algea

[triliaeris]

Our tank has recently deleveloped diatoms (the brown dead algea looking stuff). We didn't have the problem before the apartment had the city come in and fix the pipes and stuff.

We can't find anything that removes the silicate. We can find stuff that removes phosphates just fine, but we need more than that.

Any ideas?

 

[The-Wolf]

Diatoms are often caused by too little light.
add more light or leave current lights on for longer
and they will dissapear.

 

[triliaeris]

Diatoms are often caused by too little light.
add more light or leave current lights on for longer
and they will dissapear.

[snapback]878559[/snapback]​

the fish have a very large window next to them along with a normal light. I don't think that's the problem.

It *only* started when they messed with our water.

 

[Bloo]

If you haven't yet seen this pinned article in the planted section, it might be of help

 

[triliaeris]

If you haven't yet seen this pinned article in the planted section, it might be of help

[snapback]878564[/snapback]​

Well, first, no algae eater actually eats diatoms. If they did, trust me we'd be fine. lol

We do water changes and test the water all the time. I want to say it's once a week. I don't do them, my fiance does. The guy at the fish store suggested this and then was stumped when we told him this is what we did.

There's just really nothing else in the article that could affect the tank honestly. We simply need something to filter out the tap water or to take the silicate out of it. We didn't want to have to buy 28 gallons of bottled water.

 

[Bloo]

I never suggested an algae eater - I'd never do that in fact. I don't think fish should take care of algae "problems".
You might have better luck posing this question in the planted section though - perhaps you can ask a mod (via pm) to move this thread across there.

Good luck.

 

[The-Wolf]

Well, first, no algae eater actually eats diatoms. If they did, trust me we'd be fine. lol

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I can tell you from personal experiance that your statement is a load of twaddle.

Otos will and do eat diatoms as will a royal pleco (L029).
both have been placed in diferent tanks at work that were suffering from diatoams and both tanks we free of them in the morning.

 

[triliaeris]

Well, first, no algae eater actually eats diatoms.  If they did, trust me we'd be fine.  lol

[snapback]878579[/snapback]​

I can tell you from personal experiance that your statement is a load of twaddle.

Otos will and do eat diatoms as will a royal pleco (L029).
both have been placed in diferent tanks at work that were suffering from diatoams and both tanks we free of them in the morning.

[snapback]878584[/snapback]​

Well, we already have a snail, a bulldog pleco and they don't touch the stuff. As we have a 30 gallon tank, we can't get too many more fish, and we really don't want to get rid of the ones we have (or get ones that wouldn't be compatible).

@bloozoo2 - Our tank isn't a planted tank, so I don't think that would be the right section.

Is there anything other than silicates that would cause such a massive amount of diatoms to suddenly appear (it takes about a week for them to cover a tank after doing a complete cleaning)?

 

[rdd1952]

My SAEs also ate it. Another possible concern is that the tank is near a window. I would be cncerned about other types of algae because of the direct sunlight. How long has the tank been set up?

 

[triliaeris]

My SAEs also ate it. Another possible concern is that the tank is near a window. I would be cncerned about other types of algae because of the direct sunlight. How long has the tank been set up?

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This is the only type of algae we have a problem with. But it's beside a large window. It's open during the early afternoon hours, then shut slightly (no not all the way) during the end of the day. It's been up for about 3-4 months. We had a tank before this one which was up for a year with no problems. This is why I think it directly related to the water and them messing with everything.

 

[triliaeris]

My SAEs also ate it. Another possible concern is that the tank is near a window. I would be cncerned about other types of algae because of the direct sunlight. How long has the tank been set up?

[snapback]878588[/snapback]​

Whoops... double post...