mp010303

Hey everyone! I am noticing some algae growth in my tank. I clean it pretty often, at least a 30% change every week. Anyway, it's brownish in color. I'm debating on whether or not I should go to the store and get some chemicals for treatment, but I don't wanna cover up the problem instead of fixing it. Is there something else I should do? It doesn't really show up except on my decorations and bubble wand. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again!

dvc_r

I would avoid chemicals at all costs. Give us more: Water parameters, which test kits, how many gal tank, what kind of fish and how many, how long has it been cycled, Lighting, is it near sunlight. Also remember "some" algae is good for a tank.

mp010303

29 gallon aquarium. pH: 7.8 ammonia: 2 PPM nitrate: 5 ppm nitrite: .25 ppm i use the API liquid tests. 3 tiger barbs and 3 pearl danios. ive had it up and running with fish for about a month. i would send pics, but i they aren't uploading. thanks for the help.

Bad Wolf

i would just get a little algae eater, maybe a small bristle-nose pleco or an oto. i'm sure they would eat all the algae, my BN's eat brown algae.

aquarist48

Good morning mp. I would suggest doing some daily 50% water changes in order to get your ammonia level to 0, nitrites to 0 and nitrates to 5-10. Your fish are currently at risk for ammonia poisoning. Add some Prime or Nova Aqua + this will lower your ammonia to non toxic levels for about 24 hours until your next water change.
As far as the brown algae is concerned. It will eventually go away on it's own. As stated above, I wouldn't use chemicals to get rid of it. Some algae is good for the tank and fish. Good luck!

gumby4973

to solve my algue problem and chemicals are not working? one do u have a algue eater and two if nothing is working and i know this works 100% its work but it works because my friend had this problem. Get new everything new gravel plants new air bubbler if u have one. Then ur tank and fliters clean very well with very hot water, throw out old gravel and plants. wash the new plants and gravel in hot water, clean the tank out in hot water and then put everything together and then hopefully it should be fine i did this two a 10 gallon, 55 gallon, and 5 gallon and it worked

RDTigger

You also said it is a new tank setup....

..what typ of filtration are u using? If the turnover is not high enough that could aid the growth of algae as would a lack of current and moving water. Standing water with adequate sunlight will grow plant matter as will a buildup of CO2..... The fact that it has been running for only a few weeks sounds like an inability to handle circulation and bio load...

dvc_r

Wow, I think everyone is reading into this too much. Aquarist48 is right about the ammonia and nitrites. They have to be "ZERO". I think the algae is the results of the end of the cycling period. Wait a few more days, get a few ottos and everything should clear up by itself. IMO it might be too soon for a BN pleco.

Shawnie

im with aquarist...leave the tank be and finishe up the cycle process as he suggested....the brown algae is diatoms and its new tank algae...it will go away but can take a few months..it doesnt hurt anything and just looks funny....I wouldnt add ANY algae type eaters until the cycle is complete..that will be when you have 0 for ammonia, 0 for nitrites, and under 20 nitrates...it could take a few more weeks but the water changes are necessary to keep the fish healthy....goodluck!!


adding fish to an uncycled tank will only cause more issues...and its not very humane to the poor fishies

Bad Wolf

okay, just an idea.

MPrudent

An introduction of just 0.5ppm of ammonia can cause an algae outbreak. Get that water to 0ppm for ammonia like everyone has suggested and manually remove as much as you can and that tank will clear up.