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Brown Algae/Diatoms SOS

1K views 4 replies 2 participants last post by  juanitawolf 
#1 ·
Hi, so I've never had a problem with algae like this before. I haven't been on the forum much lately as I've been very busy but need advice and know you guys can help me. A while ago, I added a java fern attached to a coconut husk to my fish tank, and later added an anubius. I've had swords and moss balls before with no issues in this exact same tank in the past. Now, weeks later, I'm having CRAZY algae problems. I've upped my water changes and am limiting the lights. Some days I am not turning on my tank light. This brown algae keeps appearing on the walls, the substrate, my terracotta pot, EVERYWHERE. What can I do to control it and why did it randomly appear? I never had algae problems with my tank last time it was planted and I had the light on more often! At this point I want to get rid of the plants. Any advice on getting this to go away?
 
#3 ·
Interesting. I have a filtered, 2.5 gallon tank with one betta. I used to do water changes twice weekly 25% or more with a siphon and one 50% every other week. I've since upped that to doing a 50% once a week along with 25% changes 2-3 times a week. Is it possible to do too many water changes? I'll get a nitrates test kit this weekend if I can. Ammonia levels and pH are both stable though, those are the only water parameter tests I have. Is there any chance I could have gotten a bad plant that brought this on? I ordered it online. In the past I used those tube plants from petsmart and I've never had brown algae so I'm just really confused and frustrated!
 
#4 ·
If I got rid of the plant and QT'ed it in another tank, do you think they would go down? Or is like an infection? My boy really likes the plant and was fin biting really badly and about a week after I added the plant I noticed regrowth and was happy. Now he's fin biting again and I'm just so worried. This tank used to be great but now with this problem the biofilm, some filter current issues, ugh. It's making me want to splurge on a fluval spec V.
 
#5 ·
without a test kit is pretty much a thing of trial and error, to get rid of mine i got some phosguard and placed part of the product in one of the filters
 
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