Brown Algae

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

Richard203

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Jan 19, 2016
474
42
61
37
hi I just got brown algae in my tank and I heard they need silca to grow and my sand is silca sand, is there any way to remove the silca or I need to remove the silca sand? I brought some chemipure elite heard it remove silca. How many should I put in a 125gal tank? I brought the 6.5oz one which is good for 25gal. I putted 2x in my hob.
 
Chemipure should help with the phosphates, but first i would try to find out why you are getting brown algae.....its not harmful to the tank but is unsightly
 
I'm in the same boat. I have it in both my tanks and one is a bare bottom, but the other is silica sand. They both get once a week water changes. 50% in my 29 and 90-95% on my 10. My nitrates on the 29 are usually between 5 and 10 when I do a water change, and the nitrates on the 10 gallon are usually around 20. I have read that not enough light can cause it, along with high nitrates, silicates and/or low oxygen levels. I know I don't have high nitrates and I'm pretty sure my oxygen levels are good, so I don't know what gives.
 
I think the silca sand. I'm turning my light off for a few day and see will it improve
 
I would have thought it was the sand also except that I have it in my bare bottom tank as well. My 29 has been set up for over a year and a half so it is hardly a new set up. My 10 has only been set up for about 6-8 months.
 
I am running a newer aquarium cover with a T5 bulb. The tanks do sit within 5-8' of a window though. I don't think they ever actually get direct sunlight because of where the window faces.

I should be able to do more water changes once I get my water change barrels setup. Right now I'm still hauling buckets, lol, so water changes only get done once a week.
 
I would like to look into some LED's but I have a lot of other stuff that I need for my 220 that is a much higher priority right now.
 
...and your glass(if you have a glass tank) is also made is silica....
If it is in a new tank they'll disappear after a couple of weeks as the tank matures.
On more established tanks it's normally lighting as mentioned above and nitrates/phosphates, over feeding may also contribute.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tlindsey
MonsterFishKeepers.com