Brown algae??

Holmez221b · 11/03/2006, 06:14 PM

My tank has been set up for about 2 years... I've always had some kind of algae problem.. but just recently I've been having a brown algae or diatom bloom on the sand and glass, besides a light with old bulds and high nitrates and high phosphates are there any other causes??

bertoni · 11/07/2006, 12:57 AM

If they are truly diatoms, they will need a source of silica for their tests (shells). Are you using tapwater?

Holmez221b · 11/07/2006, 06:03 AM

I only use ro/di water..

bertoni · 11/07/2006, 10:59 AM

Well, I guess it's more likely to be dinoflagellates or cyanobacteria. The microbes need food to grow, so that's where I'd start working. Better skimming or growing and harvesting a macroalga are common approaches.

Also, how much and what is being fed?

11/03/2006, 06:14 PM	#1
Holmez221b Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Danbury, CT Posts: 273	Brown algae?? My tank has been set up for about 2 years... I've always had some kind of algae problem.. but just recently I've been having a brown algae or diatom bloom on the sand and glass, besides a light with old bulds and high nitrates and high phosphates are there any other causes??

11/07/2006, 12:57 AM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If they are truly diatoms, they will need a source of silica for their tests (shells). Are you using tapwater? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/07/2006, 10:59 AM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Well, I guess it's more likely to be dinoflagellates or cyanobacteria. The microbes need food to grow, so that's where I'd start working. Better skimming or growing and harvesting a macroalga are common approaches. Also, how much and what is being fed? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/07/2006, 06:03 AM	#3
Holmez221b Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Danbury, CT Posts: 273	I only use ro/di water..