Algae & sisters house

[niki090909]

My sister is having a major brown algae problem.

I can't figure out what the problem is. Theres no direct sunlight, her tank isn't over stocked, she does regular water changes, and her lights have been off for 3 days.

So its not too much lighting because the algae came back without the lights. We tested her water and all the tests came out fine.

I thought i read somewhere that phosphates (sp?) can have something to do with it?

Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks Niki

 

[Jovian]

I think that brown algae is from not enough light...and green is from too much. Someone correct me if im wrong though.

~Jovian~

 

[Paul]

Does she have some sort of algae eater?

 

[SoulFish]

probably low light and high nutrients wouldnt call it too little light though unless she has live plants

 

[RedTurquoise]

I agree with the above plus otos love brown algae!

 

[niki090909]

well id she keeps her lights on its grows and if the lights are off it grows... hmmm she does have an algae eater, i'll tell her she should get one.
As far as too high nutrients, what kind of nutrients?

 

[RedTurquoise]

Algae grows pretty much under any conditions. Brown algae usually will disappear with more lighting intenisty. Nitrate is a nutrient. How long are the lights on during the day?

 

[niki090909]

the lights were on for over 12 hours, i thought this was the problems, so she cleaned her tank decorations and glass, did a water change and kept the lights off for about 4 days now. Its still growing back.

how many ppm should the nitrate be to not grow tons of algae?