Brown algae breakout

traderdan · 12/03/2008, 08:25 PM

I have had my tank setup for about a month and a half. I have had a brown algae start about a week ago. I noticed it lightly on the sandbed, a little on the rocks, and some on glass. Now it is covering about half of the sandbed and I am cleaning glass daily. I just took water readings and they are as follows. ph=8.4, ammonia=0, nitrite=0, and nitrate 2-5. I just set up a skimmer last week and it is starting to get some junk. It seems pretty wet yet and not much, but it is there. I have 2 clowns, about 60 snails and crabs, and a cleaner shrimp. The tank is about 40 gallons with a 30 gallon sump. Is this algae something that just happens about this time and I should just wait it out, or should I do something to counteract it? Thanks everyone.

ltindle · 12/03/2008, 08:32 PM

Did you use RO/DI water when you set it up?

traderdan · 12/03/2008, 08:34 PM

No, I used distilled water. I don't know of a place around that has ro/di water besides meijers. I checked their log on maintance and it had been over 5 months since someone was there to work on it. I don't know if that means anything, but I was scared to use it.

biecacka · 12/03/2008, 08:35 PM

brown algae is a common part of cycling tanks. it is more prone to happen once fish are introduced and they are being fed

traderdan · 12/03/2008, 08:46 PM

Thanks, I thought it was a natural occurance, but wanted to check with the pros. Its been about 5 years since I set up a new tank. Would it help to put in phosorb? I know its probably not spelled right, but I saw a filter media at the lfs that is supposed to cut down on phosphates.

12/03/2008, 08:25 PM	#1
traderdan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Portage, IN Posts: 306	Brown algae breakout I have had my tank setup for about a month and a half. I have had a brown algae start about a week ago. I noticed it lightly on the sandbed, a little on the rocks, and some on glass. Now it is covering about half of the sandbed and I am cleaning glass daily. I just took water readings and they are as follows. ph=8.4, ammonia=0, nitrite=0, and nitrate 2-5. I just set up a skimmer last week and it is starting to get some junk. It seems pretty wet yet and not much, but it is there. I have 2 clowns, about 60 snails and crabs, and a cleaner shrimp. The tank is about 40 gallons with a 30 gallon sump. Is this algae something that just happens about this time and I should just wait it out, or should I do something to counteract it? Thanks everyone.

12/03/2008, 08:32 PM	#2
ltindle Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 178	Did you use RO/DI water when you set it up?

12/03/2008, 08:34 PM	#3
traderdan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Portage, IN Posts: 306	No, I used distilled water. I don't know of a place around that has ro/di water besides meijers. I checked their log on maintance and it had been over 5 months since someone was there to work on it. I don't know if that means anything, but I was scared to use it.

12/03/2008, 08:35 PM	#4
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	brown algae is a common part of cycling tanks. it is more prone to happen once fish are introduced and they are being fed

12/03/2008, 08:46 PM	#5
traderdan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Portage, IN Posts: 306	Thanks, I thought it was a natural occurance, but wanted to check with the pros. Its been about 5 years since I set up a new tank. Would it help to put in phosorb? I know its probably not spelled right, but I saw a filter media at the lfs that is supposed to cut down on phosphates.