Brown Dust/Algae on LR (??)

tenwhiteduke · 05/14/2007, 07:44 AM

I end up having this brown dust/algae on the LR occasionally and would like to know other than blowing off the rocks with a turkey baster, which makes even more of a mess in the tank as it circles the tank till it drops to the bed. Is there another way to control this stuff? Is there something that cleans the rocks better?

bertoni · 05/14/2007, 05:10 PM

Such blooms are common in new tanks. Often, though, the issue comes down to more food going into the tank than the nutrient export system removes. I'd start with the feeding levels, most likely.

FLReefGirl · 05/14/2007, 06:47 PM

sounds like a diatom bloom. very common in newer tanks, even after a couple. most times it's part of a "new tank" process. cut back feeing a bit and possibly increase flow. lots of times if there a diatom bloom, cyano is not far behind if not taken care of. jm2c

DayFive · 05/14/2007, 07:03 PM

I have the same problem in my 6 month old tank. Will cyano take over and get rid of the diatom?

Josh

bertoni · 05/14/2007, 07:03 PM

At six months, I suspect you'll need to work on nutrient control.

FLReefGirl · 05/14/2007, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DayFive
I have the same problem in my 6 month old tank. Will cyano take over and get rid of the diatom?

Josh

No, cyano doesn't get rid of diatom.
To help rid my tank of diatom I was told to cut back feedings and turn off the lights for a couple days. Then do a 10% water change. Siphon your live rock while siphoning your water during the WC. It worked for me. Bye bye diatoms.

Cyano will be the next outbreak if you don't get your nutrients under control and increase flow. This is much harder to get rid of and much more unsightly IMO. It gets all over your substrate as well as your LR.

leebo_28 · 05/14/2007, 07:46 PM

is cyano reddish and thick?

FLReefGirl · 05/14/2007, 08:30 PM

yep.
you may see bubbles in it. it also can get stringy or slimy looking and flow like hair in the water flow. you can siphon it out when you do water changes but it will keep coming back until you find and cure the problem.
If you have cyano, reduce your feeding and check your phosphates. over feeding and tap water are usually the 2 big phosphate culprits. low flow (dead spots) is the other problem.
I had cyano for a few weeks, it was getting worse and worse. So I reduced my feedings, increase flow (added a PH), added phosban & chaeto macro algae to get my phosphates to 0. it took about a week or so once all this was in place before the cyano started to die off. once it started to die the fish started to eat it and it was easy to siphon out when I did water changes. hasn't come back since.

leebo_28 · 05/14/2007, 08:40 PM

I figured so..i do have a flow problem I am working on , dead spots in back corners...ugly! lfs doesn't have chaeto so still looking for that. thank you for your response!

FLReefGirl · 05/14/2007, 08:53 PM

you're very welcome.
i got my chaeto from someone here on RC in the selling forum. a one quart size zip lock bag stuffed to the gills for $10. very easy.
i don't have a sump so i put it right in my tank. i used a nori clip to keep it in place. place it in good light and good flow. now it's in an aqua clear filter i use as a mini fuge.

05/14/2007, 07:44 AM	#1
tenwhiteduke Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Clearwater, Fl Posts: 318	Brown Dust/Algae on LR (??) I end up having this brown dust/algae on the LR occasionally and would like to know other than blowing off the rocks with a turkey baster, which makes even more of a mess in the tank as it circles the tank till it drops to the bed. Is there another way to control this stuff? Is there something that cleans the rocks better?

05/14/2007, 05:10 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Such blooms are common in new tanks. Often, though, the issue comes down to more food going into the tank than the nutrient export system removes. I'd start with the feeding levels, most likely. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

05/14/2007, 07:03 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	At six months, I suspect you'll need to work on nutrient control. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

05/14/2007, 07:46 PM	#7
leebo_28 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fl/Pa now Posts: 456	is cyano reddish and thick? __________________ crayons go one drawer higher Current Tank Info: year 1/2 still new 90rr :(

05/14/2007, 08:40 PM	#9
leebo_28 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fl/Pa now Posts: 456	I figured so..i do have a flow problem I am working on , dead spots in back corners...ugly! lfs doesn't have chaeto so still looking for that. thank you for your response! __________________ crayons go one drawer higher Current Tank Info: year 1/2 still new 90rr :(

05/14/2007, 06:47 PM	#3
FLReefGirl Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lake Mary, FL Posts: 514	sounds like a diatom bloom. very common in newer tanks, even after a couple. most times it's part of a "new tank" process. cut back feeing a bit and possibly increase flow. lots of times if there a diatom bloom, cyano is not far behind if not taken care of. jm2c

05/14/2007, 07:03 PM	#4
DayFive Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Fort Collins, CO Posts: 141	I have the same problem in my 6 month old tank. Will cyano take over and get rid of the diatom? Josh

05/14/2007, 08:30 PM	#8
FLReefGirl Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lake Mary, FL Posts: 514	yep. you may see bubbles in it. it also can get stringy or slimy looking and flow like hair in the water flow. you can siphon it out when you do water changes but it will keep coming back until you find and cure the problem. If you have cyano, reduce your feeding and check your phosphates. over feeding and tap water are usually the 2 big phosphate culprits. low flow (dead spots) is the other problem. I had cyano for a few weeks, it was getting worse and worse. So I reduced my feedings, increase flow (added a PH), added phosban & chaeto macro algae to get my phosphates to 0. it took about a week or so once all this was in place before the cyano started to die off. once it started to die the fish started to eat it and it was easy to siphon out when I did water changes. hasn't come back since.

05/14/2007, 08:53 PM	#10
FLReefGirl Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lake Mary, FL Posts: 514	you're very welcome. i got my chaeto from someone here on RC in the selling forum. a one quart size zip lock bag stuffed to the gills for $10. very easy. i don't have a sump so i put it right in my tank. i used a nori clip to keep it in place. place it in good light and good flow. now it's in an aqua clear filter i use as a mini fuge.