Brown Algae woes

[Lady Hobbs]

I hate algae with a passion. My tank will look just great but 5 days after putting in a couple plants here comes the algae. Drives me nuts.

[jeffs99dime]

hobbs. check the phosphate levels in your water. i think you will find that they are very high, mine used to be like that too. i also used to have very hard water. this was all before i got the r.o. unit. you could use phosphate remover in any tanks without live plants. that's what i used to do. i find that decreasing the amount of light the tank receives each day will also help.

[hungryhound]

adding to Jeffs comments. I had horrible problems with algae too until I lowered my photoperiod and got my CO2 system working properly.

You might want to check those as well.

[sergo]

hobbs are you still running co2? there has to be some underlyng problem somewhere.

[Lady Hobbs]

Thanks everyone. I have hard water and I have to agree it's probably loaded with phosphates. But I'm also sure I have my lights on too long each day.

[gm72]

Brown algae is usually a low light problem (or as we may suspect here, a high phosphate problem).

[Lady Hobbs]

Guess I will need to get rid of the phosphates. Guess it wouldn't hurt to get rid of it in all my tanks, unplanted, as well?

[gm72]

I'd only worry about it if it is causing a problem.

[Lady Hobbs]

OK. Then I need to ask another question. I have hard water as well. If I can get a phosphate remover, that will help soften the water as well? Or not? I was wondering about running phosphate remover in all my tanks and then adding peat pellets to my angel tank. Would this make the water too soft you think? And would I need both?

The phosphate reducers are expensive!

[Algenco]

the plants should lower the phosphate levels, could it be diatoms? Get some Oto's. they should take care of it

[Chrona]

For brown algae, the best way to limit it's growth without affecting plant growth is to:

1) Increase light so plants can better compete with it

2) Remove silicates from the tank (via silicate sponge)

3) Otos

4) Let it eat itself to death while removing as much as you can manually. Course this doesn't work if your tap contains large amounts of silicates.

[Lady Hobbs]

Hi Chrona. Nice to see you.

I was going to order a phosphate tester but do I need a silica tester too? Or are they the same thing?

OK. I did an edit to come back to say that I see most of the sponges remove both phosphates and silicates. Guess it's time to add to my shopping list.

thanks all

[Chrona]

Gotten back onto the forums, though I won't be on nearly as much, hehe.

See if your LFS can test the silicate content of your tap water first. If it's high, then the cost of using silicate sponges will be pretty big after a while and you may be better off just increasing the light or getting otto's. I'm sure brown algae uses phosphates as well, but it's mainly known for it's need for silicates, which is why treatments usually include limiting the stuff.

[Lady Hobbs]

OK. But will have to get a tester myself since I have no LFS within an hours drive.

[marek313]

I think from now on I'm going to make all my posts the same. Basically its :

Listen to what Chrona says :ezpi_wink1:

More light kills brown algae quickly which most of the time only shows up in newly established tanks and then disapears anyway.

Test for phosphates and silicates.
I have high phosphates in my tap so I dont dose any so make sure your tap isnt loaded with phosphates and silicates. If it is the I guess RO unit might be the way to go instead of those expensive phophate guard or silicate sponges.

Ottos are great for brown diatoms as well.

Well that is exactly what Chrona said. So like I said before. listen to Chrona :19: