Brown Algae Eater

**OscarFan** · 02-11-2008, 11:17 PM

Their is brown algae stuff growing around my tank. Will a pleco eat it or do I need a diferent fish that will eat it.

**shockshockshad** · 02-11-2008, 11:32 PM

no fish that i know of eat brown algae.

**NickFish** · 02-11-2008, 11:34 PM

By brown algae do you mean diatoms?
Otos will eat diatoms but the best thing to do would be just to step up your water changes.

**jb300m01** · 02-11-2008, 11:39 PM

My highfin pleco does a wonderful job of keeping the brown algae down.

**Pr0eve** · 02-12-2008, 03:41 AM

the algae eaters I have eat it up fast, but a lot of people do not like them.

**OscarFan** · 02-12-2008, 03:42 AM

I need a fish that would go with an Oscar. So Otos wont last long enough to eat the algae. What are Diatoms.

**jbeining75** · 02-12-2008, 03:59 AM

use oto cats, keep lights on longer in the tank, and do more water changes.... it will rid the tank of the diatoms

**shockshockshad** · 02-12-2008, 11:38 AM

No otos with oscars.

**NickFish** · 02-12-2008, 07:44 PM

Diatoms is the proper name for the brown algae you mentioned.

Although I have never tried it, i would assume that if you bought them near adult size Ancistrus temminckii (bristlenose pleco) would be ok with an oscar. They do eat diatoms but not as much as otos.

Just up your water changes and the diatoms should disappear, slowly.

**gm72** · 02-12-2008, 08:11 PM

As always, what is needed here is treatment of the problem, not the symptom. The brown algae is appearing because of something being out of balance in the tank. Solve the problem so it won't reappear.