Black hair alge on half my tank?

[Bizzaro]

Serously, up your circulation. CO2 is a well mixed gas in the atmosphere, but in water it's rather light and as such, outgasses very quickly. If your circulation is low, or your surface agitation is high you can see half and half problems like this.

you where right... i change the spray bar with the jet outlet that came with the xp3 and used one of the extender to get the jet mid tank. I aimed it to the other corner and now all is gone... i also found plucking a little off a peace of wood killed it and was all gone the next week... thanks

 

[cchhcc]

Do you have two lights (or tubes) on your tank? If so, the one on the left may need replacement. Different color temperatures and intensities produce different types of algae, and when a light begins to wear out it no longer produces light in the same manner as when new.

 

[velanarris]

I wouldn't have known it if I hadn't done it before myself. It's the dumb little things like that which you never forget.

 

[cchhcc]

Good you worked it out. That tip from velanarris was neat!

 

[Bizzaro]

Do you have two lights (or tubes) on your tank? If so, the one on the left may need replacement. Different color temperatures and intensities produce different types of algae, and when a light begins to wear out it no longer produces light in the same manner as when new.

ill have to turn them off and take a look to see if i have any black on oneside... but what your saying is the purple darker color alge i have on one side of my tank is bcuz of the light? i thought it was cuz i had it blocked or something.

 

[iamzrad]

Damn, I have this same problem on one side of my tank. The algae has attacked my micro swords. I use diy c02 that goes through an airstone and into a power jet (on other side of tank) and my filter exits where the micro swords are.
It's a 45gal tank, around 400watts of light, every other day small treatments of excel and flourish. And I have about 40lbs of eco-complete mixed with existing gravel substrate.
Any idea how to stop it spreading?

 

[Pyramid_Party]

Anyone know any tricks to get rid of brown algae? I been battling it for a year. Every trick I do doesnt work. Every water change I have to scrub everything, but it keeps coming back. Theres no plants, and the tank is a 55 gal and its got (2) AC 110s. No overfeeding, 10 hours of light a day, weekly water changes, parameters are ideal and stable.

 

[velanarris]

Damn, I have this same problem on one side of my tank. The algae has attacked my micro swords. I use diy c02 that goes through an airstone and into a power jet (on other side of tank) and my filter exits where the micro swords are.
It's a 45gal tank, around 400watts of light, every other day small treatments of excel and flourish. And I have about 40lbs of eco-complete mixed with existing gravel substrate.
Any idea how to stop it spreading?

Move your CO2 and powerhead to the middle of the tank. That's a really easy fix, especially seeing as the answer, as is above, is to up your circulation so CO2 is well mixed in your aquarium.

nyone know any tricks to get rid of brown algae? I been battling it for a year. Every trick I do doesnt work. Every water change I have to scrub everything, but it keeps coming back. Theres no plants, and the tank is a 55 gal and its got (2) AC 110s. No overfeeding, 10 hours of light a day, weekly water changes, parameters are ideal and stable.

Brown algae is diatoms. What do you have in there for fish?

If compatible, get some snails or Oto cats. They love diatoms. Absolutely love em. They'll probably eradicate them from your tank for the most part.

With diatoms typically it's a silicate thing. If any of your water additives, or even the water straight from your tap is high in silicates, you can expect brown algae.

Ecocomplete itself is high in silicates, however, the aquarium store "beginner" gravels are LOADED with silicates. Most of them are a clay silicate base, covered with baked on silicate powder for coloration. Diatoms are super common in "beginner" gravel.

 

[iamzrad]

I bought about 10 small Otto's for my 45gal.
They get all the brown and green algae.
I would suggest investing Dwarf Sukermouth Catfish (aka, the Otto), they're like 1.99 a piece and they don't get big at all. Under 2".

Thanks for the C02 help Valanarris.

 

[Pyramid_Party]

Brown algae is diatoms. What do you have in there for fish?

If compatible, get some snails or Oto cats. They love diatoms. Absolutely love em. They'll probably eradicate them from your tank for the most part.

With diatoms typically it's a silicate thing. If any of your water additives, or even the water straight from your tap is high in silicates, you can expect brown algae.

Ecocomplete itself is high in silicates, however, the aquarium store "beginner" gravels are LOADED with silicates. Most of them are a clay silicate base, covered with baked on silicate powder for coloration. Diatoms are super common in "beginner" gravel.

I get brown algae in my shrimp tank too, I have plenty of snails and they wont touch it. But these are pond snails so maybe THEY dont like it.


For the 55 gallon, there is a few small cichlids and 2 jaguar cats at 5 inches. Ive thought about adding some Ottos, but I am certain they will get eaten by my catfish. If they happen to be smart and quick enough that is the only way. The catfish dont actively pursue fish, they've never been given feeders either. So as long as any new fish stays away from them they are fine. I jsut have a feeling an Otto would be unsuspecting of them and get ambushed and eaten.


I do believe the nutrient level in my tank is probably high, this is straight from the tap. Ive tried some resins like phospure etc and it didnt help much. I was thinking about adding some hornwort to maybe suck out the nutrients, but I am not sure.