effective methods for removing aquarium algae

[Stefan]

Hello everyone,

I'm dealing with a bit of an issue in my 29 gallon planted tank. I've got 10 harlequin Rasboras, 8 peppered and green cories (lost 2, think they were too small to eat the food), and a peacock Gudgeon.

I've been having some trouble with brown algae. It's been a few months since the tank was planted, and I've managed to keep the glass clean, but the decorations and plants are getting covered in it. This is really affecting the plant growth and they're weakening. I'm looking for a fish or shrimp that can help clean the algae and also do well in my tank.

To tackle this issue, we need to identify the algae species first. The term "brown algae" is quite broad - it could be diatoms, but some folks also use it to describe black brush algae, which can have different appearances. Can you tell me if the algae comes off easily with your fingertips, or is it more stubborn and harder to remove from plant leaves?

Here are some photos of the plants, camera wasn't cooperating with me so the pics aren't the best

[boomer]

Difficult to tell from photos, but I think there is a nutrient issue here as well as algae. Can you rub the brown off very easily with your fingertips? This is diatoms, but I do see some of what I think is black brush algae too. Are you using any fertilizers, and if so, what kind?

[Stefan]

Hello everyone,

I'm dealing with a bit of an issue in my 29 gallon planted tank. I've got 10 harlequin Rasboras, 8 peppered and green cories (lost 2, think they were too small to eat the food), and a peacock Gudgeon.

I've been having some trouble with brown algae. It's been a few months since the tank was planted, and I've managed to keep the glass clean, but the decorations and plants are getting covered in it. This is really affecting the plant growth and they're weakening. I'm looking for a fish or shrimp that can help clean the algae and also do well in my tank.

To tackle this issue, we need to identify the algae species first. The term "brown algae" is quite broad - it could be diatoms, but some folks also use it to describe black brush algae, which can have different appearances. Can you tell me if the algae comes off easily with your fingertips, or is it more stubborn and harder to remove from plant leaves?

I can wipe the algae off with my fingers on most surfaces, but it's a bit tricky with the plants since I don't want to damage them. I use Seachem Flourish tabs, following the instructions to place one in the substrate near the plants every few months. I think the main issue is related to nutrients. Diatoms, the brown algae, seem to thrive on calcium, which I suspect is coming from the natural rocks in my 29-gallon planted tank. In contrast, my 75-gallon non-planted tank has never had major algae issues, except for a brief bloom when my brother cleaned the tank - I'm still not sure what he did. That tank only gets occasional green algae on the glass, which I can clean in under a minute. The tap water in my area has a calcium level of around 26-30 ppm, which doesn't seem excessively high. However, I think the natural rocks in the planted tank might be releasing calcium or other minerals, contributing to the algae growth.

[boomer]

If the algae on your crypt is indeed diatoms, you should be able to remove it from the leaves without causing damage using your fingertips. This is a good sign, but it's also possible that there's a nutrient or light issue at play here. Can you tell me more about your lighting setup - what type of light are you using, what's the spectrum, and how long do you have it on for each day? Also, do you have any floating plants in your tank?

As for the Flourish Tab for your crypt, it's a good choice, and replacing it every 3-4 months is the right frequency.

[Stefan]

Hello everyone,

I'm dealing with a bit of an issue in my 29 gallon planted tank. I've got 10 harlequin Rasboras, 8 peppered and green cories (lost 2, think they were too small to eat the food), and a peacock Gudgeon.

I've been having some trouble with brown algae. It's been a few months since the tank was planted, and I've managed to keep the glass clean, but the decorations and plants are getting covered in it. This is really affecting the plant growth and they're weakening. I'm looking for a fish or shrimp that can help clean the algae and also do well in my tank.

To tackle this issue, we need to identify the algae species first. The term "brown algae" is quite broad - it could be diatoms, but some folks also use it to describe black brush algae, which can have different appearances. Can you tell me if the algae comes off easily with your fingertips, or is it more stubborn and harder to remove from plant leaves?

For the crypts, cleaning isn't the issue, but for the water wisteria, their leaves are super delicate, making it tough for me to clean without damaging them. As for lighting, I use an Aqueon Optibright LED, and I'm not entirely sure about the spectrum, but it's got red, blue, and white bulbs. I keep it on for 6-8 hours a day.