Rio 200 water pump keeps getting clogged every few days

[Zizu]

I have a little Rio 200 water pump which I use to direct a flow of water over an emergent piece of fake driftwood in my paludarium. It's getting pretty annoying, because it becomes clogged with strands of brownish algae every few days and has to be turned off and removed while I clean out the vinyl tubing and 90 degree plastic angles attached to it, plus clean its impeller. It's not located very close to any plants and is suspended about an inch above the substrate. Is there anything I can do to increase the interval of good operation before it goes to a little dribble again? Thanks.

 

[NannaLou]

I would think the solution is to remove and prevent the brown algae then it won’t get into the pump. Do you know what type of algae it is, or if it has any specific causes..?

 

[Zizu]

I don't see any brown strands of algae anywhere in the tank (4.5" of water) except forming within the Rio 200 water pump. I reamed it out 2 days ago, in the 90 degree barbed plastic tubes and took the pump apart to clean the impeller, its tunnel, etc. Now, only 3 days later, the flow from the "waterfall" is very reduced AGAIN.

 

[NannaLou]

I’m a real newbie so might be asking stupid questions, so please forgive me… Whats living in the tank? Is it definitely algae or a build up of “gunk” (waste) of some kind..?

 

[Zizu]

There are 3 tiny otocinclus catfish and 4 tiny sparkling gouramis. There are about 6 or 7 Anubias nana plants, 2 Cryptocoryne wenditii plants, a hunk of Java moss and a couple of strands of elodea. There is a Fluval U2 submerged filter on the opposite side of the tank from the Rio 200 pump. There is a single fluorescent bulb overhead. I am always spot removing waste, dead plant matter, etc. with a turkey baster and I don't overfeed the fish. It is definitely some sort of brownish algae, not just waste.