These multicellular algae are most abundant in the cooler waters of the Northern Hemisphere and can grow as small tufts or as complete kelp forests this alga gets its name from its consistent brown colorings, with reds and yellow intermixed. Phaeophyta is true brown algae but mostly appears in marine systems and will not be a concern for your betta tank. It is not known exactly how diatoms integrate silica into their outer casings, but it serves as a protective barrier from predators and other viruses and microbes. Silica is the main component of sand in many parts of the world and also makes up quartz. Silica is silicon dioxide (SiO 2), which is a result of when silicon bonds with oxygen. Most often, brown algae will show up in the system several weeks or months after having set up the aquarium. This is because diatoms will appear as a brown, rusty coating that overtakes most surfaces of the aquarium. In the aquarium, all diatoms are collectively referred to as brown algae. Planktonic diatom movement is mostly dictated by water currents but heavier species are able to attach to surfaces like substrate, plants, and rocks. They are mainly photosynthetic and fossil records date their origins back nearly 200 million years. But if they’re so beneficial to so many ecosystems, why are they a problem in the aquarium system?ĭiatoms are single-celled algae with cell walls made out of silica making them resemble little jewels when placed under a microscope. They provide information about the present and past water qualities and conditions as they can only grow in a very specific and ideal range of parameters and can be used to monitor changing environments. There are an estimated 20,000-2,000,000 different species which all play an integral part in specific food webs and contribute half of the organic material found in the ocean. Diatomsĭiatoms are found in both freshwater and saltwater ecosystems and are responsible for generating most of the atmospheric air available on Earth. For brown algae, we will specifically be looking at diatoms and Phaeophyta. Luckily, most algae can be grouped together into eight main categories: diatoms, green algae (Chlorophyta), Euglenophyta, Dinoflagellata, golden algae (Chrysophyta), red algae (Rhodophyta), brown algae (Phaeophyta), and blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria under classification reassessment as blue-green algae has been found to be prokaryotic while all other algal groups are eukaryotic). Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about brown algae, what causes it, and how to remove brown algae from your betta aquarium! What are brown algae?Īlgae can be very difficult to identify and most species need a microscope to be able to correctly identify the exact kind you’re dealing with. If you’re starting to notice a brown haze to the glass of your aquarium or on the leaves of your live plants, you might be dealing with a brown algae outbreak.Īlgae is the last thing most hobbyists want to hear about or see, but even the healthiest and most thriving tanks usually have algae algae is as much a part of the ecosystem as carefully-chosen live plants are! Unfortunately, algae tend to be ugly and can overtake live plants and other aquarium decorations if not maintained.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |