They say you can`t teach an old dog new tricks huh! For the inqusitive like myself here... http://www.netpets.org/fish/reference/reefref/diatoms.html
Rust colored algae
- Thread starter JeffC
- Start date
So, should i scrub it off and do lots of water changes or just let it be and do lots of water changes while trying to get the tank water prestine? I will also clean my filters and tubes weekly. Anything else???
Keep cleaning and water changing... or do as Wlydfya says and run a diatom filter if you have one.
Or get an Algae eater. The ones that are sold as Siamese,Chinese, Common and Gold. They all look the same to me but tear through this stuff.
Or get an Algae eater. The ones that are sold as Siamese,Chinese, Common and Gold. They all look the same to me but tear through this stuff.
Just noticed your in Montana... one of these guys http://badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile47.html
I was told tht what you describe as "red algae" really isn't algae at all. It is supposedly made up of one celled organisms called "diatoms". They apparantly appear in tanks that have been set up fairly recently. My tank has been set up since mid-January and I, too, have it. I as also told that it will go away on it's own and may be replaced with green algae. Light is not supposed to have an effect on it. I got my information from Oscarfish.com (Kmuda is the person who made these claims.) Hope this helps and doesn't add to the confusion.
Red alga are all true alga, this is a brown algae. You are correct in that it is made up of diatoms, however light has a large effect on it.
ok heres a quick fix on the brown algae. its worked on both tanks that have had an outbreak of this stuff.(not super quick to about three weeks.)
kick up the wattage in you lighting.
and get some anacharis (elodea).
the anacharis will outcompete the diatoms for nutrients.and thusly starve out the diatoms
kick up the wattage in you lighting.
and get some anacharis (elodea).
the anacharis will outcompete the diatoms for nutrients.and thusly starve out the diatoms
I was told that the type of "algae" to which you refer isn't really algae at all. The "red rust" are actually one celled diatoms. They form usually in fairly new tanks. I have them and my tank was set up just this past January. Was also told that light has little bearing on their formation. It is supposed to go away by itself as long as water parameters are good. Supposedly these are a precursor to true algae. I got this information from Oscarfish.com, forum section.
In established tanks, brown algae's pressence is a sign of lack of lighting or excess silicates.JeffC;737727;737727 said:
