Nano Algae?

JustinReef · 11/22/2006, 08:48 PM

I am currently cycling a 24 G Nano tank and have a brownish algae I have never seen before in any of my other tanks. First thing I checked for was phosphates but they were almost 0. Everything else seems fine too (For a cycle). Im wondering if anyone knows what this is or what I should do?

Thanks

JustinReef · 11/22/2006, 08:49 PM

Sorry the pics are not too great!

Blown 346 · 11/22/2006, 08:53 PM

Those are diatoms, that is perfectly normal for a cycling tank. To help reduce them dont have the light on far long terms of time.

sarduci · 11/22/2006, 08:55 PM

I'd say wait it out for a few days. Nano tanks love turkey basters to blow off rocks and sand. If it really bothers you, get some air line tube and syphon some out.

JustinReef · 11/22/2006, 08:59 PM

Thanks...No it doesnt bother me right now...I just have never seen this with my bigger tank and was kinda worried. I will wait a bit and remove it if needed.

CPT. MURPHY · 11/22/2006, 09:32 PM

Man I love your rock! Very nice!

CPT.

JustinReef · 11/22/2006, 11:04 PM

Thanks!

drummereef · 11/23/2006, 01:06 AM

Just some diatoms - no worrys. The tank is new an in it's break in period. You'll probably go through a couple of algae blooms as the tank stabilizes. Keep the params in check and it should go away on its own. Good luck!

JustinReef · 11/23/2006, 08:22 PM

OK well this morning I blew most of the diatoms off the rock with a powerhead...But I got home today to find the tank completely over run by the stuff! Im not kidding, the sand, rocks everything ir golden brown! It took like 10 hours today to completely overtake the sand and rocks! Is this still normal? Anything I should do?

syrinx · 11/23/2006, 08:48 PM

I wish I could have caught this post when you made it! It is fascinating how quickly the diatoms can regrow after being removed. I once had a customers tank regrow 30% coverage on the sand 3 hours after siphoning off the whole bed! It is a self limiting occurance. Once the substance mix the diatoms require to make their skeletons, they will cease to exist and the next phase of disgust will come- I would say the dinoflagilites in about 4 days............

JustinReef · 11/23/2006, 08:57 PM

Yeah it was very quick! So what does this mean? Oh and what would you recommend I do?

syrinx · 11/23/2006, 09:36 PM

brush it away so it doesn`t shade out the coraline algae and wait a week. Sometimes water changes help- but often times they replenish the compounds that allow the growth to bloom. Phosphates and phosphorous are often blamed- but there is much more to it then that.

JustinReef · 11/24/2006, 12:01 PM

Ok...So now I am also finding long stringy stuff coming from the diatoms. Looks kinda like hairs or spider webs. Any ideas? Not too many of them and pics wouldnt pick it up.

sarduci · 11/24/2006, 12:59 PM

Maybe the begining of hair algae if it's on the rocks.

This all sounds normal to me, all part of the cycle. I would throw a snail or two in there when you first start to see green fuzz on the rocks. Then add more snails at one or max two per week until everything is under control. You should top out around 18 to 20 snailis, less if you want to have hermits.

JustinReef · 11/24/2006, 01:54 PM

OK thanks. I am going to add a few snails tonight from one of my other tanks. I never went through this when cycling my other tanks, just some hair algae but nothing like this. It has completely overrun the LR and sand! All you can see is golden brown! Very Ugly...

11/22/2006, 08:48 PM	#1
JustinReef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,715	Nano Algae? I am currently cycling a 24 G Nano tank and have a brownish algae I have never seen before in any of my other tanks. First thing I checked for was phosphates but they were almost 0. Everything else seems fine too (For a cycle). Im wondering if anyone knows what this is or what I should do? Thanks

11/23/2006, 01:06 AM	#8
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Just some diatoms - no worrys. The tank is new an in it's break in period. You'll probably go through a couple of algae blooms as the tank stabilizes. Keep the params in check and it should go away on its own. Good luck! __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

11/23/2006, 08:48 PM	#10
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	I wish I could have caught this post when you made it! It is fascinating how quickly the diatoms can regrow after being removed. I once had a customers tank regrow 30% coverage on the sand 3 hours after siphoning off the whole bed! It is a self limiting occurance. Once the substance mix the diatoms require to make their skeletons, they will cease to exist and the next phase of disgust will come- I would say the dinoflagilites in about 4 days............ __________________ My views are based on 49years as an aquarist, 25 years as a pro reef consultant, 10 years of owning a LFS, and the results of thousands of customers tanks. But I am always learning.

11/23/2006, 09:36 PM	#12
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	brush it away so it doesn`t shade out the coraline algae and wait a week. Sometimes water changes help- but often times they replenish the compounds that allow the growth to bloom. Phosphates and phosphorous are often blamed- but there is much more to it then that. __________________ My views are based on 49years as an aquarist, 25 years as a pro reef consultant, 10 years of owning a LFS, and the results of thousands of customers tanks. But I am always learning.

11/22/2006, 08:49 PM	#2
JustinReef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,715	Sorry the pics are not too great!

11/22/2006, 08:53 PM	#3
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	Those are diatoms, that is perfectly normal for a cycling tank. To help reduce them dont have the light on far long terms of time.

11/22/2006, 08:55 PM	#4
sarduci Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Wausau, Wisconsin Posts: 1,278	I'd say wait it out for a few days. Nano tanks love turkey basters to blow off rocks and sand. If it really bothers you, get some air line tube and syphon some out.

11/22/2006, 08:59 PM	#5
JustinReef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,715	Thanks...No it doesnt bother me right now...I just have never seen this with my bigger tank and was kinda worried. I will wait a bit and remove it if needed.

11/22/2006, 09:32 PM	#6
CPT. MURPHY Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 1,148	Man I love your rock! Very nice! CPT.

11/22/2006, 11:04 PM	#7
JustinReef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,715	Thanks!

11/23/2006, 08:22 PM	#9
JustinReef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,715	OK well this morning I blew most of the diatoms off the rock with a powerhead...But I got home today to find the tank completely over run by the stuff! Im not kidding, the sand, rocks everything ir golden brown! It took like 10 hours today to completely overtake the sand and rocks! Is this still normal? Anything I should do?

11/23/2006, 08:57 PM	#11
JustinReef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,715	Yeah it was very quick! So what does this mean? Oh and what would you recommend I do?

11/24/2006, 12:01 PM	#13
JustinReef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,715	Ok...So now I am also finding long stringy stuff coming from the diatoms. Looks kinda like hairs or spider webs. Any ideas? Not too many of them and pics wouldnt pick it up.

11/24/2006, 12:59 PM	#14
sarduci Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Wausau, Wisconsin Posts: 1,278	Maybe the begining of hair algae if it's on the rocks. This all sounds normal to me, all part of the cycle. I would throw a snail or two in there when you first start to see green fuzz on the rocks. Then add more snails at one or max two per week until everything is under control. You should top out around 18 to 20 snailis, less if you want to have hermits.

11/24/2006, 01:54 PM	#15
JustinReef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,715	OK thanks. I am going to add a few snails tonight from one of my other tanks. I never went through this when cycling my other tanks, just some hair algae but nothing like this. It has completely overrun the LR and sand! All you can see is golden brown! Very Ugly...