What to do with brown algae in the fish tank? Comprehensive analysis of causes and solutions
Recently, discussions on the issue of brown algae in fish tanks have become increasingly popular on major fish farming forums and social platforms. Many aquarists have reported that the outbreak of brown algae affects ornamental quality and health of the water. This article will combine the hot topic data of the entire network in the past 10 days to provide you with structured solutions.
1. Analysis of the causes of brown algae

| Main causes | Proportion | Typical performance |
|---|---|---|
| The light is too strong/long | 42% | Direct sunlight or light >8 hours/day |
| Nitrate accumulation | 35% | Change water less frequently than once a week |
| Overfeeding | 18% | Fish food residue + excrement accumulation |
| new tank syndrome | 5% | Appears within 1-3 months after opening the tank |
2. Ranking of the latest solutions in 2024
| method | Effective time | Suitable for the scene | Positive rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| UV germicidal lamp | 3-5 days | Large tank above 60cm | 92% |
| Black shell shrimp army | 7-10 days | Grass tank/small fish tank | 88% |
| Phosphate adsorbent | immediately | Serious algae bloom period | 85% |
| Light reduction + water change | 2-3 weeks | Initial prevention | 79% |
3. Step-by-step treatment plan
Step one: emergency treatment
1. Manually scrape the brown algae on the tank wall (use a magnetic brush or bank card)
2. Replace 30% of the water immediately
3. Reduce light to 4 hours/day
Step Two: Biological Control
• Release 200 black shell shrimps (per 50L water)
• Add 3-5 elf fish
• Golden bearded fish (suitable for large tanks)
Step Three: Long-term Prevention
1. Establish a regular water change cycle: once a week in summer and once every two weeks in winter
2. Install a scheduled lighting system: 6-8 hours a day recommended
3. Add submerged plants: water ficus, moss, etc. to compete for nutrients
4. Effective folk remedies tested by aquarists in 2024
1.green tea method: Soak with green tea bag (use with caution, it may affect the PH value)
2.medical stone filtration:Regulate mineral balance
3.EM bacteria tablets: Establish probiotic flora to inhibit algae
5. Common misunderstandings and warnings
| Wrong approach | Consequences | correct alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Completely blackout for 3 days | Water plants withered | Progressive dimming |
| Use copper algaecide | Shrimp and snail die | biological control law |
| Clean filter media frequently | Nitrification system collapse | Batch cleaning |
6. Expert advice
The latest video from aquarium blogger @鱼苑老道 pointed out: "Brown algae is essentially a signal of water quality imbalance, and the focus should be on establishing a stable ecosystem rather than simply removing algae." It is recommended to monitor the following parameters with a water quality detector:
| indicator | safety range | danger threshold |
|---|---|---|
| NO3 nitrate | <50ppm | >100ppm |
| PO4 phosphate | <1ppm | >3ppm |
| light intensity | 2000-3000lux | >5000lux |
Through the above systematic solutions and regular maintenance, most fish tanks can be restored to a clean state within 2-4 weeks. Remember that brown algae treatment is a long-term battle, so be patient for the best results.
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