Brown algae

[Byron]

As I suspected, here is black brush algae there (the "fuzz." Caused by n imbalance of light and nutrients. I would reduce the light period (and in one continuous period, rainstorms not withstanding!). May have to jig the ferts if any are used. Sorry I can't go into more detail now, have to leave for cancer treatments, will try to look in later today or tomorrow.

 

[AbbeysDad]

I never put much stock in the mid day darkness approach and 11 hours overall may just be too much light. I think I might go dark for 2-3 days and/or cut back to 6 hours of light. In the meantime, for any plants that can be removed, I'd spray with H202 (hydrogen peroxide).
Then again, with a new light, a 'shotgun' approach may or may not be the best answer.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

As I suspected, here is black brush algae there (the "fuzz." Caused by n imbalance of light and nutrients. I would reduce the light period (and in one continuous period, rainstorms not withstanding!). May have to jig the ferts if any are used. Sorry I can't go into more detail now, have to leave for cancer treatments, will try to look in later today or tomorrow.

OK, I'll give it a shot. Not dosing any ferts. The lights I have are much dimmer than the one I had before...could that be the problem?

 

[AbbeysDad]

OK, I'll give it a shot. Not dosing any ferts. The lights I have are much dimmer than the one I had before...could that be the problem?

I'm no expert (and Byron has had far more experience and success with plants)... but as a lower form of plant life, algae may do better than many plants in lower light conditions. I'm also wondering if a modest addition of aquatic ferts might help plants out compete the algae?

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I'm no expert (and Byron has had far more experience and success with plants)... but as a lower form of plant life, algae may do better than many plants in lower light conditions. I'm also wondering if a modest addition of aquatic ferts might help plants out compete the algae?

That's what I'm wondering. I've had lots of green algae over the years, but I've never dealt with this brown gunk.

 

[Byron]

All problem algae like this is caused by a light/nutrient imbalance, and resolution is only possible by restoring (or establishing) the balance. Algae can manage with any light, so it has an advantage over higher plants that are much more selective.

Eleven hours of light is a lot, my tanks run at 7 hours and once I got down to this number some four years ago, problem algae has never appeared again. Summer increased daylight (intensity and duration) can throw this balance out, so keep that in mind too.

The sword plants inn the photos will greatly benefit with substrate tabs, and I recommend Flourish Tabs because not only do they have all nutrients, they do not release them into the upper water column so this thwarts algae more. You may or may not need a liquid comprehensive. Nutrients also come from fish feeding and water changes. But I would not have more than 7-8 hours of tank light (in each 24-hour period) given what you've mentioned.

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

All problem algae like this is caused by a light/nutrient imbalance, and resolution is only possible by restoring (or establishing) the balance. Algae can manage with any light, so it has an advantage over higher plants that are much more selective.

Eleven hours of light is a lot, my tanks run at 7 hours and once I got down to this number some four years ago, problem algae has never appeared again. Summer increased daylight (intensity and duration) can throw this balance out, so keep that in mind too.

The sword plants inn the photos will greatly benefit with substrate tabs, and I recommend Flourish Tabs because not only do they have all nutrients, they do not release them into the upper water column so this thwarts algae more. You may or may not need a liquid comprehensive. Nutrients also come from fish feeding and water changes. But I would not have more than 7-8 hours of tank light (in each 24-hour period) given what you've mentioned.

Besides duration, some light spectra are more conducive to algae growth than others. If you can adjust the colours your light sends out...

 

[itiwhetu]

The other thing you could consider is tank temperature, the lower the temperature the higher the oxygen content. Algae doesn't like oxygen.