brown algae

[fishman2000]

how do i keep the brown algae off the side of my tank? it only takes about a half hr to come back after i clean it:mad:

[Andy16]

how long has your tank been setup, how big is it, and how much livestock?

[fishman2000]

its been set up for almost a year its a 55 i have 1 domino damsel,2 spotted puffers,1 hawiian puffer,1 humma trigger,1 fox face,1 rusty angel,2 atlantic long tenacle anemones,1 choc chip star a dragonet a choc tang and a yellow tang a lfs sold me some em tablets but another lfs told me not to use them tests are 0 ammonia 0.25 nitrite 5.0 nitrate and 8.4 ph

[Andy16]

I only have a 20 gallon tank and i dont know much about large tanks, but you seem a bit overstocked. This information will probably help more knowledgable members to help you. Dont phosphates cause algae too? Then that could also be the case for the brown algae.

[mogurnda]

Sounds like you're getting diatoms, which could be controlled by reducing the light or adding some snails. I agree with Andy that the tank sounds a rather overfull. Reducing the fish load would certainly help.

You may have a bit of a conflict. On the one hand, you need a lot of light for the anemones (and therefore for the algae), but the trigger and puffers will eat most snails. Have you experimented at all with snails?

[TKOS]

Make sure to do water changes after you clean the tank walls. This will help remove a lot fo the algae and stop it from spreading around the tank. Water changes will also help to reduce the food source for the algae, which is probably high nitrate levels and phosphates.

[fishman2000]

i know im getting over stocked i stopped buying fish and i have a 150 coming soon but this algae has been a problem since i started with only 2 damsels and two puffers all my fish are small right now the lfs says its nothing to worry about more unsightly than anything thanks

[Andy16]

Why didnt you just get the fish when you had a bigger tank. This would have really helped keep the water stable while you have your current tank.

[TKOS]

While the algae itself is not a major problem and is more unsightly than anything, the cause of the outbreak could be a cause for concern. High levels of nutrients that he algaes live on could lead to an imbalance in your tank that could start to kill off weaker life like inverts.

[mogurnda]

5 ppm NO3 doesn't sound all that high to me.