Be sure to use these types of treatments cautiously! Brown algae doesn’t care whether your aquarium has freshwater or saltwater – if your aquarium has a good source of the above nutrients then you are basically laying out a welcome mat for it. If you are utilizing a high–intensity light bulb in your tank, consider lowering the wattage or reduce the number of hours you keep the lights on each day. You should generally do a partial water change every two weeks to protect the water quality in your tank. This Aquarium Answers article (post) is not intended as a complete algae control article, but is intended to address the types of algae that I receive the most questions about which are Brown Diatom Algae, Freshwater Thread/Hair Algae, Black Beard Brush Algae (BBA), and Marine Hair Algae aka Filamentous marine algae (I address other algae as well in this article). I always include live plants in my freshwater aquariums. Brown algae usually resemble a fine dust ranging from light to deep brown. One of the easiest methods for effective aquarium algae control is to introduce one or more algae eaters into your tank. If left untreated, the algae will spread and form a thick, slimy layer across your entire aquarium. Lights should be on no more than 10 - 12 hours a day. This is one resilient life form, but why has it been so successful? Before a colony of beneficial bacteria can be established in your tank to maintain the nitrogen cycle, the levels of ammonia and nitrate may be very high. Diatoms are also called Bacillariophyta. Peter (aquaman) on May 15, 2010: Some aquarists in the battle against algae in the aquarium and to also to aerate and keep the water clear use a protein skimmer. Don't be deceived. There are ways to avoid this overgrowth and, in many cases, reverse it, too. Keep the tank light on for six to eight hours tops each day. The first step to getting rid of brown algae is to erase the word "algae" from your thinking about this stuff. These are the two ingredients that all algae need to grow. It is not an uncommon occurrence for novice aquarium hobbyists to turn on the lights in their tank one day to find that the tank water has turned green overnight. Avoid overfeeding your fish so as to limit the build-up of organic wastes in the substrate of your tank. If you have red algae, you probably have a salt water aquarium, because we don't usually find red algae in a freshwater aquarium. They can form very stubborn brown coats on the glass of low-light tanks. Avoid adding new animals if your tank is still cycling. Read our, Controlling Algae in Your Saltwater Aquarium, Instructions for Setting Up a Saltwater Aquarium, Curing Nuisance Green Hair Algae in Your Saltwater Aquarium, How to Remove Red Slime Algae in a Saltwater Aquarium, How to Grow Coralline Algae in a Saltwater Aquarium, How to Get Rid of Green Hair Algae in Your Tank, How to Control Green Hair Algae in a Saltwater Aquarium, 12 Best Saltwater Aquarium Products of 2021, Removing Brown Diatom Algae From Saltwater Aquariums. Though algae blooms may go away on their own, they sometimes indicate a larger problem in the tank that needs to be addressed in order to protect the health of your fish. Here's an absolute great selection of live plants for your freshwater setup. Poor lighting. What this means is that if you have it in your aquarium, it's either a sign that more water changes are needed - perhaps boosted by using a gravel cleaning syphon, or that your tap water contains high levels of phosphate. Their color is a combination of blue phycocyanin, red phycoerythrin and green chlorophyll. Listed below are some of the best ways to remove brown algae from the aquarium. 2  Phosphates are commonly introduced into aquariums through the use of unfiltered fresh tap water as well as many aquarium products that may contain higher-than-normal concentrations of PO4, such as sea salt mixes, activated carbon, KH buffers, foods, and many other sources. This episode covers the topics of algae bloom - one of the main reasons why aquarium enthusiasts leave this beautiful hobby. This test makes red algae very easy to identify. Just remember, different species of algae eaters feed on different types of algae, so if you know your tank is prone to one particular type of algae growth, select an algae eater that tends to feed on that kind of algae. In saltwater aquariums, Cyanobacteria are often red and appear as a red slime, thus the term “Red Slime Algae” used to describe this in marine aquariums. Their colour is not red by nature, they are usually grayish. Partial water changes are one of the most efficient ways of combating algal blooms in your tank. When attempting a remedy, try each solution one at a time. Learn how to create a happy, healthy home for your pet. In many cases, green aquarium water can be attributed to an algae bloom. Growth of red slime algae is a common problem in saltwater aquariums, and it should be dealt with to ensure a healthy environment for your aquarium plants and animals. Simple, it makes use of the light waves that are discarded by higher plant life, lives in a wide range of temperatures, and subsists on organic waste materials includin… Because slime algae consume nitrates, often when aquarists perform nitrate tests, the readings come up as normal. 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