Algae problem HELP !!!!

[enchanting]

Hello:

I have a 40 gallon Eclipse tank with young cichlids in it and I would like to know how to control red/brown algae. It grows at such a rapid rate. Please help. Is this dangerous to the fish?

 

[TKOS]

It really isn't dangerous to fish. The best thing you can do is reduce the amount you are feeding the fish, use a gravel vacuum at water changes to get old food and other stuff fromt he gravel and make sure to do weekly water chanegs of 25% or so. This will help reduce the brown algae and eventually it shoudl go away. Many new setups go through this after a month or so. It happened in my betta tank, but eventually with a little work it went away.

 

[happychem]

What are your NH3 and NO2 readings? The algea itself isn't likely to be harmful, but it may be symptomatic of other problems in your water.

How old is your setup?

What type of lighting do you use, and for how long?

How much/how often do you feed?

Check out the sticky in the FW plants section on controlling algea. I'll come back with the link.

edit: look at that! synchronised responses from Halifax!!!

edit: here's the link: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?dept_id=0&siteid=6&acatid=328&aid=714

 

[got_nailed]

Most of the time Red Algae are caused by high nitrites and by a lot of potassium and phosphates. I would clean as much of it out as you can, change 25% of your water every other day for a week with gravel vacuum, I would cut back to just feeding once a day, and if your using Tetra food I would get a new brand. This will get rid of all your Red and Brown Algae and will keep it from coming back. After a week, you shouldn’t have any more growth of the Algae.