Brown Algae Everywhere with pool filter sand
How can I get rid of this stuff. It’s on my silk plants, the glass, I mean every where. I scrape it off, do a gravel change and it comes right back. Its ugly please help. What am I doing wrong.
My lights are on from 8 am to 4 pm. How do I get rid of this stuff. I believe its algae. Its brown and very ugly. How do I get it off my plastic plants? I have pool filter sand. Is that a problem?
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4 Responses to “Brown Algae Everywhere with pool filter sand”
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Why the hell are you using pool filter sand?
Anyway no one can answer you until we have more information. We need
-Tank size
-Tank inhabitants
-Water parameters (ammonia, nitrate and nitrite)
-Heater?
-Filter?
and How long has the tank been set up?
Also do you have any live plants?
Actually, the sand is a problem. Its classified as silica sand, and silica is what brown algae makes their skeleton out of. Brown algae is a type of diatom. You need to change that substrate.
Normally, brown algae is a natural occurence that will run itself out in time. It’s usually blooms in newly set up tanks that are under a year old, and will give way to other algaes as the tanks establishment progresses. However, yours is probably worse because of the silica sand.
Algae blooms are caused by high levels of light and nutrients, so in addition to doing more water changes and getting a different substrate, I recommend leaving your light off for awhile if you dont house any live plants. The flourescent lighting is really more for viewing, and leaving it off will not harm the fish.
Edit: Rob, plecos DO NOT eat brown algae! only green!
simple,
get a pleco to clean the algae. they love brown algae.
leave your light on for longer 12 hours is the best it puts the least stress on the fish
and less algae grows.
Brown Algae (diatoms)
are more likely to appear in low-light aquariums and new setups, where nitrogen (N) is low and phosphate (P) level is high, with excess silicate (SiO2). It’s been known that strong lights make this algae go away, but they might still be seen on lower, shadowed, plant leaves (Bacopa australis, Cardamine lyrata). It can also be found on aquarium glass, gravel and decoration. It can be easily removed manually, since it has a soft/slimy structure. Siamese Algae Eaters, Otos (this catfish relishes this type of algae) and Snails can easily keep this algae in low numbers. Healthy plants can prevent this algae from over taking the tank.
edit: I had a fair bit of brown algae in a tank that disappeared when I got stronger lights…the only problem was 8 different types of green algae appeared instead