Help With Brown Algae

[m4r10]

Hi all. This is my post on the forum, although I am a regular visitor.

Being hit lately by brown algae I took the plunge to ask for help. As can be
seen in the pictures of the Anubia Barteri, any leaf older than a month is
starting to be affected by the algae to the point where is totally covered by
it. My SAE and the ghost shrimps seem powerless to deal with it.

I mention that I don’t add anything to the tank except for some tonic salt at
every water change.
Any suggestion is welcome.


Tank details:
Temperature: 25
Lighting: 2x 25w T8, lightining time about 14hrs per day
Ferts: None
CO2: None
Filtration: Tetratec EX700 plus a small pump for water aggitation
Tank: Juwel Vision 180
Maintenance: Water change once every second week, aprox. 35l (Inc Sand Vac),
Internal/External glass clean.


Stocking:
2 Ghost Shrimp
5 Albino Cory
3 SAE
1 Pakistani Loach
1 Striped Loach
6 Neon Tetra
1 Female Gupy
10 Swordtails

 

[aaronnorth]

Welcome

Firstly, cut the lighting down to 8hrs er day, this will help massively with any algae, and still allow enough time for photosynthesis to take place.
I would also reccomend you clean the algae off, and perform a 50% water change weekly straight after to remove the spores. This also helps to remove any ammonia too (undetectable on the hobby test kit).
Once the algae has gone, you can go back to your original routine, also if you can remove the ornaments & clean them in a seperate bucket, less spores in the tank is better

At every ater change, rub the anubias leaves so that any biofilms that have built up on the surface is removed as algae feeds of this.

Thanks.
aaron

 

[m4r10]

Thanks for the advice, I'll try reducing the lighting hours even though it contradicts what it says here:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=95077
As for the scrubbing of the algae, it's out of the question even on the anubias's tough leafs, the only option is cutting the leafs. If I don’t see any change soon, I’ll think of trying with a couple of ottos, even though I have enough bottom feeders.

 

[Geoff1991]

I cant see how more light would cure algae, myself i would trust aaron, he knows his stuff.

 

[m4r10]

Already put the lights on timer to 8hrs per day and I'll start with the 50% water change weekly. As for the plants, I think is better to remove the affected leaves as not all of them are as tough as anubias's.
Thanks for the advices, I'll try to keep you posted with the results.

 

[aaronnorth]

yeah the short photoperiod is said to help with diatoms, but once you get more into algae & experience it more you soon relaise it doesnt work

 

[m4r10]

Thanks aaronnorth, hopefully the plants will recover as it's not a very pretty sight at the moment.