Brown Algae Question

[Ramesh]

My Male Dovii's tank suffers from a constant build up of brown looking algae or slim on the tanks inside surfaces. I believe it's due to his high protein diet producing excess phosphates and nitrates which the algae utilise.
Apart from water changes what is the best way to solve this on going battle.
I love my Dovii so he's staying.....

 

[Cilosybn]

try cutting the light back to around 3,4 hours a day. I had a brown algae problem and did this in a 20gal and it was pretty much gone in just a few days

 

[Ramesh]

I don't use a light on my Dovii's tank.
Has anyone got any advice on filter media that might help alleviate this prolem??
Nititrate or Phosphate sponges maybe...

 

[fila]

i have same problem.

I don't use a light on my Dovii's tank.
Has anyone got any advice on filter media that might help alleviate this prolem??
Nititrate or Phosphate sponges maybe...

 

[Ramesh]

I read in a Sera algae booklet about brown algae or diatoms are caused by high silicate levels and to increase the water hardness and lighting the tank gets.
This is meant to work well with this type of brown algae.
I am going to give it a try and as well as increase my bio media volume in my canister. Also Sera Algovec.

 

[Potts050]

Why not consider running your return water from your can through a well lit 'fuge with a good lighting system and some higher plants. You could grow some inverts as feeders for your Dovi.

 

[Ramesh]

Sounds like a great idea but I am trying to cut down on my energy expenditure.
Here's some pics of him, you can see some of the brown algae.
Enjoy....

 

[Potts050]

The tank looks very clean to me. I'm a firm beleiver in not having too clean a tank. Biodiversity in microflora and microfauna are the keys to better water quality IMHO.

 

[J-Aqua]

I agree with Potts050. It does get old rubbing off brown algae, but if you really want to get rid of it or control it I use Chemi-Pure Elite in my 10gal Ghost Shrimp tank. It controlled my brown algae problem. Stuff works good if you wanna give it a shot.

J

 

[Ramesh]

I agree with Potts050. It does get old rubbing off brown algae, but if you really want to get rid of it or control it I use Chemi-Pure Elite in my 10gal Ghost Shrimp tank. It controlled my brown algae problem. Stuff works good if you wanna give it a shot.

J

I will give it a try if I can get the stuff in Australia. Thanks for your advice the algae just takes over and does look unsightly.