how to get rid of brown algea "diatoms"

fish_chic

fish_chic

Large Fish
#1
Oct 30, 2006
386
0
0
florida
#1
okay i have have brown algea forever a good couple of weeks. i am sick and tired of scrubing it off every week when i do wcs. so i was wondering if there is a way of getting rid of it. i dont want to mask the problem with getting a few ottos (plus i just dont' want them). i don't think that i am overfeeding my fish and my lights are only on for about 10 to 12 yrs. so i was wondering is there any safe chemicals that i could use or any techinques to getting rid of the algea.

oh and my water parameters are great so i know it is not a result of high nitrates. maybe my tap water?
 

Pure

Pure

Elite Fish
#2
Nov 1, 2005
3,216
7
0
Jacksonville, FL
#2
Brown Algae or "diatoms" is cause by several reasons. Phosphates and silicates are normally the culprits in SW tanks. In FW tanks it is also caused by low lighting levels. Your best bet for continued control of it is to get a couple of BNs to eat it. Or start using RO water and up your lighting.
 

fish_chic

fish_chic

Large Fish
#3
Oct 30, 2006
386
0
0
florida
#3
okay are BN'S bristlenose plecos? and you mean by low lighting that i need to get a new light bc the one i have is old and has lost alot of its juice. the lights that i have came with the tank when i got so i don't know how old they are. and if i get BN'S how many can i get with my stocking of bottom feeders now in my 90 gal. and how big do they get and where is a good site where i can research the different species of BN'S
 

fish_chic

fish_chic

Large Fish
#5
Oct 30, 2006
386
0
0
florida
#5
tropicalfish said:
diatom algae is quite common in many new tanks.. You could get a higher intensity light....
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my tank isnt' new. and yes i could get a higher intensity light but to me it doesn't look like it is dull, but what do i know. i could call the old owner and find out.
 

Grumpy_Marine

Grumpy_Marine

Large Fish
#7
Oct 18, 2006
741
2
0
Oceanside California
#7
fish_chic said:
i dont want to mask the problem with getting a few ottos (plus i just dont' want them).
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Ok i have had the same thing in my tank, i bought three oto's and the next day 90 percent of the brown algae was gone, now there is no trace of it anywhere in tank. But if you don't want oto's then BN would do the trick.

How many watts do you have now with lights? i have 130 watts for 29 gallons... super bright but haven't had a problem with algae since.

I had problem but followed the guidance from lonewolf and doc and got it solved quickly. I had to turn off lights and stop feeding for three days, now the water is crystal clear and things are back to normal. I was overfeeding my fish, but have learned now.

Is your tank live plants? did you just plant recently? i was told diatoms will go away on their own as it is natural reaction to freshly planted tanks. good luck with the daitoms as i know they can be unsightly.
 

Big Vine

Big Vine

Elite Fish
#10
Feb 7, 2006
3,895
9
0
47
Florida
#10
The only time I have ever had what people seem to be describing as "brown algae" is when I was overfeeding. Once I cut back feeding and kept up with water-changes, the brown stuff disappeared.

Big Vine
 

Lonewolfblue

Lonewolfblue

Superstar Fish
#11
Jun 5, 2006
1,283
8
0
58
Wenatchee, WA
www.nw-wolf.com
#11
Pure said:
Brown Algae or "diatoms" is cause by several reasons. Phosphates and silicates are normally the culprits in SW tanks. In FW tanks it is also caused by low lighting levels. Your best bet for continued control of it is to get a couple of BNs to eat it. Or start using RO water and up your lighting.
Click to expand...
BN's won't touch it. At least mine don't, and I have 3 of them. It's Otos that do wonders with diatoms. They make quick work of diatoms.
 

fish_chic

fish_chic

Large Fish
#12
Oct 30, 2006
386
0
0
florida
#12
Grumpy_Marine said:
Ok i have had the same thing in my tank, i bought three oto's and the next day 90 percent of the brown algae was gone, now there is no trace of it anywhere in tank. But if you don't want oto's then BN would do the trick.

How many watts do you have now with lights? i have 130 watts for 29 gallons... super bright but haven't had a problem with algae since.

I had problem but followed the guidance from lonewolf and doc and got it solved quickly. I had to turn off lights and stop feeding for three days, now the water is crystal clear and things are back to normal. I was overfeeding my fish, but have learned now.

Is your tank live plants? did you just plant recently? i was told diatoms will go away on their own as it is natural reaction to freshly planted tanks. good luck with the daitoms as i know they can be unsightly.
Click to expand...
okay so did you turn your lights off for 3 days and stop feeding then got higher wattage lights for your tank then everything was okay?
 

Lonewolfblue

Lonewolfblue

Superstar Fish
#13
Jun 5, 2006
1,283
8
0
58
Wenatchee, WA
www.nw-wolf.com
#13
The higher wattage and turning off the lights won't affect Diatoms much at all. But it does with other algae-related issues. The Otos will clean them up. Diatoms are normal in all new tanks, planted or not. If you want to get rid of the diatoms, get some Otos. For a 29G, I recommend 3-4, in a 55G I recommend 7-8, and a 75G up to 10. But remember, once everything is clean, you will need to suppliment with algae wafers, vegi wafers, vegi flake, etc.

Also, Otos aren't masking any problems. Diatoms are normal, and will go away on their own. May take a few days to a few weeks, but you will see them come, then go. Also, if you are wiping them off, you are making the time-span longer, as when you wipe them off, they will spread to other areas and grow back again, then will disappear. So it's best for diatoms to either get otos, or let it take it's course and disappear on their own.
 

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Grumpy_Marine

Grumpy_Marine

Large Fish
#18
Oct 18, 2006
741
2
0
Oceanside California
#18
Lotus said:
I'd get a big bag of patience, you need it in fishkeeping anyway :)
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I like that answer it is great.

Chick... no i had the 130 watts up and running for three days, started seeing cloudy water and algae both green and brown. I bought otos, they removed the brown algae. I turned lights off and did not feed fish for three days, when i turned the lights on my water was clear and the green algae was gone. I now only feed my fish every other day and very small amounts.

The advice of patience is the best i can offer, as you stated your tank is not new, does that mean you got it off someone that had it up and running? Or has it been established in your home for some time running well till now?

I was worried bout them when the diatoms appeared but i put faith in LWB and the guidance i received paid in full, i no longer have any problems with diatoms.
 

fish_chic

fish_chic

Large Fish
#19
Oct 30, 2006
386
0
0
florida
#19
okay i will get some ottos for my tank. i just need to know how many of the to get. the diatom problem is in my 90 gal tank, and i have a few bottom feeders know so i don't want to over stock the bottom of the tank.

grumpy_marine- to answer your question about the establishment of my tank is that it was given to be already established (we moved and sent it up that day) and i have had it for about 3 months now.
 

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