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New Tank 3 Weeks, Brown Spots Forming on Glass

PostPosted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 9:50 pm
by Spardok
So I have just recently changed my turtle tank to a 55 gallon (35? before) with a new EHEIM Classic 600. I only have one red eared slider (27ish years old), and thus one turtle. I imagine it's just algae forming, though due to the filtration I find it odd that it would even form. I do not feed him fish, I do however give him pellets and other vegetables. Right now I have only a tube florescent bulb for lighting which is timed to stay on from 8am to 8pm, I am moving soon so I did not add any substrate, and I plan on wall mounting my heat/uv/uva/uvb bulb this time so I don't have any mishaps. Pictures are below, any help would be much appreciated. If any additional information or pictures are needed plox feel free to ask.

Pictures: http://imgur.com/a/tqOvz Yes that sticker is on the outside of the tank lol.

Re: New Tank 3 Weeks, Brown Spots Forming on Glass

PostPosted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 4:04 am
by steve
Warm water is optimal for all sorts of things to grow. I would just wipe it away a few times and see if it comes back.

Re: New Tank 3 Weeks, Brown Spots Forming on Glass

PostPosted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 4:10 am
by Spardok
What would you recommend I wipe it down with, just a sponge? Thank you again.
I also forgot to mention that the water temp is probably cold at night right now (I live in Arizona), as I have no heater in the tank. Somewhat afraid to use one after looking around and reading that they all explode or short circuit. Though I don't really need one during anything but winter out here.

Re: New Tank 3 Weeks, Brown Spots Forming on Glass

PostPosted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 10:26 am
by litefoot
With the amount of light we use and temp's as Steve said all sorts of things grow. If you use a sponge just dedicate it for turtle use only ! I tell people been doing this for thirty years , boy I'm old but since I was 6 so that's over 55 years in hobby ! Things have changed. Have gone through a lot of heaters in my time.

OH safety note : Water and electrical use a GFCI safety !

Found Eheim Jager , Several years ago. WOW ! Great ! Never a problem ! Did hear over years some had a problem here or there BUT they do stand behind there product !! Always good company relations. Not like some store brand / no name brands / .... etc Do some homework and keep an eye for a sale. Got my 300 watt on sale for $23 a few months ago and it's just for a back up if the one I have EVER goes out. Always got years of service out of them . A Sale had to get it ! Save money ! You may not need a 300 wt but size to your tank and watch for sales ! Can't go wrong.

https://www.eheim.com/en_GB/products/te ... trol-300W#

I do recommend highly !!!

Re: New Tank 3 Weeks, Brown Spots Forming on Glass

PostPosted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 10:26 pm
by steve
I just use a paper towel when I need to wipe the glass. How big is your turtle and how cold does the water get?

Re: New Tank 3 Weeks, Brown Spots Forming on Glass

PostPosted: Thu Mar 09, 2017 6:04 am
by Spardok
Turtle is about 6 1/2". Water temp during winter drops to around high 60's and low 70s', otherwise high 70's.

Re: New Tank 3 Weeks, Brown Spots Forming on Glass

PostPosted: Thu Mar 09, 2017 11:59 am
by steve
I would agree that you don't need one, but I would keep one stored away just in case.

Re: New Tank 3 Weeks, Brown Spots Forming on Glass

PostPosted: Thu Mar 09, 2017 8:05 pm
by Spardok
Do you recommend the Jager as well? Like I said before all the reviews I've read on heaters talk about how they electrocute the animal inside from the plastic/glass busting, the temp gauge going [----] and literally cooking anything in the tank, or just rusting etc releasing poisonous materials into the water. So I am rather skeptical on even getting one to use for say during the winter when it would actually be needed.

Thank you both for your replies.

Re: New Tank 3 Weeks, Brown Spots Forming on Glass

PostPosted: Thu Mar 09, 2017 9:43 pm
by steve
Jager and Aqueon Pros are good heaters. Keep aquarium equipment plugged into a GFCI outlet to reduce shocks/hazards. I've been using Jagers for years, and while some have stopped working their casing never broke.

Re: New Tank 3 Weeks, Brown Spots Forming on Glass

PostPosted: Mon May 15, 2017 4:49 pm
by Spardok
Welp it's back. I tried removing any light source from the tank to see if it would stop the growth, obviously it did not. I did scrub it all off after I took these pictures though. Is there any kind of water test I should run at this point? Or something I could add to the water to remove any future growth?
http://imgur.com/a/3d2AA

Thank you for your help again.

Re: New Tank 3 Weeks, Brown Spots Forming on Glass

PostPosted: Mon May 15, 2017 7:17 pm
by litefoot
Brown algae is only one type most of us ,due to the amount of light for a turtle , have green algae to a point. The easiest way to control is to remove one of food sources it needs. We can't touch the light but CAN remove the nutrients it feeds on. Easy ways to control are : 1) feed your turtle in a separate container they are messy eaters. If done in the tank you may never find all the uneaten pieces thus nutrients for that algae. 2) Live plants will consume those nutrients better and faster than algae but does become turtle food. You would have to scoop up some broken plants but the brown algae will be gone. 3) Maybe a Pleco catfish could keep up with it.
By the way removing the light source as you did only helps Brown algae ! It's a low light algae. Maybe change placement of lights as long as it does not effect basking area temps. Now #4)Brown algae like's low oxygen , turtles breath out the water so no big deal here BUT low oxygen and Brown algae goes together . Live plants will help on that front to and a air stone with tiny bubbles helps to add oxygen also.
You have No water test kit ? Brown algae love high nitrates. For turtles best to try for (0) or around (10ppm and for me this # is high some may say little higher is still ok) My setup always below 5.0ppm but it's a lot larger than yours that makes controlling the water easier.
Also do not do 100% water changes or even 50% unless you have an big problem. How often do you do the changes and how much? You may have to adjust for that 55 gallon. I like 20-25% water changes more often at least once a week or less than one big one now and then. Works for me and I feed in the tank. This keeps your GOOD bacteria alive to help the tank !

What type and size UVA /heat bulb and UVB you have or maybe its a mercury vapor ? Brown algae come from low light , most of use see green algae do the amount of light for a turtle.


Here's a small read : https://www.thespruce.com/brown-aquarium-algae-1378629