Brown algea

L

lostris

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Jan 30, 2004
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hello everyone,

I'm new in here. I have a 15 gal its been set up 4 months, in it I have 2 yo yo loaches, and 5 bleeding heart tetras. Its planted (or at least i WOULD LIKE a well planted tank), underneath the gravel i had made a layer of fertilizer. Now this brown algea has been growing, first on a side of the aquariu, now it all over, they told me its too much phosphate, and a friend have me some kind of fine gravel, and i put a bag in the filtration (i have foam,coal and ceramics)this was 2 weeks ago and its still no better. the questions r:

1) Should i do weekly water changes or once every 2 weeks?
2) When do I change (or wash d foam) ome of the filter media?
3) what can I do to boost my plants, i have good lightning
4)How can i get rid of this brownish algea?

Also i bought a piece of boogwood , i'd like to introduce it, but i know i have to treat it, what's d best way u have found?

Thanks.
 
Originally posted by LMOUTHBASS
possible solution = otocinclus defender of brown algae!
Click to expand...

Otocinclus, or commonly called "Ottos" are a type of algea eating fish that will usually devour brown algea.

You have fertilizer in the substrate, but no plants? Put the plants in now! The aglea is blooming because the fertilizer is giving the algea a good source of nutrients to bloom. You need plants to "out compete" the algea for the nutrients.
 
Hello lostris, this is only your tank maturing, first the tank cycles, after cycling you will get brown algae then after that you will get green algae.


underneath the gravel i had made a layer of fertilizer
Click to expand...

Fertilizers have phosphates in them so all you are doing is adding phosphates and then taking them out with the stuff your friend gave to you.
 
The algae is feeding on the excess nutrients. You should do weekly water changes to help get rid of the excess. There is a method of adding extra potassium to your water and not adding phosphate. I did it when I was getting some brown algae it is worked. You might want to give that a try.
 
I have a bunch of twisted valis, 3 dwarf something, 2 java, an amazon sword,I had 3 but its down to 1 now,and a big one, i dont know its name, its like the valis, but not twisted and bigger.

Regarding light I know I dont have enough. I was thinking that instead of changing the bulb I fix a reflector, by what percentage would that increase my light. And if I buy a new bulb what should I get? I know there r colours and stuff but I dont have a clue.
 
From my personal experience, brown algae(diatoms) dont really care how much light they have or how long its on for...just ambient room light seems to be enough for those little suckers to grow. I had a REALLY bad outbreak about a month ago in my planted Mbuna tank so i bought a rubber pleco and within 3 days he had the tank algae free again and continues too. I tried ottos in my community tank a while back but they are very fragile fish and dont last too long...buy twice as many as you plan to keep if you go that route. I probably wouldnt put a pleco in a tank that small as most likely any would outgrow a 15 gallon fairly quick. As for light, i would go with 40-60 watts, power compact would probably be your best solution. Put CO2 on the tank, either DIY or injected and youll be amazed at how fast your plants will grow. Dont skimp on your water changes either, i would say 25% per week should be more than plenty.
 
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