Stumped by algae

awatson72 · 12/20/2007, 12:09 PM

Sorry to post yet another algae thread, but I haven't found the exact answer by searching past threads.
The problem is brown algae growing on the tank walls and on the live rock and sand. I scrape it from the walls with a credit card every few days, but I haven't done anything about the live rock or sand bed, and it's starting to get pretty ugly. New lighting has made the problem worse, my photoperiod is about 10 hours per day. I can cut it back, of course, but my corals might not appreciate that. I have a refugium with caulerpa, but no skimmer. I do a 25% water change about monthly.
My water chemistry is fine - nitrates 0, phosphates 0, temp 76, SG 1.024. My source water is well water, very pure, no significant concentration of anything - tested by the state laboratory for about 40 different impurities.
Given this information - what's the best method for dealing with the algae? Any ideas appreciated.

Shooter7 · 12/20/2007, 12:22 PM

Get a skimmer and RO/DI. Algae has to have a fuel to power it. Many phosphate test kits do not pick up phosphates in the tank water, and many phosphates are gobbled up by the algae so it's not free floating in the water. Phosphates are most likely fueling your algae growth. Would be interested in knowing the TDS of your well water. Best results are had with water that is zero, or near zero, TDS. Fish food also has phosphates in it, as does fish waste. Without a skimmer to help get that stuff out of there, it's just building up and feeding the algae.

dileggi · 12/20/2007, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by awatson72
Sorry to post yet another algae thread, but I haven't found the exact answer by searching past threads.
The problem is brown algae growing on the tank walls and on the live rock and sand. I scrape it from the walls with a credit card every few days, but I haven't done anything about the live rock or sand bed, and it's starting to get pretty ugly. New lighting has made the problem worse, my photoperiod is about 10 hours per day. I can cut it back, of course, but my corals might not appreciate that. I have a refugium with caulerpa, but no skimmer. I do a 25% water change about monthly.
My water chemistry is fine - nitrates 0, phosphates 0, temp 76, SG 1.024. My source water is well water, very pure, no significant concentration of anything - tested by the state laboratory for about 40 different impurities.
Given this information - what's the best method for dealing with the algae? Any ideas appreciated.

There is a thread, which I had started yesterday on the brown algae. Mine was on the sand as well as the live rock. Someone in that thread posted of picture, and that is what I had. I found out that I didn't have brown algae, by had cyano. I thought cyano was just red slime. I didn't know it could be different colors. Hope that helps. I was just telling because I tried everything it was algae and nothing seemed to have gotten rid of it. Now I'm waiting for my phosban reactor and skimmer! LOL!

dileggi · 12/20/2007, 12:32 PM

I reposted the thread on the brown algae from yesterday that had the pics someone included.

awatson72 · 12/20/2007, 01:05 PM

Thanks, I'm liking the theory that I have a phosphate issue that isn't being picked up on by my test kit. I guess that just shows that test results aren't always black and white. I'll probably pursue some means of countering the phosphates, looks like there are some options.

12/20/2007, 12:09 PM	#1
awatson72 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 27	Stumped by algae Sorry to post yet another algae thread, but I haven't found the exact answer by searching past threads. The problem is brown algae growing on the tank walls and on the live rock and sand. I scrape it from the walls with a credit card every few days, but I haven't done anything about the live rock or sand bed, and it's starting to get pretty ugly. New lighting has made the problem worse, my photoperiod is about 10 hours per day. I can cut it back, of course, but my corals might not appreciate that. I have a refugium with caulerpa, but no skimmer. I do a 25% water change about monthly. My water chemistry is fine - nitrates 0, phosphates 0, temp 76, SG 1.024. My source water is well water, very pure, no significant concentration of anything - tested by the state laboratory for about 40 different impurities. Given this information - what's the best method for dealing with the algae? Any ideas appreciated.

12/20/2007, 12:22 PM	#2
Shooter7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tolono, IL Posts: 6,754	Get a skimmer and RO/DI. Algae has to have a fuel to power it. Many phosphate test kits do not pick up phosphates in the tank water, and many phosphates are gobbled up by the algae so it's not free floating in the water. Phosphates are most likely fueling your algae growth. Would be interested in knowing the TDS of your well water. Best results are had with water that is zero, or near zero, TDS. Fish food also has phosphates in it, as does fish waste. Without a skimmer to help get that stuff out of there, it's just building up and feeding the algae. __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 10 years salty - standard 29g reef - moved from 120 gal reef, 2x250w Reeflux 10k's on ARO electronics and VHO super actinics on Icecap ballast, 2xTunze 6060, MSX 200 skimmer, GEO 612 Ca reactor, mag 12 return

12/20/2007, 12:32 PM	#4
dileggi Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: S. Philly PA Posts: 1,171	I reposted the thread on the brown algae from yesterday that had the pics someone included. __________________ Eric "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled, was convincing the world he didn't exist." - Usual Suspects Current Tank Info: 90g w/30g sump; skimmer; 2x175w MH & 2x super white actinic...3g w/.5g fuge 1x150w MH Viper

12/20/2007, 01:05 PM	#5
awatson72 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 27	Thanks, I'm liking the theory that I have a phosphate issue that isn't being picked up on by my test kit. I guess that just shows that test results aren't always black and white. I'll probably pursue some means of countering the phosphates, looks like there are some options.