Brown Diatoms

[Charlyc11]

I had the 125 gallon acrylic tank running for about 8 months now and I am getting more brown diatoms than I ever had. The one change is I had 2 x 30" Led Aqueon optibright lights on it and now I have a Hygger 48 " 53 watt LED full spectrum.

120 G Tank-03052024-1015148259.jpg

[Charlyc11]

I been researching and everybody has a different answer. More light , less light , less blue light , blue light does not matter , more filtration , more plants , more agitation , excess Phosphates you can go nuts on all these different responses.

[For100]

These guys are pretty good at explaining algae blooms. You can either go to their website (awesome planted tanks) or look at their videos in YouTube. I learned a ton while watching their videos about balancing a new aquarium and maintenance afterwards.
Here is the link to their website.

https://greenaqua.hu/en/alga-tajekoztato

[jwcarlson]

I always just keep wiping down and water changing until they go away, but it's odd that you have more in this setup than the others.

I really just stopped in to say that the photobombing discus on the right made me laugh.

[Charlyc11]

He is alway ready for a snap shot. When I was cycling with ammonia the 90 I got some brown but when I switched to the wet dry from the FX4 and added the fish it started to go away. I did a major wipe down last Saturday on the 125 and most likely it will need one this weekend. I did add a Tidal 110 for more fine filtration.

I always just keep wiping down and water changing until they go away, but it's odd that you have more in this setup than the others.

I really just stopped in to say that the photobombing discus on the right made me laugh.

[bluelagoon]

How long are your lights on? I see it looks like a bare bottom tank so it's not silica. I'm thinking more light also, so the green algae can take over.

[Charlyc11]

How long are your lights on? I see it looks like a bare bottom tank so it's not silica. I'm thinking more light also, so the green algae can take over.

No green algae all brown lights 10 hrs and 1 hr blue but not all at the same intensity with sunrise and sunset plus a period of lower intensity in the morning and late afternoon. Actually they recommend more light.

[brewmaster15]

I fight this junk all the time in all my tanks except Bristlenose tanks. So my solution is add bristlenose or wipe down tank walls during routine maintenance. Its really not a big bother for me.

al

[Charlyc11]

I fight this junk all the time in all my tanks except Bristlenose tanks. So my solution is add bristlenose or wipe down tank walls during routine maintenance. Its really not a big bother for me.

al

I do the work don't get me wrong but I thought somebody would have some solution that would help. I don't want to add bristlenose since I have 10 x L046's in that tank and I don't know if I add ABN's are going to compete for food and the L46's lose. Maybe a school of otocinclus might work but I had some zebra Otos and they did not last I think my temperature was 82 F back then to high I think for Otos. I might try that again meanwhile wipe and wipe.

[bluelagoon]

I have those same lights on 3 of my tanks; set on the programmed full spectrum 24 hour cycle. I also need to wipe down the glass every week or so. It's just something that was always a part of my maintenance. More light is what I meant to get the green algae growing; it should take over the less evolved brown algae. But then you'll have green algae to wipe down.

[Charlyc11]

This week cleanup was not bad not as much as before. I added a sponge filter for more aeration and to have an extra sponge cycled. Also reduced the intensity of the lighting for all day and night mode. The setting work on both tanks the 125 and the 90 through one remote.