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Help identify this brown algea

BdubB

Member
Joined
10 Nov 2021
Messages
37
Location
Bath
Hi, is anyone able to identify this brown algea for me? It's been there for months. It's pretty stable and doesn't seem to change. Doesn't get thicker but it's also slowly cover all my plant edges.

Is it BBA or brown cyano or what?

I've used liquid carbon on it with no real effect. I've done a 3 day blackout which did nothing.

Tank is 24L. I dose tropica specialised 1ml twice a week. I don't run CO2 but that's not really an option for me. Any advice on something else I could try?

Thanks!
 

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How long has the tank been set up? If it relatively new diatoms i.e. brown algae will be the first you get. Just make sure you stay on top of tank maintenance and as the tank matures it will disappear of it own accord. I can't think of any tank that I have set up not having brown algae in the early days on the substrate etc.
 
1. Since of tank. 24l
2. Age of the system approximately. 2 years old
3. Tap water parameters. Hard water. Oh 10 GH 18
4. Filtration. Small internal filter
5. Lighting and duration. Low lighting, desk lamp about 11 hours. Reducing light length doesn't really seem to have an effect
6. Substrate. Tropica substrate under aquarium gravel
7. Co2 dosing or Non-dosing. No CO2
8. Fertilizers used + Ratios. Tropica specialised 1ml twice a week. Pop tropica root tabs in every few months
9. Water change regime and composition. 50% water change at least once a week
10. Plant list. Mainly epiphyte. Rooted plans tend to struggle. Possible substrate is just too old.
11. Inhabitants. Ember tetra, cherry shrimp (breeding) and nerite snails
12. Full tank shot.
 
Here is the full tank shot.

Thanks for your help
 

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Hi
I just think you need to clean the rock using a old toothbrush or a small wire brush!
I would reduce the lighting to 8 hours per day.
Purchase some floating plants, these will give you a indication of deficiencies in the water column, plus they are good for blocking too much light!
You have GSA...which could be a indication of low Phosphate!
How long has the Java Fern been in the aquarium?
hoggie
 
Thanks. I will try with a wire toothbrush. I've have only used soft ones to no avail.

Java fern has been in there over a year but is struggling a bit. Do you think I need to up my dosing?

Sorry, what is GSA?
 
Thanks. I will try with a wire toothbrush. I've have only used soft ones to no avail.

Java fern has been in there over a year but is struggling a bit. Do you think I need to up my dosing?

Sorry, what is GSA?
Hi
Remove the damaged leaves from the Java Fern, the new leaves look healthy enough!
Java like decent flow, try directing the filter outflow towards the Java Fern.
Reduce the lighting to 8 hours....you can try using some floating plants to help give some shade to the Anubias!
Yes, I would double the dose of the fertilizer!
 
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