Diatom Growth In Fresh Water

[McInnis]

I've had a 55 gallon aquarium for a long time. I just moved though, and had to take it down then set it up with all new plants and fish. I have only three small fancy goldfish, a couple of sword plants, some anacharis and java fern. It's been going for a couple of months now.

The plants and fish are growing well, but I'm seeing a problem I never had before. The sides of the tank, and especially the leaves of the plants, are covered with a soft brown growth (diatoms?). It looks a lot like the stuff I've seen in saltwater tanks before, but never in freshwater. In this same aquarium, before I moved, I was always scraping green algae from the walls, but I don't see any of it at all. Just the brown stuff.

Just after I set the tank up I replaced the flourescent tubes (two 24" tubes + one 18" - they're good quality tubes I bought from a pet shop that are for aquarium use). I vacuum the gravel change out about 5 gallons every week.

Anyone know why this is happening?

 

[Dave Spencer]

I am a bit new to keeping aquariums, so I couldn`t honestly pin point the cause, but I am pretty sure buying a few Otocinclus would clear away the brown algae.

 

[Mako Man111]

I've had a 55 gallon aquarium for a long time. I just moved though, and had to take it down then set it up with all new plants and fish. I have only three small fancy goldfish, a couple of sword plants, some anacharis and java fern. It's been going for a couple of months now.

The plants and fish are growing well, but I'm seeing a problem I never had before. The sides of the tank, and especially the leaves of the plants, are covered with a soft brown growth (diatoms?). It looks a lot like the stuff I've seen in saltwater tanks before, but never in freshwater. In this same aquarium, before I moved, I was always scraping green algae from the walls, but I don't see any of it at all. Just the brown stuff.

Just after I set the tank up I replaced the flourescent tubes (two 24" tubes + one 18" - they're good quality tubes I bought from a pet shop that are for aquarium use). I vacuum the gravel change out about 5 gallons every week.

Anyone know why this is happening?

I have the exact same problem as you in my 20 gal. It used to be planted and I never had a problem, but I took it down and set it up again later and now I have a brown algae problem. I did take my pleco out of my 105 for a night and he cleared the tank and nearly every leaf of algae, but it came back quickly.

 

[McInnis]

I went to the local pet shop and started to buy a couple of Otocinclus, but after talking to the lady who owns it, I changed my mind. She said they wouldn't touch the brown stuff, and would starve if I didn't have some green algae. Is your experience different?

 

[Mako Man111]

I went to the local pet shop and started to buy a couple of Otocinclus, but after talking to the lady who owns it, I changed my mind. She said they wouldn't touch the brown stuff, and would starve if I didn't have some green algae. Is your experience different?

Actually they love the brown stuff better than the green stuff, so ottos are good for brown algae.

 

[wei0204]

I have an oto, I am quite new to this fish. I have done some reading and talked to the LFS's owner about oto and they said this fish loves brown algae instead of the green one. But the one I have it helps to clear the brown algae and some of the green on stone too. But they don't help in cleaning the green algae on the aquarium glass, hair algae neither.

 

[three-fingers]

I am a bit new to keeping aquariums, so I couldn`t honestly pin point the cause, but I am pretty sure buying a few Otocinclus would clear away the brown algae.

Be careful though, the goldfish will eat the otos. Goldfish will eat anything that will go in their mouths as you probably know.

 

[Glod]

I added Otocinclus to my tank yesterday. There were some diatoms on the plants and the wood. Went downstairs for an hour and when I came back 80% of the algae was gone. Yep, an hour... dilligent little guys they are

 

[McInnis]

I added Otocinclus to my tank yesterday. There were some diatoms on the plants and the wood. Went downstairs for an hour and when I came back 80% of the algae was gone. Yep, an hour... dilligent little guys they are

OK, you guys convinced me. I'm gonna give them a try. I keep the tank at 72 deg. F for the goldfish, it that warm enough for the ottos? Also, how many should I get for 55 gallons?