brown algea!! cure?

[zach119]

i have brown algea starting to grow on my rock what do i do to get ride of it scrubb it off? and what do i need to change in my tank to keep it gone?any help will be greatly appreciated!

 

[talloulou]

http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/algae/diatoms.shtml

an oto would be good for cleaning this up, and if it is diatoms it should be fairly easy to wipe off the glass by hand.

 

[fearlessfisch]

If it's a new tank, this is a normal stage that will pass as the tank matures. Older tanks typically don't have the problems with brown algae.

 

[zach119]

i dont think it is diatoms its not powdery it is very slimy anyonew know what type it is?

 

[talloulou]

diatoms are brown and slimy, quick to grow all over everything glass, plants,ect. Diatoms are also fairly easy to wipe off. I never heard diatoms described as "powdery." I would say they are definitely more slimy and I would bet that this is what you have in your tank.

 

[zach119]

ok so light will help cure that or wiping them off? the diatoms in my saltwater tank are powdery thats why i said powdery sorry for the confusion.

 

[talloulou]

yeah you can wipe the glass with an algae brush and the diatoms come right off, also you can buy an oto that will quickly eat all your diatoms. I have heard that more intense light can discourage them but I have never experienced. It seems to me that lots of water changes helps control the problem but nothing works like an oto. The one time I had a tank where I had a diatom problem I just did tons more pwc, cleaning of the glass, and vacuming and eventually they disappeared only to be replaced by green algae, lol.