At least i think its brown it has a brown look but everyone likes the look. I have a 55 gal. tank and a home made wet/dry in a 10 gal. sump. In the tank is about 2 inches of substrait some black lava rock and a drift wood branch. Recently some brownish algae started to grow on the branch the rocks and anything plastic and some glass but the heater and the substrait are untuched. I was wondering if the algae is a bad thing or good or it does not matter just some people hate the look?
brown algae?
- Thread starter paradox slayer
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Depends on who you ask.
To me, algae is a representation of the nutrients in the tank. Lots of algae growing means lots of nutrients available for them--or, lots of light to feed them, with a few nutrients to supplement. I don't worry too much about the algae in my setups, other than to keep the front clean, since many fish and such happily eat the algae, and it provides a safe haven for microcrusaceans to reproduce in as well.
If it's not threatening corals (algae growth on corals is very bad), and you don't dislike it, I wouldn't worry much. If it gets overwhelming, then you need to start looking at reducing nutrients in the setup, or creating competition for them (Ie, beneficial macro algaes).
To me, algae is a representation of the nutrients in the tank. Lots of algae growing means lots of nutrients available for them--or, lots of light to feed them, with a few nutrients to supplement. I don't worry too much about the algae in my setups, other than to keep the front clean, since many fish and such happily eat the algae, and it provides a safe haven for microcrusaceans to reproduce in as well.
If it's not threatening corals (algae growth on corals is very bad), and you don't dislike it, I wouldn't worry much. If it gets overwhelming, then you need to start looking at reducing nutrients in the setup, or creating competition for them (Ie, beneficial macro algaes).