Hope someone can solve this for me. I have got brown fluffy looking algae growing in my tank. It's growing on the filter, the stones and even the fake plants, just about everywhere.

I keep trying to pull it off and scrubbing things but it just keeps returning.

Anyway to get rid of it??

hi ant

Sounds like diatoms...how long has this tank been set up? it's common in new tanks in the 2-12 week period. What is your nitrAte reading at?
Diatomes can flourish in dimly lit tanks so a black out wont help... cut back on feeding.

If the silicate to phosphate ratio is high, this will cause the brown algae to grow more. The silicate can be present in tapwater & in sand/gravel but will lessen with time & water changes

Thanks Munchy. I did wonder about diatoms but this looks fluffy, a bit like brown fur. Do diatoms look like that - I thought they were more dotty type things?

Nitrite is 10-15, tank set up for a while now, since beginning of the year.

I got brown algae in my coldwater tank Ant. The wood and some of the ornaments ended up looking like they had fur coats on.

Only way I got shut of it was to throw everything away that had it on. I put some live plants in, and monitored how long I had the lights on for, keeping it to the minimum needed for the plants.

It took ages for it to go, and I still have some algae in the tank now - green not brown, but its not half as bad as it was.

i think they go furry in numbers, if you know what im mean

Sounds gross. Do all tanks get this when they are new?? I dont think I want it

I havent had it Motsy and my tank is around 2 months ish

Sounds to me like black brush algae. Due to high phosphates etc. First one here http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm

Just in case this happens to me, how does a tank get high phosphates, silicates and so on. Are they in the water and if so how do you get rid of them. Are you supposed to test for them?

My tank has also got a load of this black fluffy muck ,mainly growing round the edges of plant leaves,very unsightly and was wondering if anyone knew how to get rid of it.My tank has been set up for about a year,so is'nt exactly new!.Someone suggested flying foxes and another barbs but neither seem to make any diff. anyone?????

What is your tank like whistler and what fish do you have already?

There are quite a few fish that do a pretty good job of eating algae, but it would be good to know your exact set up to judge compatability etc..

This is a good website for algae problems. I can vouch for the Seachem Flourish Excel method as it certainly worked for me.

G/day Diana.I have a 300litre Agua one royale 120.Fish include 3lge Bristlenose cats and a million and 1 younguns !!2 flying fox,3 Corydoris cats,2 Clown Loach, plus various platies ,guppies,swortails,neons,and heaps of plants with black tufts growing on 'em!!! which seemed to come from no where!!

I would have thought that the BN's would have kept any algae at bay.

Could you be overfeeding them? Also how is the lighting in your tank, how long do you keep them on for?

(Helllo, by the way, and welcome to TFF :lol: )