red algae ONLY - no green stuff!

[mgkaelen]

in both of my tanks (planted/non planted), i ONLY have red/brown algae --- nothing green! my oto takes care of it for the most part, but why is this? i read that it was due to too MUCH light perhaps? why dont' i have any green algae? aren't "algae blooms" green? is that what you guys refer to? why am i the only one without green algae!

 

[Fruitbat]

mgkaelen....

The red/brown algae (usually diatoms) are associated with LOW light levels and high levels of silica in the water. How much light do you have on the tank?? (I'm assuming you're referring to the 10 gallon tank in your signature.)

 

[mgkaelen]

oh, LOW light ?? i have 2wpg in the 10 gallon, which i keep on roughly 12 hours a day... =]

 

[Fruitbat]

2 wpg is in the moderate to low/moderate range, from what I understand. I don't claim to be a planted tank expert though....maybe Rex will pop in and see this one.

 

[Guest]

On a 10 gallon tank 2 wpg is a low light tank. Also the diatom algae has shown up in every tank I have ever setup. High or low light.

 

[betowess]

And it will go away after a while, then come the greens. Yikes.