Brown or Red/Hair Algae?

[sawcat]

I have my ten gallon tank set up like so:



2 cories and the adult platy on the left with the filter, 1 betta on the right (normally, he's being treated for his fins) with the heater. The divider really slows the flow from the filter for the betta

On the betta's side, There is, what I think is brown algae.


I rub it off and try to suck it up with the water change, but it grows back. It's only showing on the betta side of the tank.

I checked the water today, and Ammonia is 0, Nitrites 0, and Nitrates were about 10 (not quite the same color as card, but closer than to 5).

I ordered another air pump when I got meds last week from Fosters and Smith, should I try adding an airstone on low on that side (I have flow adjuster valves)? I usually have the tank lights on from when I get ready in the morning to 9-10 in the evening.

Any advise on getting rid of this?

[twoluvcats]

that's just plain old brown algae...and its VERY common in a new tank., and really, perfectly normal. As your tank matures, the insances should lessen, but also...some brown algae in a tank is not the end of the world.

Good tank maintenance will keep it from overrunning your tank...but don't bother with any chemicals...your pocketbook will be lighter, and you'll still have algae.

The best way to make sure you are getting them most of it out of the tank that you can is to rub/scrape it off then WAIT 15-20 minutes before you vacuum your tank...that will give the diatoms time to settle toward the bottom and have a greater chance of them getting sucked up.

HTH