Brown algae

ted1

Have an outbreak of brown algae, any idea who to eliminate it?

penev10

ted1 wrote: »

Have an outbreak of brown algae, any idea who to eliminate it?

Nerite snails would be my solution

BigAl81

More frequent water changes to keep nitrates down, and less time with the lights on to prevent growth helps for me!

ted1

Thanks , the kids were leaving the light on from the morning 7am to night 20:30

Well do a 50% change tomorrow, wash the gravel etc and keep the light off.

With regards water changes is there a way of doing it without scarring the fish? I think the last few times they got a fright as I shook the gravel cleaner yoke while getting a flow

Nick Park

ted1 wrote: »

Thanks , the kids were leaving the light on from the morning 7am to night 20:30

Well do a 50% change tomorrow, wash the gravel etc and keep the light off.

With regards water changes is there a way of doing it without scarring the fish? I think the last few times they got a fright as I shook the gravel cleaner yoke while getting a flow

What kind of fish are you talking? My fish have got used to the gravel cleaner and swim so close to it that I get worried I'll suck them up.

I used to have huge problems in one of my tanks with brown algae & cloudy water. The following measures seem to have fixed it:

1. Regular water changes. I change 20% three times a week.

2. Over filtration. I have two filters running on a 60 litre tank. One filter is advertised as suitable for 40-60 litres, the other for 100 litres.

3. A couple of pothos plants (also called Devil's Ivy, available online from Johnstown Garden Centre). The leaves hang out the back & side of the tank, providing a bit of greenery, and the roots dangle down into the water. the plants suck up nitrates (main ingredient in fertiliser) and release oxygen.

4. My fluorescent tube malfunctioned, so I bought an LED light strip for €25 on adverts.ie You can dim the lights in evenings etc, or change colours.

5. I increased the water movement and oxygenation. One of my filters has a spray bar, and I added an air pump and a cheap little wave maker. The wave maker also made the tank much more interesting as the fish love to swim in its current and let themselves be carried along.

No more algae problems, crystal clear water & happy fish.

HONKEY TONK

Easy Life Algexit will also do the trick

Sleepy

The best way to get rid of algae is to plant the tank ime.

ted1

Thanks all, gave the gravel, ornaments and plastic plants a rinse , changed about 50% of the water and told the kids to keep the light off when they are not there.
I lost a tetra somewhere along the way. He was the smallest of the group. Maybe he was already dead and went out with some if the gravel or was eaten.

I’ll plant , plants shortly.

HONKEY TONK

you should get some Algae eaters also like Neocaridina Shrimp, Siamese Algae Eater or Pleco