Brown Algae

[Fishstix]

I think it may be time to get an algae eater. My plants and rocks are starting to get Brown Algae. What would be a good algae eater to get and how many? Take a look at my sig to see what i have now and what would go well with them. Thanks.

 

[impur]

Get 3 otos. Would be excellent in that tank.

 

[FMZ]

Or you can get a Bristlenose pleco


I bought one and it cleaned my 30 Gallon of brown algae overnight

 

[silent_one]

Some otos sound good to me too, I use them. Although I never have used a bristlenose pelco it sounds like it works really good too. I would think either chioce would be fine.

 

[gadazobe]

Brown algae is most probably diatoms from too much protein in the water (from over feeding) and not enough light. It happens mainly in new tanks and has a tendency to right itself after a few weeks. There aren't many fish that eat this and I know that my bristlenose wouldn't touch it.

 

[fishrock]

i also heard that brown algea is a sign of high nitrites. this would kill pleco and oto. i also heard that plecos wont eat the brown algea. dont know this from experiance though.

 

[impur]

i also heard that brown algea is a sign of high nitrites. this would kill pleco and oto.

If that were true, wouldn't all the fish die?

 

[Grams]

no they because fish having different living water levels. it may not be good for all fish but maybe alittle worse to others

and otos become aggressive little buggers

 

[Fishstix]

i also heard that brown algea is a sign of high nitrites. this would kill pleco and oto. i also heard that plecos wont eat the brown algea. dont know this from experiance though.

My Nitrites are at 0.

 

[gadazobe]

I don't think that brown algae is a sign of nitrites, possibly nitrates, but I'm not too sure about that.

 

[impur]

no they because fish having different living water levels. it may not be good for all fish but maybe alittle worse to others

and otos become aggressive little buggers

So what you are saying is that some fish live in high nitrites and some don't? Sorry i don't agree with your statement. Nitrites are deadly to ALL fish. There are no fish that have an immunity to high nitrites.

 

[impur]

Brown algae is usually caused by excess silicates & nitrates, inadequate light, or low oxygen levels.

Brown algae is a common occurrence in a newly set up aquarium. It is generally caused by too little light, an excess of silicates, an abundance of nutrients, and too little oxygen. Silicates can build up through tap water that is high in silicic acid, and silicates that leech from some types of substrates.

Cure:
Wipe off surfaces & vacuum gravel well

Use silicate adsorbing resin in the filter

Increase the lighting

Stock a plecostomus or several otocinclus

This type of algae does not adhere strongly to the tank surfaces, and is easily wiped away. Vacuuming the gravel with a siphon will quickly remove coatings from the substrate. Increasing the lighting will inhibit regrowth of brown algae. As a new tank matures brown algae is often eliminated naturally by plants and green algae competing for nutrients.

Some suckermouth catfish will readily eat brown algae, most notably plecostomus and otocinclus. If the problem is due to high silicates in the water, and the brown algae persists, a special silicate absorbing resin can be used in the filter.

Prevention:
Use of RO water

Regular water changes

Regular aquarium cleaning

Good lighting

As with any algae, keeping the tank clean and performing regular water changes is one of the best preventative measures. Unfortunately it is still possible to get algae in spite of regular maintenance, especially in a newly established aquarium. Prompt attention to sudden algae growth will prevent more serious problems.

 

[Fishstix]

Thanks but what is RO water???

 

[impur]

Reverse Osmosis. There are RO units you hook up to your tap to filter out total disolved solids, phosphates, and other nastyness that is in there. More or less its pure water.