Brown algae ...

[Kamdavid]

On my sand substrate I’ve had brown algae growing. Two weeks ago I stirred up the sand and it looked better. Now it’s growing again. How can I stop this ? The sand I thought was going to be easier to care for after I switched from gravel but it’s not looking as clean anymore. Is it the lighting ? I have a Finnex 24/7 planted plus light. I let it run the 24/7 cycle.

 

[Byron]

First, what is the algae? "Brown algae" is to some people diatoms, to others black brush/beard. If it easily rubs off with your fingers, it is diatoms; if not, black brush.

 

[Kamdavid]

First, what is the algae? "Brown algae" is to some people diatoms, to others black brush/beard. If it easily rubs off with your fingers, it is diatoms; if not, black brush.

Maybe I thought it was called brown algae. Maybe it’s called black algae. Not sure. I’ll take a picture. And of the algae on the driftwood.

 

[FishGuest5123]

That looks like hair algae just starting off to me but could be wrong. Guess you know that I hate sand. Just had to say it again. lol.

 

[Kamdavid]

That looks like hair algae just starting off to me but could be wrong. Guess you know that I hate sand. Just had to say it again. lol.

All I can do with the sand is just move it around right ?

 

[FishGuest5123]

I got scolded for stirring mine around. I now have Malaysian trumpet snails that dig in it for me. You can draw a knife through it to prevent anaerobic pockets when cleaning your tank. I only have sand in one tank for my cories.
.

 

[Essjay]

Too much light will encourage algae. In the 24/7 cycle, how long is each part of the cycle on for?


By the way, that looks like a Java fern behind the yellow platy in the first pic. This should not be planted in the substrate. It has a rhizome, the leaves come out of one side and the thin roots from the opposite side. This rhizome will rot if it's buried in the substrate. For this reason, Java fern is usually grown attached to decor.

 

[Byron]

There are a few things to note here. First is, you are dealing with different algae issues. The algae growing on the decor (wood or rock, can't tell but doesn't matter) is natural and to be expected, and you are never going to remove it completely. Algae needs nutrients (organics) and light, and in any aquarium these are plentiful. It is when the algae begins to spread on plants that you need to do something, and that leads me to the second issue, the black brush algae showing on the Java Fern leaves.

This algae on the JF is caused by too much light (intensity or duration or both). Java Ferns are low light plants and they will always fare better under floating plants. Depending upon the light, floating plants might solve your problem. The light mentioned is intense for plants, so the duration could be reduced along with floating plants. Remember than higher plants need the more intense light to photosynthesis and use the nutrients, disadvantaging algae, but algae is not as fussy and any light including the less intense periods in the light cycle can benefit algae. In other words, keep the light period reduced. There are various ways to adjust this with the light mentioned.

Third issue is the algae on the sand. You have white sand which reflects light and encourages this more than a darker tone. I never see this in my tanks because the sand is a darkish grey and the light is moderate to begin with, and my tanks always have a good layer of floating plants. The floating plants will help with this too, as will reducing the duration.