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Diatom (brown) algae in a mature tank??

Mr Bee

Member
Joined
14 Aug 2008
Messages
62
Location
Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Hi all,

I've been doing a bit of reading since finding this forum, and it seems that most sources say brown, diatom algae should only be present in newly set up (uncycled) tanks, and last a few weeks.

But I still get brown algae in my tank, despite it being fully matured - why's this??

My water stats are pretty normal I think:-

Ammonia - Zero
(NO2) Nitrite - Zero
(NO3) Nitrate - ~10 ppm
pH - 7 - 8
 
Hi,
Diatom algae can persist if the lighting remains too high or if insufficient water changes are performed. Also, are you dosing nutrients? Insufficient dosing could lead to problems.

Cheers,
 
Hi,

Well its not from too much lighting, as I don't actually have any lights in my tank, the built in one broke and I never replaced it, as they seem to do fine without it.

I do a regular 20 - 30% weekly water change, but am not dosing any ferts or anything, could that be it?
 
Um...Yes, that could easily be it. Dosing requirement depends on the nutrient content of your source water as well as the lighting level. But even at lower lighting levels plant nutrient uptake is still a necessity although at a lower rate.

Cheers,
 
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