A cory in an African Cichlid tank?

Well I'm not a newb here.

The tank has been running for 8 months.

I test for Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate. On top of this I have studied the water report for my tap water and even talked to people at the water plant about the contents of the tap water. We have very clean water here. Just a ton of Carbonates/Bicarbonates that make the PH so high.

The cycle has been completed since almost 7 months ago.

I continually test the water periodically and no spikes or recycle has occured.

The tank is not near any window.

I have put the fish on starvation servings of food to try and control the algae. No help.

I change out 50% of the water weekly while I vacuum the gravel. The gravel has never been removed, just the decorations. The filter is treated like a holy shrine. When it is time to clean it, it is done in the tank water just removed from the tank, and promptly replaced into the tank.

I have not had anywhere near this much difficulty in my 29 gallon with controlling the brown algae.

I'm at a loss. I just want to get it fixed somehow.

Anybody have an idea?
 
Whats your lighting situation? How long do you leave them on as well? If your tank is not planted, reducing the lighting amount is definatley a start in the right direction I would think
 
Yeah, but it's brown algae. From everything I've studied brown algae thrives in low light tanks. If I increase the lighting then I can allow green algae to outcompete the brown, but still...
 
I recently purchased a 72 gallon tank with a large Golden Severum and a large peacock cichlid in it. It also contained 2 giant danios, a bala shark, a red tailed shark, 3 gouramis and another cichlid of some kind. As I was netting the fish to move it I discovered a lone Cory. It had been in the tank for over a year and looked to be just fine. None of the others ever bothered it. I say give it a try, if the other fish start bothering it then pull it out.
 
I delibrately run somewhat intense lighting, and fewer water changes in my mbuna tanks to grow green algae. Sometimes I even get it in shades of purple. The mbuna graze on the algae all day. But never eliminate it. They do not seem to graze on brown algae much at all.
 
Hey Watcher, haven't seen your name in a while. Been busy?

I agree with the comments about the cory not doing well with the cichlids. Not a good match, IME.

I don't know what to do about the brown algae (diatoms). My understanding is that diatoms thrive in water high in silicates, so I wonder if your water (which is probably pretty hard, given the high pH) contains them. If you starting cutting the tap water with distilled or RO water, that might rob the diatoms of some of their necessary nutrients...

Good luck,
Jim
 
Hmmm, that's the best idea yet JSchmidt!

I may try that for a test run.

Thanks.
 
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