Brown algae problem plants very sick

[xrboy_85]

Hey guys

I am here because i cant find anyone helpful at any local aqua shops.

I have a planted 4ft tank and am having a major issue with some brown algae that is ritting the plant leaves.

I am using a fluval 4 canister
otto power head
6w uv sterilizer

3x light tubes

full length air stone

water changes are %30 every 3 days

ph: 6.5 water temp 30'

also have been using flourish as per the bottle

i use condese crystals for conditioning water discus buffer for ph

any ideas???


http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z182/xrboy_85/_MG_3295.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z182/xrboy_85/_MG_3287.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z182/xrboy_85/_MG_3289.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z182/xrboy_85/_MG_3288.jpg

Thanks Justin

[nickw1982]

Hey Justin,
I'm not an expert by any means but if that was my tank then the first thing I would do is try turning the lights out for 24, maybe even 48 hours to kill off some of the algae. You can still turn the lights on for feeds. I'm sure one of the more experienced members on the forum here might also make a comment on the amount of light vs. seachem flourish.

Out of interest how long do you keep the lights on for during the day and what time do you dose the flourish?

Cheers

[xrboy_85]

2x tubes run for about 12 hrs and 1 tube only when im home maybe 2 hrs

flourish normally goes in after water changes which is at night

[ILLUSN]

up your CO2 or start adding florish excell you need to give the plants an edge over the algae and stop adding florish till the algae is gone.

[xrboy_85]

please excuse my clear lack of knowledge on fetilisers but what is the difference between florish and florish excell i am not running co2 the single income new born family income has restricted me from that.

[ILLUSN]

no problem, floriush is a fertilizer, excell is a carbon suppliment, if your getting algae you have a nutrient imbalance, what you want is the plant to grow at a rate that they use all the nutrient and there is none left for the algae, the easiest way to do this is to add carbon for the plants, co2 is the most effective, but florish excell isn't far behind.

[xrboy_85]

Thanks guys really appreciate the help.. Happy swimming

[DiscusDave]

Diatom (brown) algae like silicates. In addition to the previous advice you could try something like phosguard in your filter to remove silicates and that may eliminate it?