View Full Version : What's causing this?!?!?!?
STaNgXs
10-22-2003, 1:23 AM
A rust like substance keeps devoloping in my tank! i cleaned it all out yest. and it came back again today.... it's all over the decor, plants, rocks, and on some of the glass.... this never happend till I put a new filter in (Aqua clear 150)... anyone know what's is causing this and how i can stop it???
MaryPa
10-22-2003, 1:59 AM
The rust looking stuff is brown algae,usually found in new tanks.I just kept useing the algae sponge on the glass and my fish ate the rest.Really all i can say is you have to let it run it`s course,just vacuum the tank well when you clean the algae.It`ll go away after a couple months.Maybe someone else can tell you more.
what's in the tank?
how long do you run the lights? what kind are they? (incandescent/flourescent/other)
i seem to recall brown algae being the one that grows from "not enuf light". if you have a community type tank, oto's will also help with the problem. increasing your water change schedule will more than likely help too.
MaryPa
10-22-2003, 5:33 AM
ewok i keep my lights on for 12 hrs and had brownalgae in my new tanks.IMO it`s just a new tank thing and has nothhing to do with the light.
must have a couple of the types mixed up.... sorry. :)
"The brown algae appears when the aquarium is relatively new, its brown in color, and covers everything from walls to driftwood to leaves like a thin curtain. It is easily dealt with by adding a natural enemy, the best of which is Otocinclus. Plecos also eat it, but they may damage the leaves as well. The algae eater (Gyrinocheilus aymonierl) and the Siamese flying fox (Crossocheilus siamensis) also eat brown algae, but grow too large for a small tank or crowd the layout."
then again, maybe not.....
"Other Names: Gravel algae, Silica algae
Color: Brown
Appearance: Begins as brown patches on the gravel and/or glass, then rapidly coats most surfaces of the aquarium with a thin, dark brown coating that is easily removed. Unlike blue-green/slime algae, it does not come off in large slimy sheets
Cause
° Diatoms
° Excess silicates & nitrates
° Inadequate light
° Low oxygen levels
Brown algae is due to diatoms, and is a common occurrence in a newly set up aquarium. It is generally caused by too little light, an excess of silicates, an abundance of nutrients, and too little oxygen. Silicates can build up through tap water that is high in silicic acid, and silicates that leech from some types of substrates.
Cure
° Wipe off surfaces & vaccine gravel well
° Use silicate adsorbing resin in the filter
° Increase the lighting
° Stock a plecostomus or several otocinclus
This type of algae does not adhere strongly to the tank surfaces, and may easily be wiped away. Vacuuming the gravel with a siphon will quickly remove coatings from the substrate. Increasing the lighting will inhibit regrowth of brown algae. As a new tank matures brown algae is often eliminated naturally by plants and green algae competing for nutrients.
Some suckermouth catfish will readily eat brown algae, most notably plecostomus and otocinclus. If the problem is due to high silicates in the water, and the brown algae persists, a special silicate absorbing resin can be used in the filter.
Prevention
° Use of RO water
° Regular water changes
° Regular aquarium cleaning
° Good lighting
As with any algae, keeping the tank clean and performing regular water changes is one of the best preventative measures. Unfortunately it is still possible to get algae in spite of regular maintenance, especially in a newly established aquarium. Prompt attention to sudden algae growth will prevent more serious problems."
forgive the plagarism please..... :)
how many watts per gallon and what type of lighting MaryPA?
a 12 hour light cycle does not neccesarily guarantee the right amount of light.
just an observation, this is not to start an arguement or split hairs, just curiousity.... i rarely have any algae outbreaks.....
MaryPa
10-22-2003, 7:15 AM
Good article ewok.:D I know nothing about my lighting,it came with the tank.I`m still learning about all the fish species needs.This old woman is a bit slow;) so i have to get my priorities in line.Nah i didn`t take it as a debate,just some good info for us.Thanks ewok.
cdawson
10-22-2003, 10:56 AM
Originally posted by MaryPa
ewok i keep my lights on for 12 hrs and had brownalgae in my new tanks.IMO it`s just a new tank thing and has nothhing to do with the light.
12hrs is too long, 8-10 will suffice.
12hrs is only for those totallly understocked "dutch" tanks.
BTW I'm assuming you have plants as well. If you don't you shouldn't have the lights on at all.
STaNgXs
10-22-2003, 1:12 PM
yeah, the tank only has been up for about 6 weeks... it's a 10 gallon tank, i keep the light on for about 10 hours a day.. the algea is pretty easy to clean, i just rub it all off with my fingers , haha, i don't know if that's the right way to do it?
what chemicals should i get to prevent the algae, i don't have any room left for more fish (algae eaters)...
thanks for all the info guys! :D
tricksterpup
10-22-2003, 1:52 PM
There is no safe chemical to keep alage out of a tank. What will kill the alage will harm the fish. Just do regular water changes and keep the light time down a bit, i would keep it at a 6-8 hour time frame now. Another way to keep alage out is to compete for its food source, place plants in the tank and that should help some of the issue.
jim
MaryPa
10-22-2003, 2:30 PM
My tank is heavily planted and the fish are more active when the light are on.What do you mean no lights????:eek: All living creatures need light,well except mushrooms:D
All of my tanks have 12 hour light cycles, planted or not, but the amount of light is different betwen the two types of tanks. Why have a tank if you cannot see into it?
I do agree that diatom outbreaks are commonest in new tanks.
MaryPa
10-22-2003, 3:48 PM
Braddock,Heights Md. Never heard of it,what part of Maryland is that?So much has changed.
Frederick County, just west of Frederick, MD, some miles down the ridge from Camp David. It was started about 1900 as a summer colony, now fully year-round residences. On a clear day you can see from Camp David to the Harper's Ferry cut from the deck.
Don't ask about the wind and the snowdrifts.
TETRALADY
10-23-2003, 12:36 PM
Actually, I've had brown alga for many years. It started long after my 55 gallon was cycled. My Pleco did a great job of eliminating it however, as he grew unforunately, so did the alga.
My lights are on 5 hrs. a day and water changes of 25% are done faithfully every week.
F.sparverius
10-23-2003, 6:30 PM
I think the green alge must out compete the brown stuff because I only had it for a few weeks and the green stuff took over. I don't really mind though because it does not seem to grown on the glass all that readily and the rosey barbs and emerald cory seem to like to eat it. I would assume it also puts a small amount of oxygen into the water.
MaryPa
10-23-2003, 8:02 PM
Oh Frederick is so pretty.