asked this question before kinda

[momodig]

I'm getting reddish brown algee in my tank, which i was told is common in a new tank... how long (time period) will it be before this algree stops appearing
thanks

[Boxermom]

Mine usually goes away within 3 months. I've heard some say theirs took 6.

[nmonks]

It's diatoms, and as Boxermom says, tends to go away by itself. There are various explanations bandied about, but none seem all that convincing to me. A UV "filter" does help, though, if you can afford to use one. The UV kills off the algae in the water, and eventually the stuff on the glass dies back and isn't replaced. UV is good for other reasons, too. Definitely an optional extra, but useful.

Cheers,

Neale

[momodig]

You mean a UV light bulb? are they exspensive or something?

[Nick]

A UV sterilizer is a tube containing a bright UV light. UV is very deadly to most life, so it kills any algae, fungus, or bacteria in the water with it, generally keeping the water very clean.