Brown dust algae control?

[RockysDad]

I have a 2G bowl with some Java fern and Anubias without a filter or heater. Its been about a couple of weeks and now there is a fine layer of this brown dust algae (I forgot the name) on the top of the leaves. What would be the best way to control this and not have to rub it off with my fingers to clean it? So of it also forms on the glass. Would ferts or more light help?

TIA...

 

[Arakkis]

Neritina reclivita (Olive green nerites), you'd only need 2 and all that stuff goes bye-bye in less than a week usually

 

[jmhart]

In my experience nerites can be sensitive to lower pH's, such as those found in planted aquaria. Depending on the species, their shells begin to soften the lower you get past pH=7. It takes a delicate balance.

 

[Arakkis]

They get shell degradation but usually don't die for a while until thier shell rots out. But almost all of the snails don't like low Ph. I dunno what else would work in such a small enviro.. Maybe an oto or chinese/burmese pleco but they are sensitive to water conditions. I guess everything has a drawback.. =)

 

[jmhart]

What kind of light do you have on it? With no filter, I'm assuming you aren't putting co2 in. Without co2, it's likely your pH is in a level that would be safe for nerites.

 

[RockysDad]

This tank is in my cubicle at work which has one of those 36" NO florescent bulbs. It is on 24/7 most of the time except when I remember to turn it off at night on week days. I'm wondering if it is too much of the wrong kind of light. Maybe I should find a lamp or something to give it more light then put that on a timer. I do water changes about once a week. The plants seems to be growing a bit and other then the coating of dust they look healthy. Maybe I'll just live with it...

Do you think Excel might help?

No snails for me, sorry...

 

[jmhart]

Excel generally does help with algae, but I'd say your biggest problem is the light. If the plants are growing(even slowly), it's a good enough light to grow algae. I'd look into getting A)a 5500k bulb or higher, they make them in the size you are refering and B)a timer. Timer is the easy/cheap part, pick up the cheapest one at Wal-mart and set it to turn on just before you get to work and turn off just after you leave. That really should solve a lot of the problem.

 

[Arakkis]

in that case. just try two nerites. It'll do the job and it's a pretty cheap fix

And change the bulb to a compact fluro.. you can probably get one from a LFS that replaces old Eclipse incandescents to fluro.