juloea

suddenly have A LOT of brown algae in 20L tank. one plant is covered...starting to creep up back of tank and rocks are coated! tank is well established. i've read differing opinions about water changes...should i continue bi-monthly 50% water changes? should i get rid of coated plant? some say just leave everything alone and eventually it will subside. i have four tanks and no others have this issue. light is on about 12 hours a day and tank gets natural light as well. thanks for any help!

wooza

Hi,

Up until about a month ago I had chronic brown algae, all over the tank and rocks and plants. I would do a water change and mag clean the sides and it would look all lovely for 1-2 weeks then it was back again. Then one day I took a real look at the position of my tank, because although it wasn't in direct sunlight, it was getting quite alot of light from the window. Now I have moved it to a shaded area and have been brown algae free for over a month.

Beth1965

You tank shouldn't be getting direct sunlight, if it is. And you ought to try limiting the lighting to about 8 hours a day.
Is the brown looking algae diatoms? If it is, it will disappear. How long has the tank been established?
Beth

juloea

thanks - it has been in same position - same light - same window for months and months....hmmm...how do i visualize difference between diatoms and algae? this is a brown coating...not spotty...

juloea

been about 10 months...same light near (but not in front of) same window. are diatoms spotty in appearance? this is a coating. i think i will do a water change, remove really coated plant and turn lights off a few more hours a day and farther away from natural light. does this sound like a valid plan? thanks for help!

Beth1965

Take a look at this:

Diatom growth in new tanks... theory.

Beth