Best way to remove brown algae?

[geno]

Hi ppl, I currently have quite a bloom of brown algae in both my tanks (2ft and 4ft). E one in e 4ft tank is quite serious as it's growing on my nana plant and half of it has turned yellow from e algae attacking it. Wads e best way/combi of ways to combat it? So far this is wad I've been doing:

1) Cut off e light supply to at most 30min per day (I'm using a pl double-head light which is damn strong)
2) Do 50% water changes weekly (minimum, gg to increase to 40% every 4 days or so..)

I'm thinking of buying some algae eaters, any recommendations? Ghost shrimp, SAE or otos? I dun wana use chemicals as I want things to be as natural as possible. Pls help guys thx!! =)

 

[WyldFya]

Please start typing out words, your post is very hard to understand. A picture of your algae would be good to see. You anubias nana shouldn't be dying from brown algae. What kind of lighting do you have?

 

[geno]

Okay.. The algea is growing all over the leaves of my nanas and some of the leaves have withered away or turned yellow. I asked the lfs guy about it and he said the algae was sucking the nutrients away from the plant like a parasite. Also, the water could be too salty for the nana so I've stopped adding aquarium salt. I use a pl double head light which is very strong, but now I've stopped turning on the light completely so as to hopefully kill off the algae. The only plants I have are a nana and a java fern both of which grow very slowly and require very little light. Cheers..

 

[WyldFya]

Salt and anubias is a bad mix. Brown algae won't 'suck the nutrients away', but it can block light if it gets too thick. Just rub the leaves down, and the algae should come off, then do a water change.

 

[geno]

Ok thanks.. You mean just rub it off? I've tried but it doesnt come off.. Do I need to do frequent water changes or just stick to my normal 50% weekly schedule? And what about the algae growing on the sides of the tank, on the rocks etc.. Would like to get some of it off too =)

 

[WyldFya]

Growing on the side and rocks is either green or brown algae. If it doesn't rub off, it is probably hair algae.