Brown Algae

[GrullaQuarters]

My tank lately has been getting a LOT of brown colored algae. I do a w/c once per week, and lately a once a week cleaning doesn't keep it somewhat under control. The LFS tells me this algae means my tank is healthy. Ok, healthy but gross.....I don't mind doing the regular algae scrubbing, but is there a way I might reduce it somewhat? I have been told live plants will take care of that, but I just don't know if I want the hassle....I can barely keep my HOUSEPLANTS going! Would love some opinions....this stuff is just not appealing at all.

Thanks
PH- 8.0
AMmonia-0
Nitrites-0
Nitrates-40
Hardness-25
Alkalinity/Buffering-300
Temp 78-80

 

[thecichlidaddict]

Brown slime algae is not abnormal, but it doesn't signify a healthy tank either. It usually means an excess of nutrients in the water, typically in the form of nitrates, phostphates, and silicates. Overfeeding is the most common cause, undergravel filters in an older tank will do it, as well as overstocking and undermaintenance.

Sometimes these eliments are actually already in the tap water and no amount of water changes will help, in which case R/0 water is the only way to help it, but more often then not it's preventable.

 

[heresmike]

Is this a newly cycled tank? Brown algae is pretty common in a newly cycled tank, and often goes away over time. Another thought or two... how long do you have the light on each day? I find that when I cut back on the amount of light, the algae problem clears up. Also, direct sunlight will contribute to algae growth. HTH

 

[GrullaQuarters]

Hmmm, the LFS said it was a sign of a healthy tank....go figure!!

THe tank was done cycling around the beginning if January.

And if this is helpful, my standing tap water, same used that's in the tank, has a nitrate reading of 40....which is what my tank is at. The light is on about 12 hours per day. Is that too much?


What's R/O water? )

 

[Adrinal]

Yahoo.com

search ro water

 

[heresmike]

Yes, the high nitrates could definitely be contributing to the algae problem. Also IMO, 12 hours with the light on could also be contributing to the algae problem. I cut my "lights on" time down to 7 hours and the problem cleared up.

I would look into lowering the nitrates by adding some live plants if you don't already have some. Or as adrinal has suggested, look into reverse osmosis water.

Good luck!

 

[thecichlidaddict]

R/O = Reverse Osmosis

It's a high level filtration process that filters almost all of the impurities of the water. It also filters out most of the good stuff, so mixing it with your tap water is a good idea, should you choose to go this route.

I agree, 12 hours is longer then necessary, try cutting back to 8 or so.

 

[GrullaQuarters]

Thanks for the tips...I'll reduce the lighting hours per day and see if that helps, then move on to something else if it doesn't.

Thanks!