excessive algae growth

Question
Hello-I have a 5 gallon freshwater tank with 2 neon tetras, a cory catfish and an ocotcinclus  vittatus (which I got to help control the algae, but he can't keep up with it). Weekly I scrape the brown algae growth from the sides of the tank & remove my artifical plants for cleaning. My gravel is also covered with brown algae. The tank is located in a somewhat dark corner of the room, but I keep the hood light on at least 12 hours per day. Is the tank getting too much or too little light? Is it dead algae or live brown algae (I do not have any of the green kind)? How can I help control it? Thank you.

Answer
Hi Nancy;

It's brown algae. The length of time the lights are on should be plenty, but I suspect the intensity of the light from the bulb is not enough to encourage green algae. Most 5 gallon tanks have incandescent lighting. If it does and you can find a screw-in type mini fluorescent bulb, it would be much better. I have two in the double socket incandescent that my ten gallon came with and it grows beautiful live plants. It also stays cooler in the summer and they last a long time.

Also do plenty of water changes and vacuum the gravel, as well as avoiding overfeeding. Wipe the algae off the sides right before your regular weekly 25% water change. If you simply wipe it off, all the algae spores resettle and grow everywhere even more. Vacuum the gravel every 2 to 4 weeks.

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins