How to get rid of brown algae?

Thatoneaquariumguy · 07-02-2012, 01:11 AM

Hello, this is my first time posting on this website, so please excuse me for putting this in the wrong section.

Anyway, I have a 10 gallon aquarium. I started it around 3 months. It also has been fully cycled. I have 2 male guppies, 5 harlequin rasboras, and 1 otocinclus catfish. I used to have blue gravel, but about 3-4 weeks ago I wanted a more natural look, so I added sand. About 2 weeks ago, I noticed that there was brown algae growing only on the sand. But lately, it has been growing everywhere. My otocinclus is doing a great job, there just is so much, he can't handle it. Is there a way to get rid of this brown algae. I have a 20 watt light, on for about 10 hours a day. I do weekly,10-20% water changes.

Willamette · 07-02-2012, 02:38 AM

Brown algae is generally diatoms...once it uses up the silica in the tank it usually goes away on its own. Give it time, and let the Otto nom nom down on it (their favorite chow), it should clear up.

To me the big clue here is that you added sand, which is the best source in the world for silica. Nothing at all wrong with sand, just saying that it could easily account for a diatom algae outbreak,

In.a.Box · 07-02-2012, 02:43 AM

add more otto

if you have less then 6 those poor guys will get lonely.

Jadenlea · 07-02-2012, 10:38 AM

Go to petco and get a few Amano (they call them chinese algae eating) shrimp. They will gobble up your diatoms in a day or two.

Or you can just wait and they will go away as your tank stabilizes.

Thatoneaquariumguy · 07-02-2012, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jadenlea

Go to petco and get a few Amano (they call them chinese algae eating) shrimp. They will gobble up your diatoms in a day or two.

Or you can just wait and they will go away as your tank stabilizes.

I heard if you added more live plants that brown algae will starve, is that true? Also, how long until the brown algae is gone. I am having family over for the fourth of July and I don't want my aquarium look like this. Should I get like Tetra Algae Control, or would it kill ALL the algae so my oto will starve?

Willamette · 07-02-2012, 03:01 PM

Algaecides are BAD. And yes, I can't imagine that being anything but bad news for the otto (and every other living thing in the tank).

If you want it gone it two days, your out of luck. i suppose you could get a small brush and individually scrub everything in the tank with algae on it...try to rub it off the leaves of plants with fingers or something, etc...

Yes, more plants will help (remember, for the reasons stated above diatom algae is different) but not in such a short timeframe.

livingword26 · 07-02-2012, 03:16 PM

Where did you get the sand? What kid was it?

Thatoneaquariumguy · 07-02-2012, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by livingword26

Where did you get the sand? What kid was it?

I got it from Petsmart(I would of bought it at a lfs, but the one at petsmart was cheaper) It is CaribSea Moonlight sand. I got it for around $8 for 5 lbs

07-02-2012, 01:11 AM	#1
Thatoneaquariumguy Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Chicago,IL Posts: 3	How to get rid of brown algae? Hello, this is my first time posting on this website, so please excuse me for putting this in the wrong section. Anyway, I have a 10 gallon aquarium. I started it around 3 months. It also has been fully cycled. I have 2 male guppies, 5 harlequin rasboras, and 1 otocinclus catfish. I used to have blue gravel, but about 3-4 weeks ago I wanted a more natural look, so I added sand. About 2 weeks ago, I noticed that there was brown algae growing only on the sand. But lately, it has been growing everywhere. My otocinclus is doing a great job, there just is so much, he can't handle it. Is there a way to get rid of this brown algae. I have a 20 watt light, on for about 10 hours a day. I do weekly,10-20% water changes.

07-02-2012, 03:16 PM	#7
livingword26 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 978	Where did you get the sand? What kid was it? __________________ 29 gallon, Fluval 306. Aquatop PF25-UV Power Filter, 1x39 watt T5HO 7" above tank. P.F. Sand, Pressurized CO2, 5 Glowlight Tetra's, 3 Halequin Rasborah's, 3 neons, 2 Oto's, 5 Cherry Shrimp, 4 Amano Shrimp.

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07-02-2012, 02:38 AM	#2
Willamette Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 180	Brown algae is generally diatoms...once it uses up the silica in the tank it usually goes away on its own. Give it time, and let the Otto nom nom down on it (their favorite chow), it should clear up. To me the big clue here is that you added sand, which is the best source in the world for silica. Nothing at all wrong with sand, just saying that it could easily account for a diatom algae outbreak,

07-02-2012, 02:43 AM	#3
In.a.Box Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: New England Posts: 1,119	add more otto if you have less then 6 those poor guys will get lonely.

07-02-2012, 10:38 AM	#4
Jadenlea Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 642	Go to petco and get a few Amano (they call them chinese algae eating) shrimp. They will gobble up your diatoms in a day or two. Or you can just wait and they will go away as your tank stabilizes.

07-02-2012, 03:01 PM	#6
Willamette Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 180	Algaecides are BAD. And yes, I can't imagine that being anything but bad news for the otto (and every other living thing in the tank). If you want it gone it two days, your out of luck. i suppose you could get a small brush and individually scrub everything in the tank with algae on it...try to rub it off the leaves of plants with fingers or something, etc... Yes, more plants will help (remember, for the reasons stated above diatom algae is different) but not in such a short timeframe.