brown algae

[erc2995]

hello all,
im my tank i have some algae but its appears to be brownish in color i have white gravel and then seems to have an organge tint from this algae
is this unusual? i was expecting it to be green
i picked up 2 small ottos today to see if they can tame it a little it seems to grow fairly fast
but can they or will they even eat brown algae

 

[achase]

Algae can come in various colors. Here is a site on the types of algae and solutions. There are tons of other sites about algae types and solution if you google it. There is another site I found helpful that someone suggested to me on this forum but I can't seem to find the link right now.

From what I know of otos they will eat but only certain types and they need to be added to an established tank (6 months or more that is properly cycled).

I'm having algae problems myself and I'm looking at purchasing 1 nerite snail to combat the algae in my 16 gallon.

 

[OrangeCones]

hello all,
im my tank i have some algae but its appears to be brownish in color i have white gravel and then seems to have an organge tint from this algae
is this unusual? i was expecting it to be green
i picked up 2 small ottos today to see if they can tame it a little it seems to grow fairly fast
but can they or will they even eat brown algae

Is this a new tank? If so, it is likely diatoms and will resolve itself with time. Otocinclus sp. generally do eat it.

 

[erc2995]

the tank has been cycled and housing fish since early march.... the algae came along around augest

 

[aakaakaak]

I got some mystery snails that demolished my algae. Not all mystery snails do this apparently. Ramshorn or MTS seem to be favored by some.

 

[Dylandrewsdad]

Is it stringy or just kind of a film? Have you been doing anything different? Different or more food or adding ferts? Is the tank planted?

 

[erc2995]

i dont feel ive done anything different the tank has some fake plants then it has a moss pad that was added about a month ago and it has one of them packaged bulbs u stick in the gravel and it sprouts
ive had a apple snail for a while now and it doesnt seem to car to much for the algae
oh, and yes the algae is like a film on the just about everything if i scrub it off with a tank cleaning spunge its back in about 3 weeks

 

[achase]

What are you water changes like (how often and how much)?

 

[betta lover22]

I am having the same problem- though, this a newer tank. I have found that I scrub it, and it is back in a couple of days. I am also getting spots of green algae.

 

[Newman]

normal stuff of a newly cycled tank. it may take more than 6 months for you to get over this, so dont fret, and mayeb you can include fish in your tank that can benefit by eating this type of algae. it is up to you, but the algae will stop growing after the tank becomes mature and stable.

 

[betta lover22]

Good to know. I am thinking of getting some oto's and have algae covered plants cleaned in the aquarium, and have them clean it. I know that sometimes the fish do not eat the algae, and sometimes they do. It depends on the fish and the type of algae.

 

[Newman]

otos will eat brown diatoms and green diatoms.

 

[aakaakaak]

Something I've been reading on the lighting forums is that you're not supposed to keep your lights on for more than 11 hours a day or there's a higher chance of getting algae. It could be true or it could be just old wives tales.

I've also heard CO2 could trigger it temporarily.

 

[OrangeCones]

Something I've been reading on the lighting forums is that you're not supposed to keep your lights on for more than 11 hours a day or there's a higher chance of getting algae. It could be true or it could be just old wives tales.

There is no magic time that lights being on will trigger algae.

I've also heard CO2 could trigger it temporarily.

Adding a CO2 source by itself will not trigger algae.

It is all a balance in food for plants (food being lights, fertilizers, and a carbon source ~either CO2 or a supplement like Flourish Excel). If you have enough ferts and carbon, you can have longer and higher light levels with no issues. I have 4 tanks that have 13.5 hours of light per day. If I LOWER the light period, the now EXCESS fertilizer and CO2 will trigger an algae outbreak. If I want to lower the light period, I'd have to turn the CO2 to a lower rate, and use less fertilizers. If you have too much of some and not enough of other foods for the plants, algae will take up the void.

If you do not have a planted tank and are plagued by algae, keep the fertilizer down (fish poo and uneaten rotting food) by doing consistant water changes with gravel vacuums, and keep the lights off except when you need them on.