Brown Algae

[plthomp24]

I am having trouble with brown algae in my plastic plants. I would like to use live plants, but I put together a Malawi tank, and everything that I have read says that real plants and cichlids don’t mix. I do weekly water changes of approx 50% but my plants are covered in this stuff. My tank has been up since Aug 2005 and everything is cycled. Tanks specs are: 55 Gal, 78 Deg F. PH 7.8, Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 5-8. Will a Pleco help with this, or am I just going to have to put up with it?

Thanks

 

[YuccaPatrol]

Since they are artificial plants, why not just pull them out once in a while and scrub the algae off of them in the sink?

 

[hondaman]

Well algae... I had a problem with that. Here is my post and what I did to fix it.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63630

Hope it helps.

 

[echoofformless]

Otos will eat brown algae, so I assume plecs will as well.

Brown algae is generally found in younger tanks and it's a sign that all systems are working properly.

I really wouldn't worry about it at all. It often just disappears on its own, and it's also so very easy to clean off of the surfaces.

Just make sure you aren't leaving the lights on too long, and that the tank isn't near a window. Don't overfeed. It's really not a big deal. It's perfectly natural and normal.