Brown Algea!

[CAC]

Dont know whether this is the right place to post, but i seem to have got some brown algea on the glass and on the sand (and some green...)
The stuff on the glass is fine, cos i have a mag-float scraper, but what about the stuff on the substrate???
Im kinda fully stocked (or atleast when everything gets to its max i will) so i dont think i can add any sort of a clean up crew, and ive been looking for shrimps for a while now, but know where has them, so theyre not really an option...Neither are snails (i do have some..) but i have live plants, so that wont be happening...

Should i test any parameters, and if so, which?

Any ideas?

Thanks alot, Mikey

P.S. I could syphon it out, but then id lose quite abit of sand...

 

[my fat fish]

get some zebra snails they should work wonders and the dont eat plants

 

[CAC]

Do you know where i could get some? (UK)
I might try ebay for them.
Thanks for that

I did a 30-40% water change, and took any sludge off two of the 4 filter pads, and i took all the algea off the glass and some off the sand.
Hopefully ill be free of it soon...
Im going to try and get some shrimp sent to the house too.

Thanks, Mikey

 

[Chri$]

I have the same problem with brown algae - it's pretty much been there since i set up the tank (which is planted).

The heavier you plant from the start the bettr chance you have of beating it. I'm trying to get hold of a couple of oto's to try and control it.

 

[CAC]

Whats really small and will clean the sand, other than shrimps?
Will snails clean the sand?
What about ottos? They stay small dont they?

Thanks, Mikey

 

[Chri$]

Ottos stay small and are good for eating algae off the plants and glass, not sure about the sand.

 

[juwelfan]

I have Oto, i dont see them on my gravel much, but they may like sand, i dont know. They stay very small 1.5" max. They love algae!

Shrimp sound like a plan for your sand thou.

 

[CAC]

Id like to get some shrimp, but i have a feeling that i wont be able to get any...

Mikey

 

[juwelfan]

Why? dont they have them at your LFS? If your really at a push for some try 'Pets@Home' as a last resort, they sell them, but they are expensive.

 

[JackoUK]

Id like to get some shrimp, but i have a feeling that i wont be able to get any...

Mikey

I'm not sure what part of Cheshire your from Mikey but I live in Runcorn and they do sell some in World of Water at Rivendell garden centre in Widnes. I'm not sure what types of Shrimp they are. To be honest I don't know an awful lot about shrimp varietes. The post code is WA8 3UL. Hope this helps.

 

[Mako Man111]

Plecos work wonders against brown algae, I moved my small common plec from my 105 over to my 20 for a day, and nearly ALL the brown algae was gone over night. Maby get your self a bristlenose?

 

[CAC]

Thanks for the shop advice jacko, ill have to see if i can get over. Cheers

I could get a bristlenose, but then it would be a permenant resident...
If i can find some shrimp, ill get them

Thanks, Mikey

 

[@@@@@]

Try www.snailshop.co.uk they have some and there in the uk! i got some apple snails off them a while back and there perfect hope this helps Thanks