Is this the 'brown algae phase' ?

Gobie74 · 12/26/2006, 11:48 AM

I've read here that you can expect a brown algae phase followed by a green algae phase while getting your tank ready. Do these pictures look like the brown algae phase, or something else?

So far, the brown is only on the live rocks. And there seem to be many bubbles in the thicker brown patches. I thought maybe they were nitrogen gas which was being converted from Nitrates, I really don't know for sure tho.

Any ideas?

papagimp · 12/26/2006, 12:20 PM

forgive me reefers if I get this one wrong, I think that's dinoflagelattes (however it's spelled). Could be cyno, I forget. My cyno looked like that, only red in color. New tanks will usually go through this phase. A macro algae stocked refugium will help, so will plenty of water changes to keep nitrates down. I didn't see any livestock in those photo's, but you'll wanna keep that stuff from getting on any corals or inverts you have. Can smother them to death. otherwise, it's normal and will pass in time as the tank matures more.

casingbill · 12/26/2006, 12:24 PM

its diatoms...i'm at the end of my phase right now. i would blow off the rocks every other day with a turkey baster. it lasted prolly 3 weeks or so. some say keep lights to a minimum. someone else told me not to and it will make the phase shorter. keep doing water changes and check nitrates.

casingbill · 12/26/2006, 12:28 PM

i also had 1 or 2 black trochus snails that cleaned rock and made it shiny new!!

12/26/2006, 11:48 AM	#1
Gobie74 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: South Windsor, CT Posts: 924	Is this the 'brown algae phase' ? I've read here that you can expect a brown algae phase followed by a green algae phase while getting your tank ready. Do these pictures look like the brown algae phase, or something else? So far, the brown is only on the live rocks. And there seem to be many bubbles in the thicker brown patches. I thought maybe they were nitrogen gas which was being converted from Nitrates, I really don't know for sure tho. Any ideas?

12/26/2006, 12:20 PM	#2
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	forgive me reefers if I get this one wrong, I think that's dinoflagelattes (however it's spelled). Could be cyno, I forget. My cyno looked like that, only red in color. New tanks will usually go through this phase. A macro algae stocked refugium will help, so will plenty of water changes to keep nitrates down. I didn't see any livestock in those photo's, but you'll wanna keep that stuff from getting on any corals or inverts you have. Can smother them to death. otherwise, it's normal and will pass in time as the tank matures more. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

12/26/2006, 12:24 PM	#3
casingbill Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Stanfordville, NY Posts: 480	its diatoms...i'm at the end of my phase right now. i would blow off the rocks every other day with a turkey baster. it lasted prolly 3 weeks or so. some say keep lights to a minimum. someone else told me not to and it will make the phase shorter. keep doing water changes and check nitrates. __________________ Opinions are like nipples on a man...we all have at least 2 and they're completely useless! Current Tank Info: AGA 90g reef in works,

12/26/2006, 12:28 PM	#4
casingbill Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Stanfordville, NY Posts: 480	i also had 1 or 2 black trochus snails that cleaned rock and made it shiny new!! __________________ Opinions are like nipples on a man...we all have at least 2 and they're completely useless! Current Tank Info: AGA 90g reef in works,