brown alege development

[bill200]

hi

A few days ago I found some brown algae growing on one of my leaves on my amazonian sword. When I woke up I found more algae growing on my sword and on a large white rock I use to tie java fern to. Anyways can anyone help me before I have an extremly large mess on my hands. I already have my lights on for about 12 hours a day and the highest I've seen my nirate levels is about 20 ppm. Can anyone help?

Thnx

 

[bill200]

it's not excaltly "Brown Algae" but it is brown-like

 

[Avalon]

If it's brown, slimy algae it's diatom algae. This could be caused by the high nitrates. Keep them under 10 ppm's. I suggest you change your tank water a bit more often. There are two ways to get rid of nitrates: 1. lots of plants, 2. water changes.
To get rid of the algae, get some ottocinclus catfish. Min. = 1 per 5 gallons, max. = 1 per 10 gallons.

 

[clothahump]

Brown Diatoms (Not Algae) usually grows due to insufficient lighting, increase overall output but not duration and it should go away on its own.