brown algae with RODI water?

jmccown · 03/27/2006, 08:45 PM

I am setting up a 150g reef tank that I used 75g of RODI water and the other 75g of RODI water from my previous reef tank. This week (2 months after initial setup) I have an influx in brown algae. I have a cleanup crew of 50 Nassarius snails and 8-10 hermit crabs. I feed once a day to my fish. I am also getting a good amount of green algae on the sides of my tank. I thought with RO/DI water algae shouldn't be a problem. My RO/DI unit is brand new so the filters couldn't be worn out yet. I'm not sure but isn't brown algae caused by excess nutrients in the water? Is there anything I can do to clear it up? I had to stir my sand tonight because I couldn't stand looking at a brown sand bottom.

guitarfish · 03/27/2006, 09:56 PM

That algae is normal for where you are, it will go away. It's from excess nutrients from the cycling process. Things haven't completely balanced out yet. That's been my experience.

AZDesertRat · 03/27/2006, 10:35 PM

It took a good 6 months of mini cycles before my 100G settled down. I used all RO/DI, new sand and cured the rock in a seperate tank but still went through hair algae, red slime, brown, bryopsis and bubble before it was all over with.
You say your filter is new but have you tested the output with a TDS meter? That is the only way to tell if the water is as good as you think it is.

03/27/2006, 08:45 PM	#1
jmccown Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Northport, Alabama Posts: 3,185	brown algae with RODI water? I am setting up a 150g reef tank that I used 75g of RODI water and the other 75g of RODI water from my previous reef tank. This week (2 months after initial setup) I have an influx in brown algae. I have a cleanup crew of 50 Nassarius snails and 8-10 hermit crabs. I feed once a day to my fish. I am also getting a good amount of green algae on the sides of my tank. I thought with RO/DI water algae shouldn't be a problem. My RO/DI unit is brand new so the filters couldn't be worn out yet. I'm not sure but isn't brown algae caused by excess nutrients in the water? Is there anything I can do to clear it up? I had to stir my sand tonight because I couldn't stand looking at a brown sand bottom. __________________ "When I die, my biggest fear is that my wife sells all my toys for what I TOLD HER I paid for them" Former member of the "Huge tank club" Current Tank Info: 300 Deep Dimension FOWLR

03/27/2006, 09:56 PM	#2
guitarfish Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Milford, PA Posts: 2,666	That algae is normal for where you are, it will go away. It's from excess nutrients from the cycling process. Things haven't completely balanced out yet. That's been my experience. __________________ "For wisdom is better than corals, and all other delights themselves cannot be made equal to it." (Proverbs 8:11) Current Tank Info: Former tank: 75g AGA MegaFlow, 30g sump, 100lb LR, MAG 9.5, AquaC EV-120w/MAG 5, Aqualight 260w PC

03/27/2006, 10:35 PM	#3
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	It took a good 6 months of mini cycles before my 100G settled down. I used all RO/DI, new sand and cured the rock in a seperate tank but still went through hair algae, red slime, brown, bryopsis and bubble before it was all over with. You say your filter is new but have you tested the output with a TDS meter? That is the only way to tell if the water is as good as you think it is.