diatom bloom....brown algae

mindistortionx · 10/19/2007, 11:52 AM

I have a 55G with like 80-90LBS of LR and a DSB and I keep getting this brown algae all over the rock and sand....it is where the direct light shines....so there is no brown algae in the shaded areas..... I am running blue atinics and 2 metal halids. I also use a UV light, distilled water and a coralife 220 protein skimmer. Is there a way to get rid of this or just buy a bigger CUC?

papagimp · 10/19/2007, 11:55 AM

New tank i'm assuming? All new tanks will go through a diatom phase. (for the most part). It should die back on it's own only to be replaced by more annoying algae (hair algae, cyno, ect. ect.) How much flow do you have going in the tank? That can make a difference.

mindistortionx · 10/19/2007, 11:58 AM

well my tank is like over 2 months old.....I have about 975-1100GPG circulating....not including the protein skimmer

mindistortionx · 10/19/2007, 11:59 AM

would a good CUC work to control it....b/c it looks stupid now.....my sand is supposed to be white

Avi · 10/19/2007, 12:03 PM

Two months is still a "new" reef tank and it isn't unusual at all for diatoms to proliferate for a good deal longer than that. They survive on silicates and light. If you haven't the patience to wait for this natural and expected annoyance to abate on its own...which it will in some more time...then, you could do more water changes than you have been, with first disrupting the substrate which is most likely the source of the excessive silicates. You could also employ a phosphate reactor using a good quality medium, like Rowaphos, which in addition to removing phosphates will also remove silicates. These measures will speed up the process.

pikachusalad · 10/19/2007, 01:21 PM

Here's a post in WaterKeeper's new tank thread about the "Algae Blitz" - (the whole thread is good if you haven't read it).

Hang in there - there's more to come

pikachusalad · 10/19/2007, 01:29 PM

Not sure what you have for CUC, but cerith snails and fighting conch will eat diatoms off the sand.

You can also try reducing your lighting period for awhile.

Leaving your lights off for a day or two will help too - worked wonders for me.

10/19/2007, 11:52 AM	#1
mindistortionx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 103	diatom bloom....brown algae I have a 55G with like 80-90LBS of LR and a DSB and I keep getting this brown algae all over the rock and sand....it is where the direct light shines....so there is no brown algae in the shaded areas..... I am running blue atinics and 2 metal halids. I also use a UV light, distilled water and a coralife 220 protein skimmer. Is there a way to get rid of this or just buy a bigger CUC?

10/19/2007, 11:55 AM	#2
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	New tank i'm assuming? All new tanks will go through a diatom phase. (for the most part). It should die back on it's own only to be replaced by more annoying algae (hair algae, cyno, ect. ect.) How much flow do you have going in the tank? That can make a difference. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

10/19/2007, 12:03 PM	#5
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	Two months is still a "new" reef tank and it isn't unusual at all for diatoms to proliferate for a good deal longer than that. They survive on silicates and light. If you haven't the patience to wait for this natural and expected annoyance to abate on its own...which it will in some more time...then, you could do more water changes than you have been, with first disrupting the substrate which is most likely the source of the excessive silicates. You could also employ a phosphate reactor using a good quality medium, like Rowaphos, which in addition to removing phosphates will also remove silicates. These measures will speed up the process. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

10/19/2007, 01:21 PM	#6
pikachusalad Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 402	Here's a post in WaterKeeper's new tank thread about the "Algae Blitz" - (the whole thread is good if you haven't read it). Hang in there - there's more to come __________________ -- Mike Current Tank Info: 60G reef

10/19/2007, 01:29 PM	#7
pikachusalad Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 402	Not sure what you have for CUC, but cerith snails and fighting conch will eat diatoms off the sand. You can also try reducing your lighting period for awhile. Leaving your lights off for a day or two will help too - worked wonders for me. __________________ -- Mike Current Tank Info: 60G reef

10/19/2007, 11:58 AM	#3
mindistortionx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 103	well my tank is like over 2 months old.....I have about 975-1100GPG circulating....not including the protein skimmer

10/19/2007, 11:59 AM	#4
mindistortionx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 103	would a good CUC work to control it....b/c it looks stupid now.....my sand is supposed to be white