There are different types of algae... Sometimes diatoms (I'm assuming that's the growth in the tank) are classified as algae, sometimes they're not (depends on one's definition of algae).
Read here, specifically half-way down the page under Diatom Control:
http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/a ... toms.shtml
In a nutshell, possible ways of controling diatoms:
1. Diatoms thrive on silica. If the silica content in the water is high, reducing it is thought by some to help control them (but the article is skeptical about this).
2. Increasing the amount of lighting in the tank (but not the length of time the lights are on).
3. Putting Loricariid catfish, who are diatom eaters, in the tank. Not knowing anything about them (size, cost, etc.) and knowing turtles, to me it's debatable how long they'd last in the tank.
A long time ago I had fair amount of brown growth in a tank and it cleared up when I added lights to the tank. The light will encourage green algae. I have green algae in my RES's stock tank and on the edges of his basking area.. I think it looks nice and to me is preferable to the brown cover.
Of course, a good cleaning would help as well, and this will be easier to do when that gravel is out of there.
"You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed." -Antoine de Saint Exupery-
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 12:55 pm 