Brown Algae gone

[Phyroath]

Hi everyone! Just want to thank AC members who have helped me battling against diatoms. After I upgraded my light, everything tends to be improving and the algae has gone. The only problem I have is the brown stuffs sticking to the leaves which make my tank looks half brown and half green. My Pleco has since uprooting some of the plant while damaging the leaves. What can I do with this? Move my pleco to another tank and prune the plants? Appreciate your comments.

I assume the diatoms have gone because new plants I have added are not infected.

I found one of the causes - a piece of metal (copper) for PVC connection that I used for my DIY spray bar. I was really stupid.

 

[Fordtrannyman]

I thought there might have been an outside influence contributing to the diatom growth.

Usually that brown stuff will just rub off of the leaves. Plecos can be unruly.
Do you have a source to acquire a few Oto's (otocinclus)? They love brown algae and can get in tight spots near plant nodes. They are just as effective as Pleco's.
They're more planted tank friendly than a common Pleco too.

 

[jpappy789]

diatoms will eventually go away on their own, assuming this is a new tank. don't waste your money on oto's unless you actually want them as fish. just wipe of the brown algae for the time being.

 

[Phyroath]

I believe Ford is right when extra-terrestrial object is introduced into the tank - in addition to the other causes. My tank had been recycled and since I connected the spray bar there came the outbreak. Actually have tried rubbing this stuff off the leaves but tend to be hard for some soft leave plants- Swords are OK as Plecos can do their jobs. I have asked my Lfs several times for Otos as I also love it too but nothing happened. Anyway thanks both of you for helps.

 

[Fordtrannyman]

Actually have tried rubbing this stuff off the leaves but tend to be hard for some soft leave plants

Can you scrape it with your fingernail?
If not, then it's probably a form of BBA.

 

[Phyroath]

Ford I am not sure in the case of BBA. When I wiped some leaves with my fingers there came some brown dust like/dirt much on the tips of Java fern windelov and moneywort. On swords', it came as several brown spots and on the glass as well. If it is BBA then it would be my nightmare.

 

[Ulan]

Some livebearers, like guppies, like to eat that stuff. Mine were done with it in about two days, and the plants looked like new .

 

[Phyroath]

Oh cool! I would add some of them this weekend. Now I do not have livebearers in my tank. Obviously I have some in the past but they all died from bad water condition - dosing fert / CO2 with low light that plants could not use. Now I think my water condition is somewhat OK. The only test I have done is the PH which is constant at 6 for the different times of day I tested and same as my tape water.

 

[Fordtrannyman]

Ford I am not sure in the case of BBA. When I wiped some leaves with my fingers there came some brown dust like/dirt much on the tips of Java fern windelov and moneywort. On swords', it came as several brown spots and on the glass as well. If it is BBA then it would be my nightmare.

No, if it dusted up it's Diatoms.
I've never seen or read where BBA existed on glass.

Do you have a digital camera?
I would love to see your plants and setups.

 

[Phyroath]

Ford, I do not have a good camera however will have some pics soon.