Brown Algae on Plants

[David J. Braunegg]

I've had my aquarium (10 gallons, Platys and Corys) for a couple of years
now. There is brown algae in my tank that grows on the rocks, the castle
(the kids picked it out), the gravel, and the glass at the gravel line. In
the past, I've occasionally scrubbed it off of the rocks and the castle, and
every week or two I scrub it off the glass at the same time I get the green
spot algae off the glass.

Last week I added some plants (Anubias, Cryptocoryne, and Valisneria). What
should I do about the brown algae that has started to grow on the plants?
It is most noticeable on the broad leaves of the Anubias. I doubt that the
algae is good for the plants---not only is it not attractive, but I would
think it will block light and interfere with photosynthesis.

If it matters, the tank parameters are:
pH: 7.4--7.6
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 7.5 (somewhere between the 5 and 10 color bars)
-- was higher in the past, but I've brought it down via water changes
and an end to overfeeding
Temperature: 78F

Thanks,
Dave

[Elaine T]

David J. Braunegg wrote:
> I've had my aquarium (10 gallons, Platys and Corys) for a couple of years
> now. There is brown algae in my tank that grows on the rocks, the castle
> (the kids picked it out), the gravel, and the glass at the gravel line. In
> the past, I've occasionally scrubbed it off of the rocks and the castle, and
> every week or two I scrub it off the glass at the same time I get the green
> spot algae off the glass.
>
> Last week I added some plants (Anubias, Cryptocoryne, and Valisneria). What
> should I do about the brown algae that has started to grow on the plants?
> It is most noticeable on the broad leaves of the Anubias. I doubt that the
> algae is good for the plants---not only is it not attractive, but I would
> think it will block light and interfere with photosynthesis.
>
> If it matters, the tank parameters are:
> pH: 7.4--7.6
> Ammonia: 0
> Nitrites: 0
> Nitrates: 7.5 (somewhere between the 5 and 10 color bars)
> -- was higher in the past, but I've brought it down via water changes
> and an end to overfeeding
> Temperature: 78F
>
> Thanks,
> Dave
>
>
If there's room in your tank, add 2-3 otocinclus. They're cute,
peaceful, small, and love the stuff. Once they've cleaned up the tank,
mine like pieces of cucumber or chunks of Hikari algae wafers.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Aqua Essentials]

Elaine T Wrote:
> David J. Braunegg wrote:-
> I've had my aquarium (10 gallons, Platys and Corys) for a couple of
> years
> now. There is brown algae in my tank that grows on the rocks, the
> castle
> (the kids picked it out), the gravel, and the glass at the gravel
> line. In
> the past, I've occasionally scrubbed it off of the rocks and the
> castle, and
> every week or two I scrub it off the glass at the same time I get the
> green
> spot algae off the glass.
>
> Last week I added some plants (Anubias, Cryptocoryne, and Valisneria).
> What
> should I do about the brown algae that has started to grow on the
> plants?
> It is most noticeable on the broad leaves of the Anubias. I doubt
> that the
> algae is good for the plants---not only is it not attractive, but I
> would
> think it will block light and interfere with photosynthesis.
>
> If it matters, the tank parameters a
> pH: 7.4--7.6
> Ammonia: 0
> Nitrites: 0
> Nitrates: 7.5 (somewhere between the 5 and 10 color bars)
> -- was higher in the past, but I've brought it down via water
> changes
> and an end to overfeeding
> Temperatu 78F
>
> Thanks,
> Dave
>
> -
> If there's room in your tank, add 2-3 otocinclus. They're cute,
> peaceful, small, and love the stuff. Once they've cleaned up the
> tank,
> mine like pieces of cucumber or chunks of Hikari algae wafers.
>
> --
> Elaine T __
> http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
> rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

Alternatively, add Caridina Japonica (Amano Shrimp) as these consume
far more algae than the Ottos which have a habit of resting a bit too
much for my liking!


--
Aqua Essentials