Plastic Plants Turning Brown

mhsrunner · 08-25-2006, 12:27 PM

One of my plastic plants has big broad "leaves". They have brown splotches that increase by the day. I figured some bacteria what with the warm water and all, but how would it be like that on an aquarium plant? what would it be/what should i do? thanks

**Damon** · 08-25-2006, 12:28 PM

Sounds like diatoms. Very common.

mhsrunner · 08-25-2006, 12:53 PM

Is it harmful to the fish and necessary to fix? What is it exactly? If it needs to be fixed do i just regulary wash it or what? Thanks for the quick reply.

**JustOneMore20** · 08-25-2006, 12:56 PM

It is brown diatom algae. You can take them out and rinse them and then rub off the algae. I used to use a toothbrush (buy a cheap one just for aquarium purposes) to scrup off the algae. You don't have to remove it as its not harmful to fish...I just didn't like the way it looked.

Mr Aquarium · 08-26-2006, 06:30 AM

Sounds like brown algae,
you may wanna try a small bristle nose or two, depending on your fish in tank now, tank size ect ect.

Durbkat · 08-26-2006, 07:42 PM

No need to put a band-aid on a problem, as brown algae occurs in new tanks and in a few months it should either go away on its own or turn to green algae.

**Damon** · 08-26-2006, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Durbkat

No need to put a band-aid on a problem, as brown algae occurs in new tanks and in a few months it should either go away on its own or turn to green algae.

Brown algae does NOT turn into green algae. Different species altogether.

Durbkat · 08-26-2006, 08:21 PM

Well in my 10g when I first set it up I got brown algae then a few months later the algae changed from brown to green so I'm just saying what happened to the brown algae in my tank.

emc7 · 08-27-2006, 12:47 AM

I have brown algae in my higher pH tanks with lower light. Green in the rest. Test the nitrates, keeping them in check (by water changes) will slow the growth of any algae or plant. Plecos much prefer the green stuff.

**Damon** · 08-27-2006, 10:51 AM

It is impossible for algae to "change" from one to another. It IS possible for one type to die and another take its place.

EMC7: Your tanks sound very typical.

Durbkat · 08-27-2006, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simpte

It is impossible for algae to "change" from one to another. It IS possible for one type to die and another take its place.

Potatoe, Patotoe

**Damon** · 08-27-2006, 12:36 PM

*sigh* forget I said anything...................

Araxen · 09-03-2006, 09:28 PM

Brown Algae is pretty common in new tanks. A trio of Otto's will take care of it or the brown algae will just go away eventually. Sometimes green algae moves in and takes it's place though.

Gourami Swami · 09-05-2006, 06:46 PM

Amano shrimp also love algea. Ive got both, amano's and otto's, and they do better jobs than bn plecs.

08-25-2006, 12:27 PM	#1
mhsrunner Fishy Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Age: 19 Posts: 17 User Feedback: (0)	Plastic Plants Turning Brown One of my plastic plants has big broad "leaves". They have brown splotches that increase by the day. I figured some bacteria what with the warm water and all, but how would it be like that on an aquarium plant? what would it be/what should i do? thanks

08-25-2006, 12:28 PM	#2
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982 User Feedback: (0)	Sounds like diatoms. Very common. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

08-25-2006, 12:56 PM	#4
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Alabama, US Age: 22 Posts: 3,372 User Feedback: (2)	It is brown diatom algae. You can take them out and rinse them and then rub off the algae. I used to use a toothbrush (buy a cheap one just for aquarium purposes) to scrup off the algae. You don't have to remove it as its not harmful to fish...I just didn't like the way it looked. __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 10g, 5.5g 10g N. multifasciatus tank, 5.5g Platy fry

08-27-2006, 10:51 AM	#10
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982 User Feedback: (0)	It is impossible for algae to "change" from one to another. It IS possible for one type to die and another take its place. EMC7: Your tanks sound very typical. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

08-27-2006, 12:36 PM	#12
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982 User Feedback: (0)	sigh forget I said anything................... __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

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08-25-2006, 12:53 PM	#3
mhsrunner Fishy Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Age: 19 Posts: 17 User Feedback: (0)	Is it harmful to the fish and necessary to fix? What is it exactly? If it needs to be fixed do i just regulary wash it or what? Thanks for the quick reply.

08-26-2006, 06:30 AM	#5
Mr Aquarium Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern Iowa Age: 43 Posts: 499 User Feedback: (0)	Sounds like brown algae, you may wanna try a small bristle nose or two, depending on your fish in tank now, tank size ect ect.

08-26-2006, 07:42 PM	#6
Durbkat It's the Evil Monkey!! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kentucky Age: 17 Posts: 1,112 User Feedback: (0)	No need to put a band-aid on a problem, as brown algae occurs in new tanks and in a few months it should either go away on its own or turn to green algae.

08-26-2006, 08:21 PM	#8
Durbkat It's the Evil Monkey!! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kentucky Age: 17 Posts: 1,112 User Feedback: (0)	Well in my 10g when I first set it up I got brown algae then a few months later the algae changed from brown to green so I'm just saying what happened to the brown algae in my tank.

08-27-2006, 12:47 AM	#9
emc7 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Age: 39 Posts: 2,589 User Feedback: (0)	I have brown algae in my higher pH tanks with lower light. Green in the rest. Test the nitrates, keeping them in check (by water changes) will slow the growth of any algae or plant. Plecos much prefer the green stuff.

09-03-2006, 09:28 PM	#13
Araxen Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Age: 34 Posts: 8 User Feedback: (0)	Brown Algae is pretty common in new tanks. A trio of Otto's will take care of it or the brown algae will just go away eventually. Sometimes green algae moves in and takes it's place though.

09-05-2006, 06:46 PM	#14
Gourami Swami Supreme Dictator For Life Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Somewhere out Yonder... Posts: 1,089 User Feedback: (0)	Amano shrimp also love algea. Ive got both, amano's and otto's, and they do better jobs than bn plecs. __________________

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