Let's Get Rid of Brown Algae! - Aquarium Advice

ferret · 06-20-2004, 01:07 PM

Need some help :)

I've got a 90 gallon, fairly heavily planted, nice stock of fish (See sig), and 220 watt of light. It doesn't have a CO system (On my list, just haven't had time/money to get it), and the biggest problem is algae. A little touch of black bearded algae here and there, but I remove that by hand. The big one is that slimy brown algae.

I need something that can eat or kill it off. Oto's apparently won't touch the stuff, and although I saw my new emerald cories "sniffing" at it and looking like they were gonna eat it, I don't think they will. I can't do snails due to the clown loaches, and I'm not sure about shrimp. I have a feeling the loaches might eat them as well?

I'll post a tank shot later. I'm actually somewhat embarassed, because some of the newer plants are a big yellowed, came that way from the store, but was all I could find this week.

Menagerie · 06-20-2004, 01:22 PM

My plecos eat the brown stuff. You could add one of the smaller plecos such as the clown, rubber lip or bristle nose.

poppab02 · 06-20-2004, 03:15 PM

plecos are brown algae eating monsters. Before I got plecos I had the stuff all over. Now, I have none.

krap101 · 06-20-2004, 04:56 PM

you could try an [acronym:e1e0f860f1="Siamese Algae Eater"]SAE[/acronym:e1e0f860f1]/[acronym:e1e0f860f1="Chinese Algae Eater"]CAE[/acronym:e1e0f860f1] flying fox or sumtin in that area. i heard [acronym:e1e0f860f1="Siamese Algae Eater"]SAE[/acronym:e1e0f860f1]'s eat a wide variety of algae's but i dont know which ones

Fruitbat · 06-20-2004, 06:03 PM

Farlowella and Sturiosoma (the 'Royal Farlowella') are both brown algae eaters par excellence!!!

ferret · 06-20-2004, 07:51 PM

I'll have to check on the plecos. The local shops carry rubbernose plecos (same as rubberlip for all my researching can tell), but I haven't found bristlenoses or clown plecos.

Whatever I get needs to not eat all my plants :P

sissy58 · 06-20-2004, 11:15 PM

I don't know about the plecos but my otto sure devoured the brown algae that was all over my tank. It took him about 2-3 days to clean it up nicely and I haven't seen it since I've had him. Don't know why yours hasnt touched it.

FMZ · 06-21-2004, 12:42 AM

Get a BN if you can, you wont regret it

I bought one and within hours, it took care of my brown algae

pkremer · 06-21-2004, 03:02 AM

I don't know, it seems that a lot of people on this forum are anti-chinese algae eater. Maybe this is because they can get aggressive as they get older?

Anyway, I was having horrible trouble with brown algae in my 38 gallon. Put a chinese algae eater in, and I kid you not, within 36 hours the tank was sparkling. I think if you put one in, he'd put a hurting on that brown stuff.

I don't mean to kidnap your thread, but I have a question regarding algae problems myself. Like I mentioned, the [acronym:309b619955="Chinese Algae Eater"]CAE[/acronym:309b619955] cleaned out my brown algae problem, but now I am having some green algae issues. At first, I was scared because I had a very efficient [acronym:309b619955="Chinese Algae Eater"]CAE[/acronym:309b619955] and a clown pleco in there. I was concerned about them having enough to eat. Every time I dropped an algae wafer in (even after dark) the loaches would get it.

However, now I am noticing that there seems to be an overabundance of green algae. It is growing at the top of my large decoration (you can see a pic of my aquarium in my gallery - "Updated Aquarium"), and the [acronym:309b619955="Chinese Algae Eater"]CAE[/acronym:309b619955] doesn't get that high anymore! He seems to only clean the bottom. I added the 2 oto's from my [acronym:309b619955="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:309b619955] tank in there, and they spend all their time sucking on the glass (which also has a fine film of algae on it constantly). Now my [acronym:309b619955="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:309b619955] tank is full of brown algae again, I can't win!

Don't get me wrong, I like all my algae eaters, but I don't want half my bioload to be them!

Is there a better way to take care of this?

Paul

PS - Neither of these tanks get ANY sunlight, they are in my basement with covered windows, [acronym:309b619955="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:309b619955] at 77 degrees, 38 at 79 degrees, whatever lighting originally came with the hood.

Aquafriend · 06-21-2004, 03:38 AM

I heard that the brown algae can be caused by not enough light. I'm dealing with brown algae big time, and I don't have lights for one tank, and I had the lights off in the other because I didn't think they were needed. Now I turn the lights on for several hours a day, so I'll see if it helps. Also, isn't it true that high nitrates cause brown algae?

06-20-2004, 01:07 PM	#1
ferret Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,377	Let's Get Rid of Brown Algae! Need some help :) I've got a 90 gallon, fairly heavily planted, nice stock of fish (See sig), and 220 watt of light. It doesn't have a CO system (On my list, just haven't had time/money to get it), and the biggest problem is algae. A little touch of black bearded algae here and there, but I remove that by hand. The big one is that slimy brown algae. I need something that can eat or kill it off. Oto's apparently won't touch the stuff, and although I saw my new emerald cories "sniffing" at it and looking like they were gonna eat it, I don't think they will. I can't do snails due to the clown loaches, and I'm not sure about shrimp. I have a feeling the loaches might eat them as well? I'll post a tank shot later. I'm actually somewhat embarassed, because some of the newer plants are a big yellowed, came that way from the store, but was all I could find this week. __________________ Gamer? Like Counter-strike, World of Warcraft, or just games in general? Visit http://www.gamehavoc.com/

06-20-2004, 01:22 PM	#2
Menagerie Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 11,266 Images: 77	My plecos eat the brown stuff. You could add one of the smaller plecos such as the clown, rubber lip or bristle nose. __________________

06-20-2004, 04:56 PM	#4
krap101 Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Roscoe, IL Posts: 3,824 Images: 12	you could try an [acronym:e1e0f860f1="Siamese Algae Eater"]SAE[/acronym:e1e0f860f1]/[acronym:e1e0f860f1="Chinese Algae Eater"]CAE[/acronym:e1e0f860f1] flying fox or sumtin in that area. i heard [acronym:e1e0f860f1="Siamese Algae Eater"]SAE[/acronym:e1e0f860f1]'s eat a wide variety of algae's but i dont know which ones __________________ Wizards first rule-People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true. Wizards second rule-The greatest harm can result from the best intentions. Wizards third rule-Passion rules reason. Wizards fourth rule-There is magic in forgiveness the magic to heal! In the forgiveness you grant, and more so in the forgiveness you receive. Wizards fifth rule-Mind what people do, not only what they say, for deeds will betray a lie. Wizards sixth rule-The only sovereign you can allow to rule you is reason. Wizards seventh rule-Life is the future, not the past Wizards eighth rule-Deserve victory. Wizards ninth rule-Contradictions don't exist, in whole or in part.

06-20-2004, 06:03 PM	#5
Fruitbat Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Garland,Texas Posts: 1,818 Images: 30	Farlowella and Sturiosoma (the 'Royal Farlowella') are both brown algae eaters par excellence!!! __________________ Loaches: Botia almorhae, B. kubotai, B. striata, Noemacheilus triangularis, Schistura sp.aff.nicholsi, S. vinciguerre, Sinibotia robusta, Vaillantella maassi Bichirs: Polypterus senegalus, P. senegalus (albino), P. delhezi, P. sp. 'Congo', P. palmas polli, P.weeksii, P. ornatipinnis, P. palmas buettikoferi, P. retropinnis, P. endlicheri congicus, Polypterus bichir lapradei, P. palmas palmas, Erpetoichthys calabaricus Anabantids: Ctenopoma acutirostre, Ct. ocellatum, Ct. oxyrhynchum, Ct. kingsleyae, Microctenopoma ansorgii, Mct. fasciolatum, Trichogaster trichopterus, Belontia signata, B. hasselti, Anabas testudineus, Macropodus opercularis, Betta splendens Catfish: Dekeyseria sp. (L-052)Sturiosoma panamense, Hypancistrus inspector (L-201), Synodontis eupterus, Synodontis nigrita, Synodontis brichardi, Synodontis soloni, Anaspidoglanis macrostoma Barbs/Rasboras: Capoeta tetrazona, Rasbora borapetensis, Labeo cyclorhynchus Tetras: Phenacogrammus interruptus Other: Xenomystus nigri, Papyrocranus afer, Pantodon buchholzi, Oxymormyrus boulengeri, Protopterus annectens andPhractolaemus ansorgei

06-20-2004, 07:51 PM	#6
ferret Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,377	I'll have to check on the plecos. The local shops carry rubbernose plecos (same as rubberlip for all my researching can tell), but I haven't found bristlenoses or clown plecos. Whatever I get needs to not eat all my plants :P __________________ Gamer? Like Counter-strike, World of Warcraft, or just games in general? Visit http://www.gamehavoc.com/

06-20-2004, 03:15 PM	#3
poppab02 Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: May 2004 Location: New Orleans Posts: 542 Images: 3	plecos are brown algae eating monsters. Before I got plecos I had the stuff all over. Now, I have none.

06-20-2004, 11:15 PM	#7
sissy58 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: May 2004 Location: Virginia USA Posts: 17	I don't know about the plecos but my otto sure devoured the brown algae that was all over my tank. It took him about 2-3 days to clean it up nicely and I haven't seen it since I've had him. Don't know why yours hasnt touched it.

06-21-2004, 12:42 AM	#8
FMZ Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 21	Get a BN if you can, you wont regret it I bought one and within hours, it took care of my brown algae

06-21-2004, 03:02 AM	#9
pkremer Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: May 2004 Location: Fargo, ND Posts: 478 Images: 3	I don't know, it seems that a lot of people on this forum are anti-chinese algae eater. Maybe this is because they can get aggressive as they get older? Anyway, I was having horrible trouble with brown algae in my 38 gallon. Put a chinese algae eater in, and I kid you not, within 36 hours the tank was sparkling. I think if you put one in, he'd put a hurting on that brown stuff. I don't mean to kidnap your thread, but I have a question regarding algae problems myself. Like I mentioned, the [acronym:309b619955="Chinese Algae Eater"]CAE[/acronym:309b619955] cleaned out my brown algae problem, but now I am having some green algae issues. At first, I was scared because I had a very efficient [acronym:309b619955="Chinese Algae Eater"]CAE[/acronym:309b619955] and a clown pleco in there. I was concerned about them having enough to eat. Every time I dropped an algae wafer in (even after dark) the loaches would get it. However, now I am noticing that there seems to be an overabundance of green algae. It is growing at the top of my large decoration (you can see a pic of my aquarium in my gallery - "Updated Aquarium"), and the [acronym:309b619955="Chinese Algae Eater"]CAE[/acronym:309b619955] doesn't get that high anymore! He seems to only clean the bottom. I added the 2 oto's from my [acronym:309b619955="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:309b619955] tank in there, and they spend all their time sucking on the glass (which also has a fine film of algae on it constantly). Now my [acronym:309b619955="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:309b619955] tank is full of brown algae again, I can't win! Don't get me wrong, I like all my algae eaters, but I don't want half my bioload to be them! Is there a better way to take care of this? Paul PS - Neither of these tanks get ANY sunlight, they are in my basement with covered windows, [acronym:309b619955="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:309b619955] at 77 degrees, 38 at 79 degrees, whatever lighting originally came with the hood. __________________ 38 Gallon (Freshwater): 1 Green Swordtail, 3 Yo-Yo Loaches, 1 Clown Pleco, 1 Blue Gourami, 4 Otocinclus, 7 Cherry Barbs. 46 Gallon (Saltwater): 60 pounds Lalo Live Rock, 60 pounds aragonite sand, 1 Coral Beauty Angelfish, 1 Peppermint Shrimp, 1 Mushroom Coral, 1 Emerald Crab, various snails and hermit crabs. 10 Gallon (Saltwater quarantine):

06-21-2004, 03:38 AM	#10
Aquafriend Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: May 2004 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 97	I heard that the brown algae can be caused by not enough light. I'm dealing with brown algae big time, and I don't have lights for one tank, and I had the lights off in the other because I didn't think they were needed. Now I turn the lights on for several hours a day, so I'll see if it helps. Also, isn't it true that high nitrates cause brown algae?

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