A is for AAAAAH brown Algae!

[harleraven]

These stupid diatoms won't go away! I've increased water changes to keep nitrates down more, I'm scrubbing the glass daily, and I've started taking out the decorations to scrub them down, too. What else can I do to keep this stupid stuff from taking over? I don't want to kill the good bacteria by over cleaning, but it's starting to get ridiculous.

The tank is about a month old (a month from time of adding fish). Nitrates are a bit high at last test, but under 40 ppm. Everything else is just right, so the nitrogen cycle is still going strong. I have the light on for 8 hours a day, but I've read brown algae likes it dark anyway. Should I increase the hours of light?

[ChoclateBetta]

I hear you in my 10 gallon I have blue green algae problem tons of plants 100% weekly water changes filtered heated and it gets better with every week.

[aokashi]

give it to me!!!

[harleraven]

What do I DO about the stupid stuff? It's driving me nuts! I don't want to do 100% water changes, as that is stressful to the bacteria and the fish. I've increased from 20% weekly to 20% biweekly, and I am thinking of increasing again to three times a week.

Originally Posted by aokashi

give it to me!!!

You want the brown algae? You are welcome to it!

[ChoclateBetta]

Originally Posted by aokashi

give it to me!!!

I dont get it?

[aokashi]

I have scuds and seed shrimps and copepods who love to graze on the stuff!

[xShainax]

Get a few oto's. They love brown algae and can clean your tank in a few days

[aokashi]

let's tru to get to the source of your problem.
what kind of lights are you using?
6500k? or more orange?
do you have any plants?

try and keep your nitrates under 20ppm too.
40 will kill shrimps. lol.

[xShainax]

It's still a new tank maybe that's the problem?

[aokashi]

it's cycled :O so it's not really a new tank problem :/