It won't go away.. I'm being impatient =P

dbru0109 · 03/19/2015, 01:15 AM

It has been a week now and the brown algae has lightened up but still seems everywhere. I've had this tank for about 2 months now and it started to put about over a week ago. I've done a 25% WC and have decreased the intensity and durations of my lights. I even shut the lights off for 3 days and didn't really seem to make a difference.

I know I need to be patient but how long will it take for it to completely go away?

Azedenkae · 03/19/2015, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbru0109

It has been a week now and the brown algae has lightened up but still seems everywhere. I've had this tank for about 2 months now and it started to put about over a week ago. I've done a 25% WC and have decreased the intensity and durations of my lights. I even shut the lights off for 3 days and didn't really seem to make a difference.

I know I need to be patient but how long will it take for it to completely go away?

Could be a long time to never. I personally never bother completely getting rid of algae - they are quite a natural part of the environment after all. I just remove as much as I can with each water change to keep them in check.

soulpatch · 03/19/2015, 07:00 AM

what are you using for filtration on your tank? Do you have a skimmer?

You could try various things like vodka/vinegar dosing, using red sea no pox, or peroxide but they all take care/mask the source of the problem which is either your rock leaching or high nitrates from various things.

You said you tank is only 2 months old so changes are you do not have the nitrate eating bacteria up to snuff and you can treat with the above till they come online to better handle the nitrates on their own.

You will want a skimmer with any of the dosing listed above though as you will get a lot of free flowing organics...

dbru0109 · 03/19/2015, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulpatch

what are you using for filtration on your tank? Do you have a skimmer?

You could try various things like vodka/vinegar dosing, using red sea no pox, or peroxide but they all take care/mask the source of the problem which is either your rock leaching or high nitrates from various things.

You said you tank is only 2 months old so changes are you do not have the nitrate eating bacteria up to snuff and you can treat with the above till they come online to better handle the nitrates on their own.

You will want a skimmer with any of the dosing listed above though as you will get a lot of free flowing organics...

For now I only have a hanging filter for 55 gallons for my 20 gallon tank. How much peroxide can I use for my 20 gallon? And I don't have a skimmer yet either. I plan on getting one soon.

Thanks y'all for the info

Paul B · 03/19/2015, 07:34 AM

I would not add anything to that tank now. Thats the problem with many tanks, people add things to eliminate sometghing, then end up with a different problem and you add something else then it happens again and you throw it out and take up golf. Don't do anything. Just let anything grow that wants to for now. It will level off. Maybe in a month or year, no one knows.

pinnatus · 03/19/2015, 07:41 AM

Paul B speaks the truth!

BigCountry74 · 03/19/2015, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul B

I would not add anything to that tank now. Thats the problem with many tanks, people add things to eliminate sometghing, then end up with a different problem and you add something else then it happens again and you throw it out and take up golf. Don't do anything. Just let anything grow that wants to for now. It will level off. Maybe in a month or year, no one knows.

X2

About the only way you can get rid of diatoms is to wait them out. Or use heavy mech filtration (micron works).

Is your HOB only used for mech filtration? I am assuming you have rock for bio, so it probably is. I am assuming your filter pads are brown. Buy another set of pads and every 2-3 days clean and swap them. To clean them, soak them in 20:1 (water to bleach), then soak them in 100% water. They will go from brown back to white

. The pads will help pull all the diatoms out (that's all the brown stuff you are seeing). In the end it just takes time to get rid of the diatoms. But at least you can feel like your doing something

wnehez · 03/19/2015, 09:38 AM

Throw in some hermits and snails. A CUC will clean that right up.

wnehez · 03/19/2015, 09:39 AM

But I agree. Do not add anything to your tank. Chemicals aren't the way to go. Just remember its still a fairly new tank and the cycle could take a bit longer than average. Everyones tank is different.

mcgyvr · 03/19/2015, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbru0109

I know I need to be patient but how long will it take for it to completely go away?

Your not being patient.. And now you will be punished.. It will last twice as long as if you would have just been patient in the first place

cloak · 03/19/2015, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wnehez

Throw in some hermits and snails. A CUC will clean that right up.

+1

I would definitely add a few snails to the tank to help out with the algae on the rocks. You can keep the glass & the sand clean all by yourself. A Mag-Float for the glass and you could either use your finger, a stick or a small power head to stir up your sand bed on occasion. (preferably right before a water change) Like mentioned above time is your best friend here, but this is only if your taking the necessary precautions first. GL.

Sk8r · 03/19/2015, 02:42 PM

A skimmer helps tidy up the water considerably.

dbru0109 · 03/19/2015, 09:01 PM

Okay, you're right I wasn't being patient at all =) I know this is going to take time and is best enjoyed at a slow pace. I will invest into a skimmer and I will recharge my filters.

So I can do the same soaks with the blue filters for my HOB? I have two different types of filters in there. I dont remember the name of the second one but it has little pellets inside white were originally white and same they are life time filter that can be recharged with bleach and water.

BigCountry74 · 03/19/2015, 09:32 PM

yup same soaks. let them turn brown then swap etc.

soulpatch · 03/20/2015, 07:12 AM

chances are you are talking about Purigen as the one pad you have in there...

saltwater_pappy · 03/20/2015, 08:33 PM

When you start up in this hobby the toughest thing is going through all the problems in the first year till you get your water parameters in balance. Take your time to get the water right by removing phosphates and nitrates which fuel algae growth. There are many ways to remove phosphates such as rowaphos in a filter sock, or reactor if you have a sump. Nitrates are best removed with consistent water changes. Remove as much algae as possible when doing water changes (remove and scrub rocks in a bucket of your old tank water) if necessary. I battled algae for about a year until I got my water right. It's a tough battle but you can beat it. Just takes time.

dbru0109 · 03/20/2015, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulpatch

chances are you are talking about Purigen as the one pad you have in there...

yes, that is exactly what it is

03/19/2015, 01:15 AM	#1
dbru0109 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 25	It won't go away.. I'm being impatient =P It has been a week now and the brown algae has lightened up but still seems everywhere. I've had this tank for about 2 months now and it started to put about over a week ago. I've done a 25% WC and have decreased the intensity and durations of my lights. I even shut the lights off for 3 days and didn't really seem to make a difference. I know I need to be patient but how long will it take for it to completely go away?

03/19/2015, 07:00 AM	#3
soulpatch Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 4,017	what are you using for filtration on your tank? Do you have a skimmer? You could try various things like vodka/vinegar dosing, using red sea no pox, or peroxide but they all take care/mask the source of the problem which is either your rock leaching or high nitrates from various things. You said you tank is only 2 months old so changes are you do not have the nitrate eating bacteria up to snuff and you can treat with the above till they come online to better handle the nitrates on their own. You will want a skimmer with any of the dosing listed above though as you will get a lot of free flowing organics... __________________ 150 SC tank build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2550948 Some have bar tabs. I have a coral tab at my LFS. Life goals.

03/19/2015, 07:34 AM	#5
Paul B Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 15,549	I would not add anything to that tank now. Thats the problem with many tanks, people add things to eliminate sometghing, then end up with a different problem and you add something else then it happens again and you throw it out and take up golf. Don't do anything. Just let anything grow that wants to for now. It will level off. Maybe in a month or year, no one knows. __________________ I used to get shocked when I put my hand in my tank. Then the electric eel went dead. Current Tank Info: 100 gal reef set up in 1971

03/19/2015, 07:41 AM	#6
pinnatus RIP Ludinano Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 1,572	Paul B speaks the truth! __________________ - Ken Current Tank Info: 240 gal Fish-Only, 13-gal w/ clowns

03/19/2015, 02:42 PM	#12
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	A skimmer helps tidy up the water considerably. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/19/2015, 09:38 AM	#8
wnehez Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Ringtown, PA Posts: 351	Throw in some hermits and snails. A CUC will clean that right up.

03/19/2015, 09:39 AM	#9
wnehez Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Ringtown, PA Posts: 351	But I agree. Do not add anything to your tank. Chemicals aren't the way to go. Just remember its still a fairly new tank and the cycle could take a bit longer than average. Everyones tank is different.

03/19/2015, 09:01 PM	#13
dbru0109 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 25	Okay, you're right I wasn't being patient at all =) I know this is going to take time and is best enjoyed at a slow pace. I will invest into a skimmer and I will recharge my filters. So I can do the same soaks with the blue filters for my HOB? I have two different types of filters in there. I dont remember the name of the second one but it has little pellets inside white were originally white and same they are life time filter that can be recharged with bleach and water.

03/19/2015, 09:32 PM	#14
BigCountry74 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,761	yup same soaks. let them turn brown then swap etc. __________________ 135g mixed reef (retired) http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2132815 Current 40g reef http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2483250 Current Tank Info: 40g bare bottom reef

03/20/2015, 07:12 AM	#15
soulpatch Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 4,017	chances are you are talking about Purigen as the one pad you have in there... __________________ 150 SC tank build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2550948 Some have bar tabs. I have a coral tab at my LFS. Life goals.

03/20/2015, 08:33 PM	#16
saltwater_pappy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: welland on. Posts: 22	When you start up in this hobby the toughest thing is going through all the problems in the first year till you get your water parameters in balance. Take your time to get the water right by removing phosphates and nitrates which fuel algae growth. There are many ways to remove phosphates such as rowaphos in a filter sock, or reactor if you have a sump. Nitrates are best removed with consistent water changes. Remove as much algae as possible when doing water changes (remove and scrub rocks in a bucket of your old tank water) if necessary. I battled algae for about a year until I got my water right. It's a tough battle but you can beat it. Just takes time. __________________ Dave 90G DT, 30G sump, seaclone skimmer, 700GPH & 1400GPH flowjets, 2 150w blueline fantom LEDS, 70lbs live rock, LPS, softies, cleaner shrimp.