Why Is My fish tank gravel turning a brownish color?

Question

I have a 20 freshwater tank and my gravel started to turn a brown color. I have a rock and shell in there from my previous tank and i bought a new fake plant. It started to turn brown when i got an electric blue lobster. Then today it started to turn my plant brown too. I scrub the rock and shell everyday but they both keep turning brown. If you know how I can make it stop please let me know!!

~Thanks

Answer 1

Ya it sounds like algae, its not the fish its the water. Here are some quick fixes. First off if your tanks in the sun move it or get some drapes to block it because that will cause algae to grow faster. Also get yourself a timer for you lights or leave them off longer. If your not home to enjoy it and you don't have real plants that need the light then you only need to have your lights on for about 7 hours a day at most. More water changes, algae feeds off of the nutrient's that float in the water from leftover food etc. more water changes removes its main food source. Good Luck.

Answer 2

most likely brown algae

keep tank away from window and direct sunlight

keep light off when not home and at night

Answer 3

eww clean it that's a sign of a dirty tank while doing a water change shift the gravel around do a 10% change all that brownish stuff is all waste of leftover food and f***s

Answer 4

It Sounds Like Brown algey,I Had The Same Thing In My Fish Tank,I Bought a Fish That Eats It That Doesnt Cost That much and u can find at any pet store and i havent had that problem since

Answer 5

Is your aquarium new?  My tank is about 3 months old and I have had it for about a month.  Doing research on the internet it said that it is brown algae and it is common in new aquariums and usually goes away in a couple of months.  I hope this helps.    

Answer 6

You have to siphon the gravel using a gravel siphon: http://www.aquarticles.com/images/Colema...

This will take out all of the p**p (which is causing your gravel to turn brown).

Here's how to start a gravel siphon: http://www.fishlesscycling.com/articles/...

E-mail me for any questions!

Answer 7

Diatoms are single celled algae, brownish in color. It starts out as a dusting on the substrate that rapidly turns into a mat that can cover tank over in a few days provided they have surplus on nutrients available. Brown algae are more likely from low lights and a new set up where (N) nitrogen is low and (P) phosphate level is high with excess silicate (Sio2) acids strong lights make this go away, but might be seen on lower plants and gravel also on the tank glass, decorations it can be removed with Siamese Algae Eaters , Otos,Snails.

(F)is for--------------(A) is for against

Otocinclus=(F) catfish ideal for tank ---(A) can be hard to acclimatise

Common plec=(F)-hard working type fish eats green, brown, and bush algae

Siamese Algae Eater=(F)-Algae eater eats green, brown and bush (A) often confused with Flying Fox.

Chinese Algae eater (F) good algae eaters when young-(A)- less eating when older

Bristle-nose= (F)Excellent algae eaters (A) don't grow big difficult to grow.

Peckoltia= (F) Attractive (A)-most are expensive, not all eat algae.