On all my plants they develop a brownish-black film, but when I check the plant it isn't the plant dying. It is a film over the leaves. I can rub it away but just comes right back after a couple days. I have read in a couple aquarium books that it is from excess iron and more frequent water changes will do the trick, but that has no worked for me. It still keeps coming back. What should I do?
brown stuff on my plants....
- Thread starter ap4lyfe69
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it could be brown algae, is your tank a relatively new setup? About your lights, how much wattage per gallon do you have and how long do you leave it on? Do you have any algae eating fish?
I got 29 gallon tank with 25 watt light. I leave it on approx. 12 hours a day and it was only set up within the last month. The hours of light seems a bit much now that I think about it. But i have 1 chinese algae eater and it is seldom seen munching on the brown stuff.
If the tank's only been up for a month then its most likely brown algae and will go away on its own after awhile.
12 hrs a day isn't too much, you want to leave it on for at least 10hrs a day for planted tanks.
Chinese algae eaters aren't the best algae eaters around, especially once they get older. Check out bristlenose plecos or some otocinlus, they're both excellent algae eaters.
12 hrs a day isn't too much, you want to leave it on for at least 10hrs a day for planted tanks.
Chinese algae eaters aren't the best algae eaters around, especially once they get older. Check out bristlenose plecos or some otocinlus, they're both excellent algae eaters.
get otos! they're awesome and they don't get big at all. they're also algae eating machines. after a bit, you'll need to feed them some blanched leafy greens to keep them going but they're worth it. they eat algae before it can get out of hand.
You are experiencing Diatoms. This is typical for newly set up tanks and will go away over time. Otos are nice little fish that will do a good job on them for you.
Your 25 watts over a 29 gal. tank is not going to give you the required light for many plants, especially if it is NO(normal output) fluorescent. A 29 is a relatively deep tank and will need lighting that will penetrate better for all but the least light-needy plants available.
Len
Your 25 watts over a 29 gal. tank is not going to give you the required light for many plants, especially if it is NO(normal output) fluorescent. A 29 is a relatively deep tank and will need lighting that will penetrate better for all but the least light-needy plants available.
Len
Cool. Good luck with that. I'm probably going to get 2 55watt kits for my 55 since I definitely need more light.
good luck with the otos! they're great. just remember, you may have to provide a little extra food to keep them happy.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!