MAJOR Brown Alge

[zave2340]

Okay, so i have a small 1 gallon tank with 1 Betta in it. But, the tanks is getting over run with brown alge. Any ideas?

its on the tank, gravel, 2 plants.

[Raskolnikov]

Otocynclus Catfish.

I had 2 of them clean all the diatoms off of the walls, fake plants, and decor of a 30g quarantine tank in under 24 hours. This is one of the very few times I'd recommend a fish to solve a problem in a tank.

Of course, once they've gone through that, you'll need to supplement their diet. I've had luck in the past with sinking algae tabs.

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[zave2340]

this is a 1 gallon tank, i cant no put any mroe fish in here, The alge eater was the first idea i thogut of when i saw it comeing, but the tank is just to small. any other ideas?

[Holly9937]

Fake plants? Buy a toothbrush especially for cleaning your tanks and clean the plants with warm water, for the rest of the tank, they sell algae cleaning things, like a sponge on a stick. I don't know much about snails, but you might be able to find one that is too big for your betta to eat, and will clean the algae. Might be able to do a little research on that. Good luck

[Raskolnikov]

My bad, I read it as "10 gallon". You're quite right about being maxed out with the betta already.

Increasing the quantity and frequency of water changes as well as manually cleaning the ornaments will help keep it in check.

[mooman]

If it is getting any direct light from a window (even for as little as an hour per day) move it. Not only will it cause algea, but any direct sunlight on such a small tank might be causing drastic temp swings.

[zave2340]

will it hurt the betta? :help:

[Oddball~]

A snail would suffice. ONE apple snail MAY be too much, but it would probably be ok, since snails don't produce much of a bioload.

Why not get a 2.5 gallon tank for $8 at Wal-mart or $10 at PetSmart, then add the betta and 2 Apple Snails... Just make sure you remove all the eggs if you see any.

[Kabong]

Japanese trap door snails do a good job and don't eat the plants, also the little pond snails that come in on the plants are good. Sometimes you can get them fom the lfs for free.

[anonapersona]

turn on lights when you are looking at the fish, then turn light off.

[Holly9937]

Drastic temperature swings aren't good, they can stress the fish out and make them susceptible to disease, the temp should not change more than 2-3 degrees in a 24 hour period

[Kasakato]

How old or new is the tank? How long do you leave the light on?

[zave2340]

the tank is about 3months old and i leave the very samll incandecent light on 24/7 Perhaps. would a black out help this problem?

[Boohoo]

With an incadescent on 24/7 doesn't that make your temp. rise? Incadescents are not ment to be left on more than 8-10 hours AFAIK.

[Kasakato]

Just leave it. Brown alage is common in new tanks. By the time it reaches 6 months, it should be gone.

On a side note all your tanks are over stocked.