Okay I bought fish and the tank two months ago and I have a filter and light. I clean the tank weekly. About two weeks ago, the tank was almost brown all over. I cleaned it and the tank was clear. A week later, the leaves (plastic) are starting the get brown and the lower glass is too. I about to clean it but I still need help.
Why is my fish tank brown?
- Thread starter Justin
- Start date
star wisher
New member
It sounds like algae. You will get a brown algae with a nitrate spike. Usually this happens in a fairly new tank like yours. Try reducing how much light your tank gets as well as making sure you do not over feed and keep up on your weekly water changes. Depending on how big your tank is and what fish are in it you could get some otos, they are great at cleaning up brown algae. Good Luck.
I'd say you have a algae problem. try to limit the light source in your tank so that it wont grow as fast. algae needs light so if you take it away it cannot grow. do you leave the light on all night? that can speed up the process. if that doesn't work go to your local pet store and ask a aquatic associate about algae suppressing tablets. those will help too.
Lara maree
New member
Maybe the tank needs more thorough cleaning.
I have a friend who has a large tropical fish tank and has heaps of fish in it so when cleaning it trys to avoid disturbing the fish so empties a bit of the water and uses a special vacuum to do th rest. because of this they may not see a dead fish that has been there for a while, which has happened before.
This may of happened to you and if so just make sure you empty the tank and give it a good clean out, also make sure that you rinse the stones especially as I have found that they can hold lots af little nastys!!
hope this has helped and happy cleaning!!
I have a friend who has a large tropical fish tank and has heaps of fish in it so when cleaning it trys to avoid disturbing the fish so empties a bit of the water and uses a special vacuum to do th rest. because of this they may not see a dead fish that has been there for a while, which has happened before.
This may of happened to you and if so just make sure you empty the tank and give it a good clean out, also make sure that you rinse the stones especially as I have found that they can hold lots af little nastys!!
hope this has helped and happy cleaning!!
Kylie Anne
New member
as said by star wisher, brown algae is caused by high nitrates. have you been doing weekly 25% water changes? if not make sure you get a gravel vacuum and start. cutting back on the amount of light per day will also help.
do NOT get an algae eater. most algae eating fish don't eat brown algae, they'll only make the problem worse by producing more waste, increasing the nitrates even more. tablets and liquids are not needed and only hurt the tank. always add as LITTLE chemicals as possible. the only things you ever should add are water conditioners to remove the chlorine and chloramine and medicine when needed. every other problem should be fixed by you.
do NOT get an algae eater. most algae eating fish don't eat brown algae, they'll only make the problem worse by producing more waste, increasing the nitrates even more. tablets and liquids are not needed and only hurt the tank. always add as LITTLE chemicals as possible. the only things you ever should add are water conditioners to remove the chlorine and chloramine and medicine when needed. every other problem should be fixed by you.