[kidgrave]

How do you personally deal with brown angae (brown diatoms)?

My 10 gallon dirted tank doesn't get brown diatoms. However, my 37 gallon tank does get brown diatoms. Is substrate sometimes the reason why some tanks get brown algae? I did some research on this brown algae thing, and everyone keeps saying it has to do with silicates, which doesn't necessarily tell me how to get to the root of the problem. Please give me some advise on how to deal with brown angae. I have 3x Otocinclus Catfish on my 37 gallon to eat the brown algae, but I don't want to rely on them.

 

[kidgrave]

I have always gotten diatoms when I set up a new tank. I don't really do anything with them except scrape the glass and give it time they will go away on there own given time, and yes they are the result of high silica content in the tank.

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Where exactly do silicas come from? My 37 gallon tank has been established for 3 years, and it always gets brown spots.

 

[kidgrave]

Well, I see you already have otos, so I'm not gonna be much help.
But I have diatoms since I got into the hobby. (About a year ago)
I did a lot of reading, and got to the same results as you: silicate in the water. Although other sources claim it's from inadequate light.
I don't know yet how to get to the root of the problem, but now I don't want to.
Since I got otos, a couple apple snails, and some ramshorns (which came with some raok's, but I welcome them), my tank has been pretty clean, my plants are green, and I have an endless supply of food for them (otos and snails)
I have a 60 gallon with just two otos, and they do a fine job.
So you should be ok with three otos, and this way you always have food for them.

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So in a way it's good to have brown diatoms since the Otos enjoy eating them. I really think the BA has to do with something in the substrate or the water, but I can't be certain of this. What type of light fixture are you using? I'm using a Fluval Led fixture on my 37 gallon and that's where I get BA. I am using 2x13 watt CFL bulbs on my 10 gallon, which I just setup about a week ago, and I am not getting BA there.