The Puffer Forum

Quick question concerning brown algae and the treatment of it. Can I use an algaecide and if so which one? It's a 30 gal with 2 GSP nothing else.

I don't trust algaecides at all. Just scrape it off with an algae scraper.

I have been doing that on the sides of the tank. But the ornaments are another story. I got some of those fake corals and some caves in there. I was attempting to give the puffers places to explore but it has turned out to be more headache for me than anything. The puffers on the other hand seem happier than ever. The algae isn't bothering water quality yet. I just wanted to try and stop it before it did. I am not crazy about using chemicals in the water either. I was hoping maybe there was a safe one that might help. Thanks.

Brown algae doesn't seem to be detrimental to my tank or fish, so just clean it if I happen to be cleaning those decorations/walls. Otherwise, brown it stays!

Your tank is simply comming mature. First comes the brown algae, then the blue, then the hair algae, and finaly the calcarous algae. This is a cycle but it does help to have snails, hermit crabs, and crabs. Oops i realized you tank is brackish, Well now you have advice for your SW tank. But if you puffers arent snail or crab eaters get some, they will definitly help. I would stay away from the algaecide though.

Thanks for the advise guys. It is good to hear that it isn't such a bad thing. I was getting a bit worried. It is only on surfaces not discoloring the water or anything. So I will just scrape it off and next time I do a water change I will pull out the fake corals out and wash them off. Thanks again.

Were glad to help.

wow how does this always happen? i was just about to make a thread asking this same question lol guess i dont need to worry about all my brown algae in my gsp's brakish tank lol

I don't bother with it, apart from the front and side glass which get s scrape now and again, and I'll give the substrate a bit of a stir once a month to make it look fresh again, but that's it, I actually think I quite like it at the moment LOL

I have learned to accept that it is just part of having a brackish setup.

also on the up side... it is a form of plant life so will help a little with nitrates

If the alea is growing back to fast, try setting your timer for your light to be on for fewer hours during the day (this helped me alot to the point where i only need to clean Algae every few months), also look and investing in some LED moon lights for the evenings