I have recently started seeing a lot of brown algae in my tank. Does anybody have experience with all of the algae control products on the market? I was wondering if they work and which is the best to use.

Thanks!!!

Don't use chemicals. Instead, use fish that like algae. Diatom algae is what you have. No kind of fish like it. Add more light and it will turn green, fish like that.

I think that I accidentally posted this question the first time in the brackish forum. Let me clarify that I have a regular freshwater goldfish tank. My nitrates are kept at 10 ppm or below and my PH is around 7.4 to 7.6. In the last two weeks, brown algae has started to grow all over my tank! There is a lot on the glass, the bubble strip and some of the decorations. What is the best way to treat this problem?

Thanks everyone!

Don't use chemicals. Instead, use fish that enjoy eating algae. What you have is diatom algae. No fish like that. Have more light and you'll have green algae. Fish like that.

The best solution is just to use an algae scrubber and a mag-float to clean the tank every week. I don't think that adding algae eaters is a good idea with goldies - they like the fishes slimecoat even more then the algae, which if it is the brown type is not appetizing for them at all.

Actually, bristlenoses love brown algae.

I dunno about you, but our goldie eats the brown algae off the rocks regularly.

Anti-algae chemicals are mild herbicides, and while I'm sure its true that they won't "hurt" fish, its not something I'd want to expose my fish to on any regular basis.


The one chemical-ish solution I can give you is phos-zorb, which is a phosphate and silicate remover. Those are primary algae 'foods' so removing them should cut back on algae growth. Other phosphate removers should do similarly well.

Lastly, the algae feeds on nitrate as well, so regular water changes to keep your nitrate levels down are not only good for your fish, but it helps discourage algae growth as wel.

IMHO, water parameters are in such a delicate balance-- especially in small tanks-- that the less chemicals you use, the better. I would never buy a chemical to alter my pH, remove algae, "uncloud" my water, etc. There are better ways of doing things, although some of them mean a little more time and effort.

I agree that any non-chemical method is best. Joy and I have a small chinese algae eater. He can clean a tank of brown algae, even off of plants and ornaments. However, I've read that the chinese algae eaters can become territorial with age, so it might not be the safest method of algae control. Perhaps a different variety of algae eater would work.

Also, algae eaters may run out of algae after a while... and then you have to feed them.

Thanks everyone. I have been scrubbing and scrubbing, but it just comes back in under 24 hours! My water is perfect (nitrates are at 5 ppm), so I can't figure out what is feeding it. I increased the amount of light per day from 10 to 12 hours, but I still only see brown algae, not green. I am hesitant to add chemicals or algae eaters because of some of the reasons listed below. What about a UV filter? My husband says that will work wonders. Does anyone have one? On the positive side, my fish are very happy and healthy. I've only had them for a couple of months and they have already grown a good bit. Now...if I could just keep the tank looking good!

my betta tank has crazy amounts of brown algae and does the same thing as yours....i scrub it down one night and the next its all back again...argh!!
my 10g has crazy amounts of green algae...i just cant win!