Brown Algae and Nitrite

[DESTeacher]

I have a 10 gallon tank with 5 long-finned blue danios in my classroom.

I have a concern regarding a recent bloom in brown algae. Is this normal? It has begun to cover the silk plants, rocks, and gravel, as well as the sides of the tank.

This is a record of the information that I have recorded since I set the tank up.

08/12/04 Set up 10 gallon tank with gravel, “river” rocks, artificial plants, 50w heater,
2-10w floures bulbs in hood, and Penguin Mini BioWheel filter (100 gph).

08/21/04 Added five long-finned blue danios.

08/22/04 Tested Water (Ammonia = 0 ppm, Nitrite = 2.0 ppm, Nitrate = 5.0 ppm)
5% Water Change

08/23/04 Tested Water (Ammonia = 0 ppm, Nitrite = 2.0 ppm, Nitrate = 10.0 ppm)
10% Water Change

08/24/04 Tested Water (Ammonia = 0 ppm, Nitrite = 2.0 ppm, Nitrate = 10.0 ppm)
10% Water Change

08/25/04 Tested Water (Ammonia = 0 ppm, Nitrite = 2.0 ppm, Nitrate = 10.0 ppm)
10% Water Change

08/29/04 20% Water Change

09/01/04 Tested Water (Ammonia = 0 ppm, Nitrite = 2.0 ppm, Nitrate = 20.0 ppm)

09/06/04 Tested Water (Ammonia = 0 ppm, Nitrite = 2.0 ppm, Nitrate = 40.0 ppm)
20% Water Change

09/12/04 Tested Water (Ammonia = 0 ppm, Nitrite = 2.0 ppm, Nitrate = 20.0 ppm)
20% Water Change

09/15/04 observe brown algae growing on artificial plants

09/16/04 observe increase in brown algae growing on artificial plants
observe brown algae growing on rocks and side of tank

09/17/04 Tested Water (Ammonia = 0 ppm, Nitrite = 2.0 ppm, Nitrate = 40.0 ppm)

09/26/04 observe increase in brown algae growing on artificial plants
observe brown algae growing on rocks and side of tank
Tested Water (Ammonia = 0 ppm, Nitrite = 2.0 ppm, Nitrate = 10.0 ppm)
20% Water Change

I was also concerned about the consistent readings of Nitrites, so I recently tested the Fresh Water (tap) that I have been adding when changing water (Ammonia = 1.0 ppm, Nitrite = 0 ppm, Nitrate = 0 ppm). Would the ammonia in the tap water from the water changes be responsible for keeping the nitrite levels consistently at 2.0 ppm?

Thank you for your help.

DESTeacher

 

[shadow]

As far as the algae is concerned, it's perfectly normal to have it in your tank. How many hours do you have the lights turned on a day? I believe that in order to decrease the algae, you need to decrease the amt of light on the tank.

With the nitrites, it is a possibility that the ammonia that you are adding is responsible. If it doesn't affect the fish, I probably wouldn't worry about it too much. Just keep up with the water changes every week.

 

[black angel]

i think brown algae is formed when not enough light is getting in to the tank. to get green algae you need roughly 10 hours of direct light a day,from an overhead light.
brown algae also happens in new aquariums that havent cycled yet.
you cant get rid of the algae unless you either get a loach or similar to eat it or you get a magnet algae scraper to manually remove it.
dont know enough about water chemistry to help you with the nitrite problem. you can get bacteria in a bottle which will help with the cycling of the tank and maybe it will kick start your tank for you.
keep doing the weekly water changes and keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite.
i dont think you need to be doing water changes each day. try to just keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite levels. if your ammonia gets above one then do a small water change. the ammonia in your tap water is a bit worrying, i have never known this before, but it may be helping to get your filter to establish itself. this in turn as the bacteria grows turns to nitrite which is also toxic to your fish, this in turn turns to nitrate as your filter matures and this is why we do water changes to keep it as low as possible.

when you test the water from your tap it should be done from a very clean container.

 

[skimpy]

Brown algae is nothing to worry about. It appeared in my tank during cycling, when the cycling had finished i eventually got green algae and no more brown.

I would say that your tank is not yet fully matured, but you are very close to it, your nitrAte are kicking in now so you must be just about there. (Perhaps you would be there under normal circumstances but because the the ammonia in tap it is delaying the completion of the cycle - not sure).

I have not experience ammonia in tap water so I do not know what the reaction would be, it shows 0 in your tank and I assume you are testing your tank before the water change not after. Therefore again I assume that the reaction your tank is having is to convert the ammonia from your tap water into nitrIte, which can happen quite quickly, but the conversion from NitrIte to NitrAte is slower. Hence a permant reading of 2.0ppm in NitrIte.

You need to find out from others (and I know there have been some on here) who have got ammonia in their tap water, what do they do??? I know some have used bottled water, or perhaps could rain water be the answer??? Do not know the answers but would certainly investigate further into these type of area's.

Logically if you continually add ammonia, it can not be good for the fish and with a reading of 2.0 ppm NitrIte all the way through you are lucky not to have lost any fish.

Wish I could be of further help (sorry), but I would also be interested to see other responses you get to this problem.

Good Luck, hope you find the answer soon.

EDIT p.s. The NitrAtes are ok but try to keep them below 20 with water changes. If this become hard to do try putting in some REAL plants rather than your plastic one's, they can help to reduce the nitrAtes.