Brown algae and lazy shrimp

Briko03

Briko03

AC Members
Sep 20, 2004
101
0
0
41
www.nldesign.port5.com
Lately I have noticed an outburst of brown algae on my glass and on some tank ornaments. I have had this before and the shrimp usually gobble it up however they have been very in-active the last few days. I had a dwarf gourami in there and the shrimp seemed to hide, since then i have removed him and have seen no sign of change in behavior with the shrimp. Im worried they might be sick. ANY IDEAS?


Water Conditions:

Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrites: 0ppm
Nitrates: 5ppm
ph: 6.8
 
by algae shrimp, do you mean ghost shrimp... if so, just don't feed them for a day or two... i didn't feed mine for about a day and a half and they went and ate about half of my brown algae..

but they aren't very effective cleaners, but they definetly put a dent in it
 
It has now been several days(3-4) without feeding and the shrimp are still very inactive and much brown algae remains. Usually they are constantly scurrying around the tank in search of algae, now they are barely moving at all, not even eating algae where they are sittin. All other fish appear to happy and healthy. Any imput as to what i should do would be greatly appreciated.
 
get an otto cat or two.. in my dorm tank, i just began having an outbreak that sounds like yours.... i think the only thing i can do is to go buy about 2-3 ottos and when my algae problem is gone transfer all but one to a larger tank.. i'm kinda bummed i really was hoping i could get away with no algae outbreaks :(

is you tank planted? i have java moss that covers 60% of the bottom and a small anachris stem and a larger amazon sword, but this doesnt seem like enough foliage to have so much algae... this morning i checked on my tank and one entire wall is covered, and my sand/clay pots are emersed in it too!
 
Any change in color of the shrimp? They may be needing to molt, and in soft water, they don't have the nutrients they need to do so successfully. Many people supplement their shrimp tanks with iodine, to allow them to molt properly. I, nor a few others, have been able to find scientific evidence that they need the iodine, but it's proven effective for many. Keep in mind they'll need some good hiding places during this time as well, since they need a day or two privacy to allow the new shell to harden.
 
All of the biology dept. at UF supplements the crabs and other inverts with iodine in their tanks. I don't know the exact reasoning behind it, but I can ask next time I'm down there for you, Onion Girl.

I believe it has to do something with hardening the carapace with the different salts. Iodine allows them to draw the salts in. By "salts" CaCO3 is included.
 
Getting shrimp and catfish only act as a deterent to a major algae outbreak
just because you have them dosent mean that you wont get algae in the tank, though they may help keep it from becoming a major problem youll still most likely have to do some scrubbing every know and then... Look for green algae on you hoods and light fixture scrub that and look for brown algae near filters and on glass scrub that too ... hope you get you tanks gleaming :D :D good luck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom