brown algae on plant

[Astramorgaine]

So should I clip the infected leaves, or try to scrape it off? Obviously I have to upgrade my lighting if I've got it growing, any advice?

[Sammie7]

Just try to gently rub it off. No reason to clip off leaves, because you'd probably end up taking off most of them. What kind of lighting and over what size tank do you have now? How long has it been set-up?

[Astramorgaine]

It's a 10 gal I've had running for almost 3 years. I just recently put the plant in, the beginning of Feb. The hood has 2 bulbs, one is 15 watt and the other directly over the plant is a mini florescent.

[Sammie7]

How many watts is the mini-fluorescent? Why don't you use the same light in both sockets? Generally, this algae is associated with new tanks. Have you done/changed anything recently, other than adding the plant? Oh yeah, about your 5 hex, are you upgrading the fish in that tank? It really is too small for those fish, especially all in there at once. I have one just like it.

[John N.]

Increase flow a little bit, and ride out the brown algae wave. It typically goes away on it's own and leaves a healthy plant.

-John N.

[Astramorgaine]

How many watts is the mini-fluorescent? Why don't you use the same light in both sockets? Generally, this algae is associated with new tanks. Have you done/changed anything recently, other than adding the plant? Oh yeah, about your 5 hex, are you upgrading the fish in that tank? It really is too small for those fish, especially all in there at once. I have one just like it.
The florescent is a 10 watt. If put another 10 watt on the other side, that would make it 10 watts per galon, right?
So my 5 gal is overstocked? Would it still be if I moved the dwarf gourami? I've got another 10 gal all set up, just have to wait for the cycle.

[Sammie7]

In my 10 gallon I have 2 10 watt fluorescents. With this I am able to grow many plants. How did you equate this to 10 watts per gallon? If anything, it is 2 watts per gallon, but in smaller tanks the watt per gallon rule doesn't really work.

Tetras are schooling fish and should be kept in groups of at least 5. I would suggest putting them in the 10 gallon. The gourami really should be in a bigger tank as well. If you put all of them in the 10 gallon and added a few more tetras of the same species, to build the group, it would probably be better for them. Though, you could take one species of tetra back to the store and just build up one species, and then get some bottom feeders like pygmy cories. Then you could put some shrimp, or frogs, or a betta, or endlers, or something along those lines in the the 5 gallon hex.

Just to make sure, this 10 gallon you are talking about isn't the one with the paradise fish in it, is it?
The gourami and the paradise fish will fight. A ten gallon is also too small for such a possibly aggressive fish like a paradise fish. It will not be too kind to tank mates with such little territory.

[Astramorgaine]

I think I meant to type 2 watts per gallon, for some reason I had 10 on the brain!
I have a 10 gal with just the paradise fish. It's heated and he seems really happy. He recognizes the food bottle, and swims to the top of the tanks when he sees it. The reason I moved the dwarf gourami is because I found out the hard way that they fight! Mind you, we got this fish before I started doing any research on compatible species! I totally put the cart before the horse, I know, my mistake, and I am correcting it.
I have another 10 gal that is cycling right now, I can't put any fish in it yet or they'll die!
The 5 gal residents are being treated for ich, so I can't put them anywhere until I'm sure I've killed it. I already lost one neon to it. They're also eating and pooping well, and I do the water changes etc. Until I can reorganize them, they just have to stay where they are... Thank you for the great advice!

[Sammie7]

Have you tried raising the temp to kill the ich? http://www.fishlore.com/Articles/CuringIch.htm

[Astramorgaine]

Yep :) The salt heat combo is definitely working!

[Sammie7]

How much longer do you think you have left? Do you know how it started?

[Astramorgaine]

I have absolutely no idea where it (the ich) came from! I'm thinking that the neons were already infected when I got them(end of Jan.). Luckily I was closely observing them and saw it! I started treatment around the 15th of Feb, so I should probably wait a couple of weeks to see if it comes back.

[Sammie7]

Sounds like a plan. I've never dealt with it myself, so I can't give you any pesonal experiences.

[Astramorgaine]

You're lucky! It's worse than head lice, fleas, and dust mites! It's claimed 6 fish from my tanks already... Hopefully I've got it under control and gone!