'Brown Algae' Easy Fix

[Wiggie]

Ive been fishless cycling a 30g planted tank for about 3 weeks now. Using chem-pure in an Aquatop CF 400 with UV sterilizer. (I don't have UV on yet of course bc im trying to cycle.) today I dosed with some Stability to help the cycle as it is not really showing me much despite cichlid pellets in a mesh bag for ammonia source. I know it takes a while but just wanted to get a good cycle. Tonight I come home and notice the beginning of brown hair algae on a piece of driftwood. I freak. I cant stand hair algae. Ive only experienced it in established tanks. Could this have something to do with surface agitation? Or LEDs on too long? I think ive been doing 10 hours. Am thinking of doing a black out but will take any suggestions. Can't have this going any further. Did i mention no fish in tank yet? Did i mention Ive been on a fish-keeping hiatus for 5 years and I think Ive forgotten everything I ever knew? Somebody help me do the right thing....lol.

 

[Sublime cichlids Mike]

Ive been fishless cycling a 30g planted tank for about 3 weeks now. Using chem-pure in an Aquatop CF 400 with UV sterilizer. (I don't have UV on yet of course bc im trying to cycle.) today I dosed with some Stability to help the cycle as it is not really showing me much despite cichlid pellets in a mesh bag for ammonia source. I know it takes a while but just wanted to get a good cycle. Tonight I come home and notice the beginning of brown hair algae on a piece of driftwood. I freak. I cant stand hair algae. Ive only experienced it in established tanks. Could this have something to do with surface agitation? Or LEDs on too long? I think ive been doing 10 hours. Am thinking of doing a black out but will take any suggestions. Can't have this going any further. Did i mention no fish in tank yet? Did i mention Ive been on a fish-keeping hiatus for 5 years and I think Ive forgotten everything I ever knew? Somebody help me do the right thing....lol.

Seachem excell helps kill hair algea (would recomend peroxide, but your cycling), the blackout will help. Honestly if your just setting up the tank, 10 hours of light could be the cause of this. 6 is more the range at first in a lowtech. Remember the nutrients anx co2 had to be in the mix or that lighting will be used by algeas... My first recommendations would have been a cleanup crew of saes, otos, pleco, ect... maybe some snails could be utilized in your situation as well. Hope that gives an idea or two and welcome back after your hiatus, still the same old issues as your currently finding out lol.

 

[Wiggie]

Seachem excell helps kill hair algea (would recomend peroxide, but your cycling), the blackout will help. Honestly if your just setting up the tank, 10 hours of light could be the cause of this. 6 is more the range at first in a lowtech. Remember the nutrients anx co2 had to be in the mix or that lighting will be used by algeas... My first recommendations would have been a cleanup crew of saes, otos, pleco, ect... maybe some snails could be utilized in your situation as well. Hope that gives an idea or two and welcome back after your hiatus, still the same old issues as your currently finding out lol.

Thanks. When I got up this morning I thought to myself, 'you idiot, why'd you leave the lights on this long?" Im not used to having LEDS and got them to give me a range of colors, so I could keep other plants besides java fern, BUT, it still is a low tech tank--no CO2 and its small. This is such a common mistake but Ill cut myself a break as Im very unversed in lighting in particular. Im still dosing Stability and tests this morning show a strong .25ppm of Nitrite so Im thinking I should dose the Seachem, maybe take the wood out and scrub it, and black out for 3 days. I just bought anubias nana petite (2) and a gorgeous java fern yesterday I wanted to add. Already in there are: micro swords, a Crypt wendiiti, java moss, and jungle Val, spiralis. Should I hold off on adding plants or will their addition help since they'll feed on nutrients? Thanks for your guidance btw.

 

[The Mother Confessor]

Adding more plants will definitely help as they will help to use up the excess nutrients that are feeding the Algae.

+1 Sublime cichlids Mike Excell is exactly what I recommend too, and also use myself.

Excell will allow you to keep most medium tech plants in a low light tank as it makes carbon more available to plants, which mimics co2 without having to have a complicated co2 injection system.

Don't black out your tank, your plants will suffer. Just dose excell. Get a syringe and spot dose it on the Algae. Up to 2x the dose of excell can be used to kill Algae, although some plants don't like it, in particular vallis is very sensitive. There may be others, that's worth looking at because I can't remember.

If your worried about Nitrates get a bottle of prime or a tub of safe. Safe is cheaper and last much longer, but is the exact same product as prime, just in a powdered form.

The plants will eat the nitrate as they grow. Don't worry too much. Give them a chance to establish themselves.

 

[Wiggie]

Thanks! Im on it.

 

[Hendre]

That reminds me, better dose some flourish

 

[Wiggie]

Seachem excell helps kill hair algea (would recomend peroxide, but your cycling), the blackout will help. Honestly if your just setting up the tank, 10 hours of light could be the cause of this. 6 is more the range at first in a lowtech. Remember the nutrients anx co2 had to be in the mix or that lighting will be used by algeas... My first recommendations would have been a cleanup crew of saes, otos, pleco, ect... maybe some snails could be utilized in your situation as well. Hope that gives an idea or two and welcome back after your hiatus, still the same old issues as your currently finding out lol.

Sooo...thanks so much for all of your suggestions on using Seachem Flourish excel for my brown hair algae. Upon 6th dosing day it is almost gone. BTW, i noticed a thin sliver of sunlight coming through in the morning and shining right on that spot, lol. Will have to black out the end of tank too I suppose. I dosed with a syringe 1/4 of directed dose 2X/day. Decided not to black out tank during this dosing and also had added plants to soak up nutrients. Good to know Seachem works wonders!