Influx of Brown Algae

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R

rumblesushi

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 18, 2005
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Does anyone know what can cause this? I read high nitrates, but my nitrates are low, I do 1 or 2 50% water changes a week.

Suddenly both my tanks have severe brown algae, coating the bottom and some of the sides. Also some of the river rocks have a bright green algae that looks radioactive lol. But mainly it's brown algae.
 
the presence of excess nutrients, including silicate is usually #1 reason.

Are you overfeeding?

Maybe Change your filter media if you haven't changed it for a while.

Try increasing the number of water changes,

you could get a protienskimmer or Reverse osmosis (RO) units


I'm not sure if I'm right about the following or not, but i'll throw it out there, correct me if im wrong:

Maybe your lights aren't on enough, sounds wierd, but brown algea can be cause by not having enough light and having sort of a dingy area, using small bits of light the tank can get from windows etc. If you have your lights on too much though, you'll get an axcess amount of grean algea.

tough too, most fish don't like brown algea, plecos and ottocats will eat it i'm pretty sure, but to them its not a preferance.
 
Thanks for the feedback. I don't think it's light, they are on for about 12 hours a day. And also, my main tank is in direct sunlight and I got a UV steriliser because of green water caused by the light.

You saying excess nutrients makes me think it's simply the water here in Spain, which is awful, undrinkable. Maybe.
 
I would bet it's nutrients or silicates in the water if nothing else has changed. If it's silicates, most brands of phosphate removers would take care of it in the short term.
 
its silicates in the water or substrate. you can get plants to compete for nutrients and it will go away.Or it happens to be a favorite food of common and bristlenose plecos theyll get rid of it for you
 
Thanks for the feedback. Real shame I can't get plecos here, well without getting them shipped in and costing a lot of money.

In my small tank (60g) I actually have some pothos in there, and that is covered in brown algae too lol.
 
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