Brown Algae or Diatoms

[slicklid]

It started out as a few spots, then they spread and now my tank is littered with brown patches all over the slate rock. There is some green spots throughout, however, it is mainly brown. I have my light on from about 8am to 8pm. Moderate (tinted) sunlight on the right side of the tank for about 6 hours a day. But the majority of the brown is on the opposite side of the tank.

Any ideas, solutions?

Or is it not a problem?

[ibr3ak]

It's most likely diatoms, I'd say relatively common for african tanks, because of the excess of nitrates that result from an overstocked tank. It won't bother your fish as long as water parameters are fine.

Also mbuna don't require light , so keeping it on for 12 hours daily isn't really necessary and probably why you also see patches of green algae. You could up the number of water changes, and also get a few powerheads aiming their flow at where the algae is growing, you could also plant a few hardy plants and let them take in some of the nitrates, I guess you could also look for filter media that takes the nitrates out of the water (just never used any, so not sure on the brand or the name).

I usually just do weekly water changes with gravel vacs and lightly scrub some of the brown stuff off the rocks and use the magfloat for the glass, but I don't mind it looking like it does, I think it looks more natural this way. If you look at Coler's tank his rocks/dead corals are pretty dingy looking (sorry Coler :) ), but it looks great with them this way.

What kind of filtration are you using?

[jm1212]

all fish require some light during the day.

brown algea is commone in new tanks. it is from sillicates in the tank's glass being released. the cichlids will probably eat the algea, but it should stop growing back on its own eventually.

[slicklid]

What kind of filtration are you using?

2 HOB's

I thought algae was good in an mbuna tank, since that is what they thrive on in the wild. So more light = more algae = more food?

I don't mind the brown/green algae, it does add a bit of realism to the tank. I also use the magfloat for the glass. My bristlenose pretty much sticks to the rocks/algae wafers.

I feed OmegaOne Veggie Flakes, HBH SuperSoft Spirulina, and Spirulina Discs, and occasionally zuccini or cucumber

[Star_Rider]

brown algae is diatom..like jm said..usually an excess of silicates.

hey JM..not all fish require light..some species like blind cave fish don't and there are some that stay in deep dark waters..(anglerfish) ;)

[Rbishop]

Depending on glass quality, it could take a while to go away. Don't worry over it.

[jpappy789]

I agree^ Mine took 6 months to disappear in my 55...then I ended up with green algae:mad2:

[slicklid]

Again though, isn't that GOOD in an mbuna community? That is what their environment is like in the wild.