Brown Algae/Bacteria

[PeteFishwick]

I am plagued by brown algae covering everything in my tank. Searching other posts indicates that its probably due to the tap water that I'm using for water changes.

Does anyone know what it is in the tap water that the algae feed off?

 

[VDub90]

Welcome!! I am having an algae problem as well. I also use tap water. From what I have read the three biggest causes of outbreaks is.

Overfeeding. Any left over food will add nutrients to the tank which causes algae. Try cutting back the amount of food you feed and how many times a week/day you feed. Really watch how much the fish are eating.

Photo period. Algae use the light so the less light per day, the less the algae can grow. Try cutting back the amount your lights are on. I found a big change when going from 12 hrs a day to 8hrs a day.

Phosphates in the tap water. I think this is the biggest cause of algae from what I have read. Algae love phosphates, maybe getting a phosphate test kit and test your tap water. I have just recently started using Rowa Phos. I'm using a lot less than they suggest and it is working really good.

A good clean up crew will also help, but then you are just fighting the symptom and not addressing the real problem.

 

[Gealcath]

Brown Algae are Diatom algae, they use very little light so turning off the lights wont matter much.


In terms of Diatoms there are 3 things i needs: Free Silica in the water, Phosphates, and Nitrate. If you have an algae problem, see if your tap water contains any Phosphate or Nitrate, if it does you will probably need R/O or Distilled water.