Why after 7 months, is the tank still getting a lot of brown algae?

Knight~Ryder · 07-06-2008, 10:25 PM

Everything in my tank has been fine, except that I notice a lot of brown algae that other people I know are not experiencing? Especially around the thermometer and where the water gets sucked in up the intake.

My otos are still alive, so maybe they can't keep up with the job.....

My lights are on everyday at 2pm till 11pm, on a timer. They get fed once a day, a lot more then they used too because they are bigger.

Any insight?

wifishman · 07-06-2008, 10:29 PM

how much and what are you feeding
how often do you do water changes, is it tap or ro water..
what are your peramiters?

Knight~Ryder · 07-06-2008, 10:34 PM

I feed the flakes, also blood worms and mysis shrimp every once in awhile.
I feed them a lot more now, because the rummy nose don't always go to the top to eat and then they get skinnier, so I feed more flakes.

I change the water every month.

emc7 · 07-07-2008, 02:18 AM

hard water + low light + nutrients (nitrate) = brown algae.

You could

Try weekly water changes to reduce the algae food.

or

Add more light and get green algae instead, maybe just by getting a new bulb for your fixture

Ghost Knife · 07-07-2008, 08:45 AM

I agree with the above. You might try weekly or bi-monthly water changes.

hacket · 07-07-2008, 09:52 AM

Changing the water more than once a month would help. It would get rid of the excess algae spores that float around in the water.

Good Wolf · 07-07-2008, 10:36 AM

Only doing water changes once a month can also put the fish into shock from the difference in parameters.

I think most everyone here does 15-25% changes weekly.

07-06-2008, 10:25 PM	#1
Knight~Ryder Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Age: 26 Posts: 208	Why after 7 months, is the tank still getting a lot of brown algae? Everything in my tank has been fine, except that I notice a lot of brown algae that other people I know are not experiencing? Especially around the thermometer and where the water gets sucked in up the intake. My otos are still alive, so maybe they can't keep up with the job..... My lights are on everyday at 2pm till 11pm, on a timer. They get fed once a day, a lot more then they used too because they are bigger. Any insight? __________________ -Activated my first freshwater tank Nov 25/07 -Emperor 280 biowheel filter -Visi-Therm 100 Watt Heater -Whisper 60 Air Pump (Tetra) 38G/144.4L {Size 36 x 13 x 20} 9 Cherry Barbs (6 Female, 3 Male) 6 Cardinal Tetra 5 Rummy Nose Tetra 3 Black Skirt Tetra 2 Head and Tail Tetra 2 Otocinclus Affinis suckermouth

07-06-2008, 10:34 PM	#3
Knight~Ryder Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Age: 26 Posts: 208	I feed the flakes, also blood worms and mysis shrimp every once in awhile. I feed them a lot more now, because the rummy nose don't always go to the top to eat and then they get skinnier, so I feed more flakes. I change the water every month. __________________ -Activated my first freshwater tank Nov 25/07 -Emperor 280 biowheel filter -Visi-Therm 100 Watt Heater -Whisper 60 Air Pump (Tetra) 38G/144.4L {Size 36 x 13 x 20} 9 Cherry Barbs (6 Female, 3 Male) 6 Cardinal Tetra 5 Rummy Nose Tetra 3 Black Skirt Tetra 2 Head and Tail Tetra 2 Otocinclus Affinis suckermouth

07-07-2008, 08:45 AM	#5
Ghost Knife Permanent Fishaholic Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Mississippi Age: 26 Posts: 180	I agree with the above. You might try weekly or bi-monthly water changes. __________________ 55G (Upgrading to a 135G soon) 5 Tiger Barbs 4 Albino Cories 4 Emerald Cories 2 Rosy Barbs 2 Serpae Tetras 1 Black Ghost Knife (8") 1 Common Pleco 55G 4 Black Moors 3 Golden Dojo Loaches 2 Red Cap Orandas 1 Calico Butterfly 1 Black Kuhli Loach 1 Common Pleco 29G (For Sale) Lots of Ramshorn Snails 5 Long-Finned Zebra Danios 4 Glowlight Tetras 3 Peppered Cories 1 Clown Loach (For snail eating purposes and it's working) 1 Ghost Shrimp

07-07-2008, 09:52 AM	#6
hacket Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Iowa (normally), Los Angeles (temporarily) Age: 22 Posts: 59	Changing the water more than once a month would help. It would get rid of the excess algae spores that float around in the water. __________________ 0.5 Gallon - Orange/Purple Beta Splendens(Caramel)

07-07-2008, 10:36 AM	#7
Good Wolf Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Wylie, TX Posts: 238	Only doing water changes once a month can also put the fish into shock from the difference in parameters. I think most everyone here does 15-25% changes weekly. __________________ ~Chris~ *55g planted; 30g planted; 5g planted*

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07-06-2008, 10:29 PM	#2
wifishman Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Age: 29 Posts: 41	how much and what are you feeding how often do you do water changes, is it tap or ro water.. what are your peramiters?

07-07-2008, 02:18 AM	#4
emc7 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Johns Creek, GA Posts: 3,242	hard water + low light + nutrients (nitrate) = brown algae. You could Try weekly water changes to reduce the algae food. or Add more light and get green algae instead, maybe just by getting a new bulb for your fixture

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