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Post by davidtcb1 on Apr 2, 2010 20:05:38 GMT -6
In the last few weeks, I have had an outbreak of brown diatom algae in my 75 gallon community tank. The only thing that has changed recently is that I started using the Poly Fil batting stuff that you buy in craft stores instead of the more expensive floss "made for aquariums." It didn't happen immediately, but do you think this change in media could be the source of the problem? I thought I had it taken care of about two weeks ago when I did a 50 percent water change and bleached/rinsed the covered items in the tank. But today, I see some has started to return. The only other thing I can think of is to cut down feeding a bit. I do maintenance/water changes every two weeks, so I doubt it's a nitrate issue. I have been reading online that this type of algae actually stays under control by an abundance (in length left on) of light. The tank is already on in two stages for a total of about 9 hours a day though, which it has been for a long time, so I'm leaning away from that theory as well.
Any thoughts?
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angel
FORUM BEGINNER
My Husband's A Birdbrain
Posts: 40
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Post by angel on Apr 2, 2010 22:12:05 GMT -6
I had brown algae until I cut down on feeding. But I'm not sure about the floss. Could it be that it isn't packed in as tightly and more is escaping through the space between fibers? Or is it not to do with the media at all? I'll be interested to hear opinions on this as well.
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Post by jon carman on Apr 2, 2010 22:34:45 GMT -6
It isn't the floss, I think the more expensive stuff is made out of the same stuff. It is probably more of a nitrate/light issue.
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Post by davidtcb1 on Apr 3, 2010 7:48:44 GMT -6
I will do a water test this weekend and reduce the food over the next week or so and see what happens. I don't like this floss as well as the other stuff I was using. It is cheaper for sure, but messier to deal with after it gets wet and when you're changing it out, etc.
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Post by rogerhopper on Apr 3, 2010 8:03:39 GMT -6
What bulbs are you using? Some lights will cause the brown Algae blooms.
No sun getting to the tank is there?
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Post by davidtcb1 on Apr 3, 2010 9:39:55 GMT -6
What bulbs are you using? Some lights will cause the brown Algae blooms. No sun getting to the tank is there? This one is actually a daylight tube that I bought at Lowes, but it's been months and months ago that I put it in and no problem until now. |
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Post by davidtcb1 on Apr 4, 2010 18:17:27 GMT -6
Ok, so today I notice that my 29 gallon is getting the same brown algae problem. The irony? I recently started using the Poly Fil in this tank as well. My other three tanks still have the previous type I was using and are brown algae-free. I think I'm going to switch both of the tanks back to the original floss I have been using for a few years now without problem, just to see if for some quirky reason, this is the cause.
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Post by jon carman on Apr 4, 2010 18:41:29 GMT -6
Sounds good, but I don't think it is the floss. Either way it won't hurt to try. All the poly does is remove larger particles from the water, so it won't get algae either way. I would suspect that you could have cross contaminated the tanks, and that the others might also have the same algae problem as well. Maybe not though. I would just double the water changes, cut back a couple hours on the lights, and cut back on the feeding along with changing the floss to the other media.
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Post by davidtcb1 on Apr 4, 2010 18:44:13 GMT -6
I hear ya Jon. I wouldn't think it would be the floss either, but perhaps there's some sort of chemical/contaminant on this new stuff that's causing it? Going to up the water changes and down the feeding as well...
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Post by jon carman on Apr 4, 2010 19:17:45 GMT -6
Good luck, I had same problem about 7 years ago on a thirty gallon, and I killed the lights and quit feeding for a week, made more water changes and I have never had it again. The problem with the poly is it could be catching food and acting as a nitrogen trap.
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Post by davidtcb1 on Apr 4, 2010 19:24:59 GMT -6
Yeah, I'm thinking something like that is a possibility. It's definitely a different type of fiber than I've been using. Not as coarse and more "stringy." The stuff before came in sheets - which is easier to work with, and this stuff is just stuff you grab by the hand full and cram in the filter.
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Post by davidtcb1 on May 29, 2010 15:42:00 GMT -6
Still having some issues with this brown/diatom algae. Water tests: pH 7.2, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 0. I have ordered a phosphates test kit to check the tap water and the tank water, and also a phosphate and silicate remover to see if that does anything. Reduction of feeding, upping of water changes and less light haven't seemed to have an effect. The only thing these two tanks have in common that the three tanks I have that don't have the brown algae is that they both run on bio-wheel filters only, and the other tanks have canisters. Just a thought I had. I had scrubbies in the HOB filters, and removed them (left the other mechanical floss) thinking there may have been too much gunk buildup in them, but that hasn't seemed to make a difference either.
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Post by davidtcb1 on May 30, 2010 9:54:41 GMT -6
Bump
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Post by bunnie1978 on May 30, 2010 10:05:38 GMT -6
The media you were using could have been treated with chemicals for fire retardation or something else. Probably leaching silicates into the water causing the algae issues.
Huge water change, change media and manually remove all the algae. If you have plants, make sure their needs are adequately met for optimum growth. Reseed with gravel or mulm from another tank to boost biological filter.
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Post by bunnie1978 on May 30, 2010 10:06:47 GMT -6
Oh, and replace your light bulbs. The ones you get at Lowes are only good for 6 months. In my experience anyways.
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