Brown algae, 29g

D

Dan06

AC Members
Jan 22, 2006
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Hey everyone!

My 29 gallon tank has some brown algae in it, mainly on the big rock I have and on a fake plant. Very little is on the substrate and a just a very very light coating on the glass. I just swipe the cleaning pad over it once and it all comes off...

Anyways, I have read that these diatoms are fed from silicates (no idea what this is, that's why I'm asking) and from Nitrates. I have 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrites and I'm reading 0 Nitrates, but I DO have a few specs of green algae on the big rock, so I am lead to believe I do have Nitrates.

I have a pleco that feeds on the rock nearly all day, so I am hesitant to wash his food source...

Anyways, I only have a 17w light, should I consider upgrading to a higher wattage bulb? I refuse to treat the water with chemicals. My water is crystal clear, although the surface of the water has an oily kind of appearance to it, also I've noticed that if I run my finger around on the inside of the filter (whisper 30), there is a black film that will be on my hand....

Thanks for your help!
 
Increasing the lighting will decrease the brown algae but increase the green algae.

So just pick a color and go from there on what to do. :joke:
 
also if you have fish in the tank, unless you have a LOT of plants, you should be getting some nitrates. those can only be removed by water changes and by plants, though you still need to do water changes even if you do have plants and 0nitrates.
 
Tank is over 8 weeks old. I do have fish, but only 3.

I do two 20% water changes a week.

Can anyone explain Silicates to me?
 
Silicates are nutrients that can be used by the diatoms to make their glass shell. Brown algae is rather normal in a new tank and will go away on its own over time. In my established tanks, I can't even grow brown algae if I tried to. Just wait it out and scrape it if it bothers you.
 
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