Just Got Back From My Holiday And My Hole Tank Is Brown With Algae

[PDB-89]

should i take everything out wash it then scrape the algae off the glass then gravel vac put everything back in and do a water change? the gold fish are going in the pond in about an hour as I'm getting my tropical's tomorrow wooooop! but i need to sort it out first!

how it was when i left it

and now looks like this!!!!

Eeeak!!!

 

[minxfishy]

Yeah its just brown algae (diatoms), take the ornaments, plants out, give them a wash in hot water, do a good gravel vac and at the same times as the water change, wipe the sides down, it will more likely grow back, I assume you had no lights on whilst you were away?

 

[PDB-89]

well i have the light on a timer it comes on at 10 and then off at 10??

 

[minxfishy]

Thats alot of light time, reduce it down to 8 and see if that helps.

 

[PDB-89]

will give it a go mate thanks for you help!

 

[sjolliff]

That alot of algae,
when i first set up my tank with all my decor during my 1st fishless cycle i had my lights on for 12hrs and had the same prob,
i then changed to 6hours and it made a difference

 

[PDB-89]

thanks buddy!! ill give the 8 a try and if not ill drop down to 6! just puting it all back in now and adding a few rocks will put a pic up when done!

 

[coldcazzie]

I had a similar problem about 2 years ago and reducing the light time worked wonders. Failing that a different type of bulb can help too.

 

[Geoff1991]

Brown algae/diatoms usually appears when there is ammonia and light present. So you may want to do a few water tests.

 

[PDB-89]

thanks for the help and info peep's!! the tank is all clean now and I'm going to test in the morning and hopefully the test are all clear as I'm off down my lfs for my first tropicals!

 

[bagu]

it tastes delicious!

i say clean everything, then water change. maybe twice in the week

its just diatoms, common in new aquariums, or as said with high light levels

 

[PDB-89]

thanks buddy

 

[Geoff1991]

Tastes delicious?