How to Get Rid of Brown Algae in Fish Tank

Brown algae can be a tasty meal for the fishes you decide to take care of in your fish tank. But they can also be an awful thing to see in your tank. When the aquarium owners talk discuss brown algae, they are trying to explain diatoms. These are small brownish or greenish creature that has glassy skeletons.

Oftentimes, these diatoms are not good looking. That is the reason most tank owners want to get rid of them. Yet, this can be a difficult task if you don’t know how it should be done. Thankfully, in this article, we have discussed the best ways to get rid of brown algae in your fish tank. But firstly, let’s check out more about brown algae and how they do usually get inside a fish tank. So read on!

What are Diatoms or Brown Algae?

Brown algae which are otherwise called diatoms can be extremely difficult to eliminate from the aquarium. To worsen the situation, brown algae looks horrible and can be highly dangerous for your fish. Diatom is a unicellular organism that has a brown color and a bony structure that is primarily comprised of silicon nitrate.

Diatoms or brown algae develop in fish tanks with high nitrates level and sometimes those with high levels of silicon. Algae can likewise assume control over the aquarium when the lighting is too weak or too high for a tank.

The two major differences between diatoms and regular algae are that the latter don’t devour silicates and that they can be annihilated by eliminating the nitrates or putting off the light. The issue many people have with regards to diatoms is that regardless of the numbers of hours or days you leave the lights off, it doesn’t stop the operation of diatom. And if you could by one means or another evacuate majority of the nitrates from the fish tank, the diatoms would devour silicates also.

How Does Brown Algae get into an Aquarium?

To say the fact, the diatoms didn’t actually get into your aquarium, or as it were it didn’t show up out of the blue and simply hitch a ride. The diatoms in your aquarium don’t come from the other vegetation, the fish itself, or the fish food. Any algae that may show up in your fish tank, regardless of whether they are green, brown or white, show up because it has always resided in the water and just required an opportunity to grow.

Seeing as the diatoms found in your aquarium is a kind of microalgae, implying that it is small, it is save to have the assumption that it has always existed in the water. All water comprises of microscopic organisms, micronutrients, and microalgae as well. The reason we have never notice the presence of algae in our toilets or in our drinking water is because it does not get an opportunity to grow.

Wherever water is treated with different chemicals that eliminate most microorganisms, the primary one being chlorine. Chlorine, however, doesn’t have the potentials to eliminate microalgae and therefore it is usually present in the water supply.

The Best Way to Remove Brown Algae

Discussed below are some of the ideal ways to eliminate brown algae in your fish tank. Majority of these strategies aim to cut the supply of nutrient for brown algae, therefore preventing its future growth in your aquarium.

1. Remove the water in your tank

Remove about twenty percent of the water inside your tank with the use of aquarium siphon. Make sure that you shift the siphon through the gravel or substrate to eliminate the fish waste that can serve as food for the brown algae. Make use of reverse osmosis or deionized water to change the water inside your fish tank. The two methods make use of water that doesn’t contribute supplements that promote the growth of algae since it has been filtered in a special way.

2. Introduce phosphate adsorption resin

These are chemical filter mediums in the form of pellets or filter pads that are used for eliminating phosphates and silicates from the aquarium that help to starve the brown algae more.

3. Mounting an ultraviolet sterilizer

You can install a UV sterilizer outside the aquarium to eliminate the brown algae. The rays produced by the sterilizer are just like normal sunlight and can’t harm fish or plant life but will kill bacteria and algae found in the water inside your aquarium.

4. Put an animal that enjoys eating algae

A couple of aquatic animal species are always excited at the presence of algae including the suckermouth fish or the Siamese algae eater fish. For the saltwater fish tanks, you can put snails that eat algae, for example, the margarita snail. Such creatures work like vacuums and completely devour the algae off the aquarium walls, ornaments, and rocks.

5. Monitoring the nitrate level

You can keep the level of nitrate in your aquarium under control by including a few drops of vodka inside the water. The dosing of vodka should always be monitored because it can hurt the fish. Keeping the level of nitrate low is one of the best methods of removing algae from your fish tank.

6. Physically getting rid of accumulated brown algae

Physically getting rid of the amassed brown algae from your aquarium is a standout amongst the best approaches to eliminate it. You can evacuate the brown algae using either a suction or your hand. The brown algae spread quickly if abandoned in the tank and will be difficult to eliminate.

7. Cleaning filters

Regular cleansing of the filter ensures consistent flow of neat water free from silicates and nitrates.  You should always replace the fish water to keep it completely clear and also clean your fish tank routinely. Clean the fish tank more frequently if you notice that the algae are becoming an issue.

Conclusion

The reality of the matter is that brown algae and its consistent growth can be an undeniable irritation, especially for aquarium owners. What you have to do is to ensure that your fish tank is clean always. So, you need to change the water tank frequently and evacuate all the key factors that contribute to the growth of algae. Also, prompt regard for the vertical development of brown algae will secure your aquarium from more serious problems.