brown algae under gravel against glass

So i have this light to mid brown algae that is growing against the glass under my gravel. It is not growing anywhere else, but underneath the gravel. I have white fine gravel, hence the reason i have noticed it. What could be the cause of this?

PS: I do my regular weekly water changes, change my carbon and ammonia remover monthly.....everything by the book.

 

Do you do a gravel vac?
Slope the grave towards the back to prevent the agae.
How thick is your gravel?

 

yes, i do a gravel clean when i do the water change, but i try and disturb the gravel as little as possible (as per the advise from other members on this forum). Gravel is slightly deep as my fish like to dig lol.

 

To be honest with you, i have never seen a mature tank WITHOU T what you are describing. I dont know if this is algae or diatoms from the substrate and glass. This is one reason why I personally find black substrate nicer because this is then not visible.

Slojo mentioned a trick, which is definitely the right answer. Slope your gravel. Meaning have the gravel a lot thicker at the back, and then slope it down to almost nothing on the front. This not only prevents this horrible algae, but it actually gives a visual appearance that your tank is deeper than it really is. If you have a lot of water circulation n the tank, you may find the need to reslope the gravel every few weeks, but this shouldnt be too much of a problem considering the visual positives you wil be gaining.

Another alternate option- if you are into DIY- put a wooden beading around the front façade of the viewing panel. Then this brown algae and mulm will be hidden.

Sent from my Tablet using Tapatalk

 

I must remember this sloping idea when I rescape again. I also read that the uneaten food, fish excrement and so on, then accumulate in the front part of the tank, making it easier to vacuum. I did try it this time round, but did not slope it nearly enough. The effect is already gone!

 

Hi Tom,

I have been away for two weeks and I see that you have been making many mountains out of molehills on the forum again. As Zoom indicates, we all have this algae in the gravel. Just take a Stanley blade and run it down below the gravel level and then do a bit of a gravel vac, this is no big deal.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

Hi Prof

Welcome back! Missed you too.

Just a correction, the algae problem is not mine and I just commented on the sloping idea, for different reasons, as mentioned.

I suspect the mountains and molehills comment has more to do with the ammonia thread. Well, I enjoy delving into these things and I am in no way trying to convince others to do the same. On the contrary, I share my experiences here so they do not have to.

haha, as die kat weg is, is die muis baas!

 

Yes, I had a look at the Ammonia thread and rapidly closed it or else I may have unsubscribed from the forum...... holy Jeronimo man!

 

Prof, do not be like that! If I make mistakes, point it out. How else will I learn?

Or should I rather unsubscribe?

 

Don't take me too seriously Tom, I am forever pulling everyone's leg.

It is just that I do not have the time for these to and fro arguments as I saw on that thread. Maybe one day if I retire, I might have time for such debates, but right now, I just don't have the time, and that is not meant as a criticism of you.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

OK Prof, I will take it as 'pulling my leg'. You did fool me however.

I will go sit in the corner again, till I cant hold it anymore.

Snail, sorry man!

 

lol @ tom and prof.

No, dont worry about hijacking my thread, it's all good, ha ha ha. alright, back to topic.....thanks for all these ideas. I will see which way works best, but 1 step at a time.

@prof......thanks for sharing input on this topic, as i know you are extremely busy with your own work.

@Tom....we still love you too

 

Thanks snail. Wish I were in Toti right now! (Prof is even got me to Google my grammar now!)

 

i also had this type of algae as i suppose we all do but mine only grew where the gravel was very thick from the oscars building pits,i found a very simple solution by simply moving some of the gravel away my pleco was able to get at it and by morning it was all gone.