brown/tan algae

[bzzh8c]

I've got a new tank running now and the fish seem okay, but the only algae I see building up is a brownish color up high on the holey rock (both real and imitation).

The fish don't seem to pay any attention to it. Am I not getting green algae because of the LED light I'm using. Will a pleco eat this brown stuff?

 

[Mbunaexpert14]

Yes! My friend has the same stuff on his holey rock its brown algae its usally from overfeeding, high temp, and direct sunlight mostly direct sunlight a baby bristlenose or male bristlenose pleco will eat it.


- I love Mbuna and SA cichlids

 

[Freakgecko91]

Yes! My friend has the same stuff on his holey rock its brown algae its usally from overfeeding, high temp, and direct sunlight mostly direct sunlight a baby bristlenose or male bristlenose pleco will eat it.


- I love Mbuna and SA cichlids

"brown algae" is actually diatoms, and are quite normal in a new system. Generally come when there are high silicates in the water, and will go away when those levels decrease. I have a tank right now that I just set up and has diatoms, yet its not in sunlight at all, not over fed, and is not a high temp. The bloom is pretty common, and bristlenose generally do eat diatoms.