algae help please!

[fishyfriend]

i am having problems with brown algae growing on some lace coral that i have in an african cichlid tank, i have 2 electric yellows, and two electric blues and one pleco. I know that the pleco will only eat the green algae, an even if he could he cant eat it off of the coral (too rough) what are some things that i can do to either cut down the ;ugly brown growth, besides limiting the light? is there another fish i should get instead of the pleco? I was thinking aobut trading him anyways. (I didnt realize he would get to 20 inches.) I have heard that bristlenose pleco is ok in cichlid tank, but it still wouldnt be able to eat it off of the coral.(correct??)i would like to have a fish do the dirty work, rather than chemically treat the water. Thanks for any advice. all is apprecitated.

[Raskolnikov]

More water changes and and an algae brush would be what I recommend to cure your algae woes.

[happychem]

Reduce feedings as well, algae grows from ammonia, less food means less ammonia.

Even if your tank is cycled and you measure 0 NH3, there's still a turnover, fish release it, it comes from uneaten food, break down of organic matter, etc. Then the plants and bateria get their crack at it. A 0ppm NH3 reading simply means that your consumption balances production.

[FishKeeper-16]

Maintane a regular pH and an acid pH can cause brown algea and a uv sterilizer can rid a tank of algea and is safe so you dont have to use chemicals but the uv units are expensive.

[fishyfriend]

well thank you all for the helpful info, as far as my water goes i change it weekly. the pH is generally 8.2- 8.4 which is alkaline. it usually reads 8.2 for two days after water change then goes to 8.4. whats funny is the algae seems to onluy be growing on one piece of coral. yes the tanks is cycled and NH3 levels almost allways reads 0.0 ppm. ev ery once and a while it will spike to about 0.25- 0.50 ppm but that is generally after i missed a water change. As far as food goes i only feed them once a day but i do throw in two or three algae wafers everyother day for the pleco. which the other fish tear up as soon as it enters the water. i will try the algae brush (if i can find one) but i am still open to other ideas. would like to use a fish.

[fishyfriend]

oh yeah i almost forgot about the UV. Sounds like it is probably out of my price range. but thank you for replying

[sammydee]

Your pH is rising because you have the coral in your tank I think. I think it can act as a buffer and keep your pH high (correct me if I am wrong). Maybe you could get an Otto? I have heard good things about them, although i'm not sure if they'd be suitable for your tank or not.