Rust colored algae

[JeffC]

Hi all,

I have a rust colored algae growing on rocks, plastic plants and ship decorations in my aquarium. Any idea what it is and how to control/get rid of it? I change about 20% of my water once or twice a week and every water change I try to clean it up a bit with a brush. I even removed the plastic plants and cleaned them all. It keeps coming back. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Tongue33]

What kind of fish do you have? And What is your lighting like.. Also what kind of algae control do you use?

Oh and that is algae of the worst kind LOL

 

[JeffC]

oh great....of course algae of the worst kind. It is a 55 gal. with the regular strip light that comes with it. Fish are convicts, firemouths, silver dollars, pictus cat, and clown knife. I use no algae control other than the cat fish and a snail.

 

[---XR---]

when i do get rust colored algae, it is ussally on my tanks that have the most powerful lighting, is you tank by a window by any chance?, and how long do you keep your lights on? and what kind of filtration is on the tank?

 

[WyldFya]

What kind of fish do you have? And What is your lighting like.. Also what kind of algae control do you use?

Oh and that is algae of the worst kind LOL

Not even close, try thread algae, black brush algae, or beard algae.

 

[WyldFya]

when i do get rust colored algae, it is ussally on my tanks that have the most powerful lighting, is you tank by a window by any chance?, and how long do you keep your lights on? and what kind of filtration is on the tank?

Actually, brown algae is a sign of either a lack of light, or an excess of silicates.

If your substrate is sand, this may be the source of the silicates. Running a diatom filter on the tank after scrubbing the algae off with be the best means of removing it. Brown algae is a diatom algae.

 

[---XR---]

Actually, brown algae is a sign of either a lack of light, or an excess of silicates.

If your substrate is sand, this may be the source of the silicates. Running a diatom filter on the tank after scrubbing the algae off with be the best means of removing it. Brown algae is a diatom algae.

really?, well i currently have a 55 gal with no light on it, and it has no algae at all, then i have a 125, with high powered lighting with algae all over it, and my substrate is some larger rocks, any idea on mine than?

 

[WyldFya]

Depends on what type of algae you actually have. The only algae that is really spurred on by excessive light is green algae. The other types of algae are generally an imbalance in nutrients in the water. Such as excessive phosphate, or nitrate, or iron. If you don't have plants, and non sensitive species of fish, and no inverts, copper will get rid of many types of algae.

 

[fivespeed302]

Depends on what type of algae you actually have. The only algae that is really spurred on by excessive light is green algae. The other types of algae are generally an imbalance in nutrients in the water. Such as excessive phosphate, or nitrate, or iron. If you don't have plants, and non sensitive species of fish, and no inverts, copper will get rid of many types of algae.

He is right. Check your water quality. Anytime you have excessive growth of algae, it is due to excessive phosphates, etc. You should get into a scheduled maintenance program and siphon your tank on a regular basis, if you are not already doing it.

 

[deangelo]

I had that problem once..I put some carbon in the filters and it went away after a couple of weeks and i havent had a problem since and i'm not using carbon anymore...