Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Fish | Unknown - Fish
My fish tank is getting brown on the decorations and gravel I tried cleaning it a couple days ago but came right back
1 Answer
Published on January 14th, 2018
Brown algae overgrowth can be due to high nitrates, too much light or overfeeding. Use a liquid home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. Most pet or fish stores will do this for free of for a small fee. If nitrates are over 40ppm, it can be decreased by performing partial water changes. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. You can also use a nitrate absorbing filter insert. The algae will need to be physically scrubbed from plants or rocks and can be scraped from glass. Rinse filter media using tank water NOT tap water. Limit light to 6 hours daily, 8 if you have live plants and do not over feed.
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