water question

[Marley]

I have a 29gal cichlid tank, eheim canister filter. Over the last couple of days I have noticed the water looks a little dark. nitrite and ammonia levels are good. I looked closer and noticed some copper colored growth on the rocks on the bottom. I have a big bushy pleco but he doesn't mess with the bottom much. all fish are healthy.?????

Thanks in advance!
Marley

[jeebus]

Re: water question

We had that problem, it turned out to be brown algae.  Do you have gravel or sand at the bottom?  We turned our lights off for 2 days straight and the brown algae went away.  But we noticed it doesn't always go away completely

[jetchanic]

Re: water question

Do you have a uv sterilizer on the tank?

[Marley]

Re: water question

I keep my light on all the time, I am hearing this may not be correct. No, I don't have a uv sterilizer. It does look like brown algae, but why isn't my pleco getting it?

[jetchanic]

Re: water question

if you get a uv sterilizer it will take care of this.  plecos may only eat certain types of algae.  The lights being left on are causing an algae bloom in your tank.  Is it cloudy?  if you look from the side does the water have a green tint?  leave the lights on for a max of 6-8 hours without a uv sterilizer.

[Zulaab]

Re: water question

Certain types of Pleco's will eat more or less algae.
I have a golden nugget and a Royal pleco who will tear though everything

[Marley]

Re: water question

Thanks everyone!