everyone:

I have a bad case of brown algae. One Oranda in a 30 gallon tank. Very good readings. How do I get rid of it?

Please Advise.

Dixie, what kind of lighting do you have on your tank, how many watt to be exact? And how many gallon is the tank?
Brown algae could mean at least two things - not enough lighting, or a high reading of phosphates or other kinds of high nitrate readings. Can you tell me the exact number for the nitrates?

Here is the answers to your questions.

Dixie, what kind of lighting do you have on your tank, how many watt to be exact?
15 watt floresent tube. Came with the 30 gallon tank. Seems very bright.


And how many gallon is the tank? 30 Gallon. 1 Lg. Oranda.


Brown algae could mean at least two things - not enough lighting, or a high reading of phosphates or other kinds of high nitrate readings.

Can you tell me the exact number for the nitrates? 40 ppm. 0 nitrite 300 gh(hard) 180 kh 7.8 ph.


What do you think?

How long has the tank been established?

Maybe get a snail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They have helped my tank and our school tank.

a snail might help but read this before getting one...

pests snails usually do the job, but pests snails breed too often so that could be a hassle. have you tried siamese algae eaters?

When I had brown algae I left the light on longer each day and green algae replaced it. Maybe that can help you.

just wipe it oof hte sides with your norm cleaning and clean your decorations with a baby toothbrush in a bucket of tank water

btw...pest snails, at least in my experience, dont eat brown algae....

I think I read somewhere in a brown algae post something about phosphates affecting algae. I don't know much though. I do know that I too have brown algae and my two mystery snails ignore it, as does my pleco. I'm going to try upgrading my filters.

Oh and Dixie, do you find your algae seems to make your water cloudy? It might just be me but when the algae gets a little bad my water gets bad too.

i have a brown algae problem too. I thought the problem might be too much lighting (i thought the lighting stimulates algae growth?), but i'll try leaving the light on for longer....

Nope, brown algae grows when there are not enough light. Green algae takes over if there are too much light.

I have a problem with brown algae as well. I don't think it could be my lighting because it seems bright to me and it's on from time I get up to time I go to bed. I wouldn't be surprised if I had high phosphates though.

Brown algae I think may also be caused by A high silicite concentracion in the water. And I think it may also be caused by a light bulb with not a full spectrum.