getting rid of algae on gravel

I've been rinsing my plastic plants in a weak solution of warm water, in a big bucket, with about an 1/8 cup of chlorine to rid it of brown algea. Of course, I rinse the plants really really well before putting them back in the tank. If I do the same with the mixed-color gravel will this solution bleach out the colors? I don't mind the algae but it doesn't look 'clean'......the gravel is a pretty combo of light and dark blues, purple, black and white. Is there a better way to clean it? My plecostomus is doing a nice job with eating the algae but it may be getting ahead of his appetite. He's still a babe. Thanks in advance.

Brown algae could be from lack of/or not enough light, but more likely it is Diatoms, caused by excess nutrients, silicate and silicic acid in the tap water. Try pre-filtering your filter, cleaning the pre-filter at least every other day. The pre-filter will trap any solids - very little solid waste should enter the bio-section. I'm guessing your tank hasn't been set up for long, and is lacking the bio-film of an aged tank. Activated carbon removes silicate and silicic acid from tap water - run your tap water through a couple of cups of activated carbon when ever you do your weekly water changes. Stop the cause, the brown algae will go away....... Frank

would adding activated carbon to the filter work as well? as I had a little brown algea on the base of the glass

A good quality activated carbon is costly and really not needed in a filter full time. The amount of carbon they put in the filter cartridges is spent (used up - full) within a few days. Two US cups (480cc - I think) of a good quality activated carbon per 55 US gals.(280L - I think) last about six weeks. The brown, dark greenish black line of algae on the glass just below the gravels surface is more likely to be Blueish-green slime algae - which is bacterial, not really an algae. It gets started on high levels of decomposing organic compounds in areas with little or no water movement. Once it gets a good start above the gravel, it grows and spreads rapidly, over everything, to the point it will even smother and kill plants. My guess - your tank has been set up for a while now, and you haven't been keeping up with 20% weekly water changes and _gravel vacs_. Carbon won't help, no matter how much you put in your filter - being bacteral, once it gets a foot hold, the only thing I know of that will kill blueish-green algae is antibiotics - 200mg of erythromycin phosphate per 10 gals., which will also wipe out your bio-filter....... Frank

I hear what you're all saying about new tank, filter, carbon, light, etc., and it's a big help. ...............so, I guess my question now is........if, after cleaning the gravel with the gravel vac, the gravel is still brown from algae, can I remove a few cups of gravel every week or so and use a weak solution of bleach in water to remove the brown algae............or will it bleach out the colors of the gravel? thanks again.

Depends on how the gravel was colored. Epoxy coated gravel won't fade, but some of the others will. You can always try a little bit and see what happens. I once bleached a bunch of fake plants that turned almost white.......... Frank

I must have sun bleached a few thousand pounds of driftwood back in my pet shop days. Gravel, rocks and fake plants were spread out over a framed window screen, sprayed with a 5% bleach solution, rinsed with the hose and put right back into the tank - faster that way - although one time, I turned a bunch of silk plants almost white doing that....... Frank

A company called Aquarium Products sells a plastic plant cleaner. A couple years ago, I bought some on line but never used it because of all the warnings. It contains potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and sodium polyacrylate. It's probably fine to use as directed, but all of my aquariums now have live plants. Regular partial water changes, live plants and proper lighting usually solve algae problems, but a reasonable amount of algae is good for an aquarium.