Rust colored algae

[JeffC]

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?

Thanks for the reply. It is not by a window...in fact it is in my basement. Standard strip lighting. Lights are on about 10 hours a day. Filtration is a whisper 60.

 

[JeffC]

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.

I do a 20% water change usually twice a week. What else can I do to control the phosphates....?

 

[JeffC]

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...

I just changed one of the carbon filters couple of days ago. I will change them both tomorrow, do a water change and scrub off the algae the best I can (again) and see how that does. Anything else?

 

[BIGgourami]

this is freshwater right? does anybody know if it's the same thing in salt?

 

[TeChris]

Im having the same brownish rusty algae problem too. I have to keep scrubing it away everyweek, but its hard because i can't get all of it.

 

[PMK]

I got the same stuff but in 2 tanks and one has sand the other has petsmart gravel with standard strip lights and no tanks are near any windows

 

[WyldFya]

I do a 20% water change usually twice a week. What else can I do to control the phosphates....?

Cleaning the gunk out of the filters weekly, and any detritus that is in the tank will help your phosphate levels.

 

[WyldFya]

Guys that have this problem, how long have you had your tanks setup? This can also happen in new aquariums. If not new, then it is either silicates or lacking light levels.

 

[WyldFya]

I got the same stuff but in 2 tanks and one has sand the other has petsmart gravel with standard strip lights and no tanks are near any windows

It is a sign of too low of a lighting level in their tanks.

 

[PMK]

both tanks have been set up for more than a year