Algae Control?

[Gazpug]

Hello all,

Was wondering how folks handle the problem with brown algae on plants and the tank?

I dont have any eaters and i have to keep n cleaning the glass every week. I would find it really hard to clean individual leaves.

Any Ideas?

Regards

Gaz.

 

[nurglespuss]

I'm currently trying some chemical algae removers, but no success yet. The advice I've been given (in the plant forum) is to increas photo period, nutrients/fertilisation and no. of plants. And, include some algae eaters. Water movement also helps.

Hope that points you in the right direction

 

[Spooky76]

Other things to think about are natural light / tank lights...Try to keep your tank out of sunlight / daylight during the day. Also dont have your tank light on for hours. dont leave bits of plant / food around the tank.
You can try phosphate removers but I dont know they work with all kinds of algae.
If its hair algae its a nightmare !!!!

 

[Gazpug]

Brill,

Anyone reccomend any good eaters. I dont want anything to big though.

Regards

Gaz

Other things to think about are natural light / tank lights...Try to keep your tank out of sunlight / daylight during the day. Also dont have your tank light on for hours. dont leave bits of plant / food around the tank.
You can try phosphate removers but I dont know they work with all kinds of algae.
If its hair algae its a nightmare !!!!

Nah the algae just appears as brown patches on the grass and covers the leaves.

Gaz

 

[Spooky76]

If its just patchy, black out your tank for 24 hours completely, might kill it off a bit. Ive heard haivng your lights go off for 5 mins every hour can help (Think that was in PFK earlier in year) iterrupts photosynthesis or something....

As for algae eaters, plecs are very good, but to be honest a small bunch of octicynclus would be better, they like groups (3-5) buyt dont grow much over 1". My plecs OK but they do grow large (Well alot do) and can damage your plants.

 

[BigC]

Too much light and nutrients/phosphates for the algae to grow/spread, try converting to RO water cut down on the light entering the aquarium and use rowaphos in your filter.
regards
BigC

 

[Spooky76]

Too much light and nutrients/phosphates for the algae to grow/spread, try converting to RO water cut down on the light entering the aquarium and use rowaphos in your filter.
regards
BigC

Hey BigC - have you actually had good results with rowaphos ?

 

[BigC]

Although it is expensive I use it constantly. see below for tank pics.
Regards
BigC

 

[loachman]

I use an interrupted photoperiod to help control algae. I have the lights on for 4-5 hours, off one, and on for another 4-5 hours. That took care of most of the hair algae in the tank after a few weeks. I have a bristlenose plec and an otto in the tank as well, but they're not known for eating hair algae. I currently have only minor algae growth that is hardly noticeable (It's really hard/impossible to 100% eliminate it, so I've been happy with it).

For brown algae/diatoms, they're typical in a new tank and will usually go away in time.

Good algae eaters are ottos (but they're not apt to eat prepared foods), bristlenose plecs, SIAMESE algae eaters, american flag fish, and some shrimp species. Although not all of them eat all algae.

 

[XPANDA]

About 3 months after setting up my tank, a lot of algae started growing on the rocks, glass and plants. I put 2 moss ball plants in and a bamboo shrimp and now there is very little growing. i can highly recommend both of these! the moss balls are actually algae and will compete with other algae for nutrients and win!