Going Crazy.. Algae problems...

[jugstah]

I'm going nuts.

I get an nasty outbreak of brown algae, so I do what I read, I change 50% of the water and scrub everything down, and replace my polyester floss in my filter.. and still, brown algae continues...

So... I decide to leave the lights on even more, do another 50% water change two weeks later, and scrub everything down, and replace the filter floss.. I get a outbreak of green algae...

And then my Jack Dempseys decide to do their mating ritual, and laid eggs.

Now, I'm loathe to change water now that my jacks laid eggs.

I guess I need to consider purchasing a diatom filter at some point.

 

[jugstah]

Oh, and I did test the pH of the water, and it seems to be on the normal... I can't afford a test kit for nitrite, nitrate and ammonia so I guess i need to put that on my list for when i run into some extra dough... :rant2:

 

[Emg]

Jug, you might get more informed answers to your questions if you post this in the "aquatic plants" section. Plenty of planted tank folks hang out there and I'm sure they'll have plenty of good advice for you !

 

[rrkss]

Is this a new tank? Brown algae seems to be a problem in newer tanks which will eventually go away by itself later on.

 

[Kissofthegorami]

If large water changes are not possible right now, small frequent ones may be called for. Feed less? Otos eat almost exclusively brown algae, you might want to consider introducing a couple. Brown algae tends to disapear suddenly when whatever condition it found favorable is gone.

 

[nomadofthehills]

How often do you do water changes?

Algae feeds on nitrates, so water cahgnes will cut that back. Ideally you should be doing a 25-50% change once a week as it is.

 

[jugstah]

My brown algae issue went away, and I'm having green algae issues now, maybe i'll change the water 50% and cut back on the light, and keep changing water 50% and see what happens :read: