MonkeyMonk86
Aquarium Advice FINatic
I'm posting with the hope that this info helps someone researching Brown Algae / Diatoms.
I spent 2 weeks reading everything I could on diatoms b/c my big tank had a reoccurring problem with them. None of the articles ever mentioned Lava Rock.
I tried phosguard, I changed fish foods, I fed way less, I removed and cleaned thing outside the tank, I 50% PWC every 4 days. I added Purigen.
Finally, Andy Sager, told me (related to a different issues...including the pH of 8.2) to become a Sherlock Holmes and figure it out.
I stopped reading and started observing and thinking on my own.
The brown algae always started on and by the rhizome plants attached to the lava rock.
I looked up lava rock and found it is loaded with silica. DA!!!! (** bangs head on wall**) I removed all the lava rocks, detached and saved the plants.
Today, 24 hrs later, no new brown algae and 1st time ever pH 7.4 ( same as our tap water). All my aquariums always read 8.2, but all my aquariums had that same lava rock in them. ( I'll be removing all the lava rock from them this week, too)
Also, since lava rock has a huge surface area, I realized that for the next week, it is going to be daily water testing, as it is unknown how much beneficial bacteria that I removed when I removed them.
Bottom line: If you have stubborn brown algae ... Look for where the phosphates or silicates are coming from. Where does it start in your tank? And, remove that object. In my case, remove all lava rock.
I'm sooo happy!!! And, many thanks to Andy Sager!!!!
(Friend of Bill W., One day at a time)
I spent 2 weeks reading everything I could on diatoms b/c my big tank had a reoccurring problem with them. None of the articles ever mentioned Lava Rock.
I tried phosguard, I changed fish foods, I fed way less, I removed and cleaned thing outside the tank, I 50% PWC every 4 days. I added Purigen.
Finally, Andy Sager, told me (related to a different issues...including the pH of 8.2) to become a Sherlock Holmes and figure it out.
I stopped reading and started observing and thinking on my own.
The brown algae always started on and by the rhizome plants attached to the lava rock.
I looked up lava rock and found it is loaded with silica. DA!!!! (** bangs head on wall**) I removed all the lava rocks, detached and saved the plants.
Today, 24 hrs later, no new brown algae and 1st time ever pH 7.4 ( same as our tap water). All my aquariums always read 8.2, but all my aquariums had that same lava rock in them. ( I'll be removing all the lava rock from them this week, too)
Also, since lava rock has a huge surface area, I realized that for the next week, it is going to be daily water testing, as it is unknown how much beneficial bacteria that I removed when I removed them.
Bottom line: If you have stubborn brown algae ... Look for where the phosphates or silicates are coming from. Where does it start in your tank? And, remove that object. In my case, remove all lava rock.
I'm sooo happy!!! And, many thanks to Andy Sager!!!!
(Friend of Bill W., One day at a time)