plebian
Fish Fanatic
Rule #1
Don’t believe everything you read on Internet forums (including this one). Finding the truth about a specific topic is like looking for a needle in a haystack. You need to do your research.
Rule #2
When researching a topic pay attention to the source. There is a lot of intentionally misleading marketing out there, the sole purpose of which is to take money from the unwary.
Rule #3
Use logic when evaluating the various claims you come across. Just because someone observes one event preceding another does not mean the preceding event caused the following event. Coincidence and causality are frequently confused.
Example
If you look for recommendations regarding the control of brown algae you will find the following:
Increase lighting
Decrease lighting
Decrease the nitrate level in the water
Simple logic should rule out one of the first two recommendations on that list. In fact, none of the options listed are useful.
Typically, the person asking for advice has a planted aquarium and is concerned because the plants are being covered by brown algae. Brown algae (diatoms, a class of microalgae) can survive under conditions that will not support plant life. Changing light and/or nitrate levels to a point that will eliminate brown algae will also eliminate the plants.
Aquatic ecosystems are extremely complex environments consisting of thousand of interrelated species of microorganisms. In a mature aquarium, with proper filtration, brown algae will eventually be controlled by this community of microorganisms. There is no need for the hobbyist to intervene. In fact, any intervention is likely to prolong the problem rather than relieve it.
Some people will recommend snails or algae-eating fish. While some snails and some fish do consume algae, most species prefer the food the hobbyist is feeding his fish. As long as there’s any leftover food, the algae will be ignored. In those rare cases where a species actually does prefer algae, introducing that species almost always introduces other issues.
The only solution I am aware of that actually works is adding hydrogen peroxide to the aquarium. Unfortunately, hydrogen peroxide is a temporary solution that also risks the health of other inhabitants.
In any case, the best course of action is almost always no action. Brown algae is rarely a problem in a mature, properly filtered and properly maintained aquarium. The real problem is simply a lack of patience on the part of the hobbyist, and an unwillingness to wait for the aquatic ecosystem to mature to the point where the problem resolves itself. The people making the recommendations noted above are simply confusing coincidence with causality.
Don’t believe everything you read on Internet forums (including this one). Finding the truth about a specific topic is like looking for a needle in a haystack. You need to do your research.
Rule #2
When researching a topic pay attention to the source. There is a lot of intentionally misleading marketing out there, the sole purpose of which is to take money from the unwary.
Rule #3
Use logic when evaluating the various claims you come across. Just because someone observes one event preceding another does not mean the preceding event caused the following event. Coincidence and causality are frequently confused.
Example
If you look for recommendations regarding the control of brown algae you will find the following:
Increase lighting
Decrease lighting
Decrease the nitrate level in the water
Simple logic should rule out one of the first two recommendations on that list. In fact, none of the options listed are useful.
Typically, the person asking for advice has a planted aquarium and is concerned because the plants are being covered by brown algae. Brown algae (diatoms, a class of microalgae) can survive under conditions that will not support plant life. Changing light and/or nitrate levels to a point that will eliminate brown algae will also eliminate the plants.
Aquatic ecosystems are extremely complex environments consisting of thousand of interrelated species of microorganisms. In a mature aquarium, with proper filtration, brown algae will eventually be controlled by this community of microorganisms. There is no need for the hobbyist to intervene. In fact, any intervention is likely to prolong the problem rather than relieve it.
Some people will recommend snails or algae-eating fish. While some snails and some fish do consume algae, most species prefer the food the hobbyist is feeding his fish. As long as there’s any leftover food, the algae will be ignored. In those rare cases where a species actually does prefer algae, introducing that species almost always introduces other issues.
The only solution I am aware of that actually works is adding hydrogen peroxide to the aquarium. Unfortunately, hydrogen peroxide is a temporary solution that also risks the health of other inhabitants.
In any case, the best course of action is almost always no action. Brown algae is rarely a problem in a mature, properly filtered and properly maintained aquarium. The real problem is simply a lack of patience on the part of the hobbyist, and an unwillingness to wait for the aquatic ecosystem to mature to the point where the problem resolves itself. The people making the recommendations noted above are simply confusing coincidence with causality.
