Brown algae?

[Tispe]

After finally getting of my problematic green murky water situation and now
enjoying a clear tank, I notice that the walls of the tank are getting a
brown film. I used an algae "scrubber" to clean down the sides, but the
brown returned quickly. Since switching to an Aqua Clear three way filter
and only putting a capful of "Cycle" in the water, I don't want to start
throwing all kinds of products in the water unless I have to.

Any input greatly appreciated.

Tispe

[Geezer From The Freezer]

Tispe wrote:
>
> After finally getting of my problematic green murky water situation and now
> enjoying a clear tank, I notice that the walls of the tank are getting a
> brown film. I used an algae "scrubber" to clean down the sides, but the
> brown returned quickly. Since switching to an Aqua Clear three way filter
> and only putting a capful of "Cycle" in the water, I don't want to start
> throwing all kinds of products in the water unless I have to.
>
> Any input greatly appreciated.
>
> Tispe

Sounds like Diatoms. Monitor your nitrate and phosphate levels. Also replace the
light bulb
if its old - my old light caused massive diatom problems and replacing it with a
broad spectrum
fixed the issue.

[Tispe]

Thanks, another question......what is a normal range for nitrates and
phosphates?

My light is flourescent.....should I still change it?

Thanks for your input.

Tispe
"Geezer From The Freezer" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> Tispe wrote:
> >
> > After finally getting of my problematic green murky water situation and
now
> > enjoying a clear tank, I notice that the walls of the tank are getting a
> > brown film. I used an algae "scrubber" to clean down the sides, but the
> > brown returned quickly. Since switching to an Aqua Clear three way
filter
> > and only putting a capful of "Cycle" in the water, I don't want to start
> > throwing all kinds of products in the water unless I have to.
> >
> > Any input greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Tispe
>
> Sounds like Diatoms. Monitor your nitrate and phosphate levels. Also
replace the
> light bulb
> if its old - my old light caused massive diatom problems and replacing it
with a
> broad spectrum
> fixed the issue.

[Geezer From The Freezer]

Tispe wrote:
>
> Thanks, another question......what is a normal range for nitrates and
> phosphates?
>
> My light is flourescent.....should I still change it?
>
> Thanks for your input.

For nitrates it's less than 40ppm, preferably less than 20 if possible.
I can't recall from memory what Phosphates were.

[Kathy]

"Geezer From The Freezer" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> Tispe wrote:
>>
>> Thanks, another question......what is a normal range for nitrates and
>> phosphates?
>>
>> My light is flourescent.....should I still change it?
>>
>> Thanks for your input.
>
> For nitrates it's less than 40ppm, preferably less than 20 if possible.
> I can't recall from memory what Phosphates were.

OK, just a dumb question, I have tested my water and all the readings are
perfect, except for the nitrate's which are too high, so what do I change,
or add to get them into the normal range? How can all the other numbers be
OK and just this one way off? I have 3 ponds and one 50 gallon house tank,
all treated the same way, and yet only have trouble in one pond. Help me
understand what is going on. I have 2 fantail gold fish in the 50 gal. 7
....4 inch comets in each of the 150 gal. and 7... 8 inch comets in the 300
gal. all 3 have pondmaster pump/filter systems that are 3 times the required
size of the amount of water. If that info helps. KatAZ

[Bill Stock]

"Kathy" > wrote in message
news:apkne.188$Zt.16@okepread05...
>
> "Geezer From The Freezer" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>>
>> Tispe wrote:
>>>
>>> Thanks, another question......what is a normal range for nitrates and
>>> phosphates?
>>>
>>> My light is flourescent.....should I still change it?
>>>
>>> Thanks for your input.
>>
>> For nitrates it's less than 40ppm, preferably less than 20 if possible.
>> I can't recall from memory what Phosphates were.
>
> OK, just a dumb question, I have tested my water and all the readings are
> perfect, except for the nitrate's which are too high, so what do I change,
> or add to get them into the normal range? How can all the other numbers
> be OK and just this one way off? I have 3 ponds and one 50 gallon house
> tank, all treated the same way, and yet only have trouble in one pond.
> Help me understand what is going on. I have 2 fantail gold fish in the 50
> gal. 7 ...4 inch comets in each of the 150 gal. and 7... 8 inch comets in
> the 300 gal. all 3 have pondmaster pump/filter systems that are 3 times
> the required size of the amount of water. If that info helps. KatAZ


You didn't say which pond has the Nitrate problem. But I believe the
recommended gallons per Goldfish for a pond is about 40 (So you seem OK
here). It's higher than the normal 10 for a tank, as you don't normally do
water changes in a pond. Does the problem pond have a proper biofilter? Is
the pond cycled?

The usual prescription to lower nitrates is water changes. You may also try
feeding less, and adding more plants. I rarely feed my pond fish,
unfortunately they have lots of string algae to eat.

[Bill Stock]

"Geezer From The Freezer" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> Tispe wrote:
>>
>> Thanks, another question......what is a normal range for nitrates and
>> phosphates?
>>
>> My light is flourescent.....should I still change it?
>>
>> Thanks for your input.
>
> For nitrates it's less than 40ppm, preferably less than 20 if possible.
> I can't recall from memory what Phosphates were.

I believe between .5 PPM and 1 PPM of Phosphates is recommended. Although
some people say the ratio of Nitrates to Phosphates is also important (about
10 N to 1 P). Since your Nitrates should be below 20, this gives you a P of
2 or less.

[Elaine T]

Geezer From The Freezer wrote:
>
> Tispe wrote:
>
>>After finally getting of my problematic green murky water situation and now
>>enjoying a clear tank, I notice that the walls of the tank are getting a
>>brown film. I used an algae "scrubber" to clean down the sides, but the
>>brown returned quickly. Since switching to an Aqua Clear three way filter
>>and only putting a capful of "Cycle" in the water, I don't want to start
>>throwing all kinds of products in the water unless I have to.
>>
>>Any input greatly appreciated.
>>
>>Tispe
>
>
> Sounds like Diatoms. Monitor your nitrate and phosphate levels. Also replace the
> light bulb
> if its old - my old light caused massive diatom problems and replacing it with a
> broad spectrum
> fixed the issue.

Diatoms bloom when silicates are high. Often new tanks that are filled
with tapwater have a diatom bloom. It should go away on its own.

--
Elaine T __
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