brown algae issues

guppychao · 07/09/2008, 07:49 AM

water parameters for 180 gal tank
Calcium: 480
DKH: 9.6
Nitrates: 0-.02
mag: 1300

my water parameters have been constant for about 2-3 months, before had higher Calcium 600, and higher DKH: 13.

dont have a test for phospates, run a 20 gal fug, 2 250W de 10k AB and 1 400W se 20k radium and 4 55W pc actinics

rotate rowa and carbon once a month.

use kalk wasser as make up water, and run a calcium reactor

run ro/di tds was at 0 to 1.

10% water changes twice a week.

feed spirulina flakes twice a day, frozen mysis (rinsed with tank water first) once a week.

would a inefficient protien skimmer be the cause? have an ASM g3, in which i will be modifiying as a recirc soon

flow: 2 iwaki 40 from sump, 2 tunze 6100, 1 vortech

pic of tank, any suggestions?

all sps are growing/encrusting (mostly all frags)
want to grow coraline instead of this ugly brown algae, i scrap it off and it comes back

any help would be great

f[IMG]

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JRechcygl · 07/09/2008, 10:15 AM

Flakes are known to leech PO4, try cutting them out for a while and see where that takes you. Depending on tank temp. there are snails and other inverts to help you out with this problem.

Good luck

guppychao · 07/09/2008, 12:56 PM

i dont have much of a clean up crew, guess i will add a lot more snails

dancewithethan · 07/09/2008, 04:24 PM

I have the same problem. when I first setup my tank, it was fine for about three months, until I started to mix my own salt water using my own RO water filter. what I discovered was that every time I do water change I will get a very bad case brown algae breakout. so, I tested my tank water for PO4 using salifate, and it was very high. than I test my salt water mix, and there it was, I found where the PO4 came from. my tap water has a very high PO4. Test your water before you use it.

guppychao · 07/09/2008, 09:21 PM

thanks, ill get a phosphate test kit.

dance, what did you do after finding your tap water was high in po4?

I run a ro unit then the ro water pass through a di unit,does that not take out the po4? i also cleanse the brute storage unit once a month.

bertoni · 07/10/2008, 12:16 AM

The RO/DI unit will remove phosphate, if all the filters are working properly. A TDS measurement might be useful.

In general, the solution to algal problems tends to be nutrient control, i.e., less feeding or better export.

07/09/2008, 07:49 AM	#1
guppychao Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: MD Posts: 130	brown algae issues water parameters for 180 gal tank Calcium: 480 DKH: 9.6 Nitrates: 0-.02 mag: 1300 my water parameters have been constant for about 2-3 months, before had higher Calcium 600, and higher DKH: 13. dont have a test for phospates, run a 20 gal fug, 2 250W de 10k AB and 1 400W se 20k radium and 4 55W pc actinics rotate rowa and carbon once a month. use kalk wasser as make up water, and run a calcium reactor run ro/di tds was at 0 to 1. 10% water changes twice a week. feed spirulina flakes twice a day, frozen mysis (rinsed with tank water first) once a week. would a inefficient protien skimmer be the cause? have an ASM g3, in which i will be modifiying as a recirc soon flow: 2 iwaki 40 from sump, 2 tunze 6100, 1 vortech pic of tank, any suggestions? all sps are growing/encrusting (mostly all frags) want to grow coraline instead of this ugly brown algae, i scrap it off and it comes back any help would be great f[IMG][/IMG]

07/09/2008, 10:15 AM	#2
JRechcygl Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Somewhere playing with lamps Posts: 449	Flakes are known to leech PO4, try cutting them out for a while and see where that takes you. Depending on tank temp. there are snails and other inverts to help you out with this problem. Good luck __________________ Rechcygl...Yeah only one vowel AKA Dr.Fragenstein Big Glass tank lit by thin glass bulbs Current Tank Info: Propane, 180 reef

07/09/2008, 12:56 PM	#3
guppychao Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: MD Posts: 130	i dont have much of a clean up crew, guess i will add a lot more snails __________________ were just 2 lost souls swimming in a fish bowl

07/09/2008, 04:24 PM	#4
dancewithethan Ethan M Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Rafael, California Posts: 673	I have the same problem. when I first setup my tank, it was fine for about three months, until I started to mix my own salt water using my own RO water filter. what I discovered was that every time I do water change I will get a very bad case brown algae breakout. so, I tested my tank water for PO4 using salifate, and it was very high. than I test my salt water mix, and there it was, I found where the PO4 came from. my tap water has a very high PO4. Test your water before you use it. __________________ Good things come to those who’re patiently wait - Ethan - Current Tank Info: Tank:~ 70 Gs Cadlight + 20 Gs sump\| Lights: 36" ATI Sunpower Dimmable T5x6 39W \| Skimmer: Octo\| Vortech M1 return\| GeoReef Cal Reactor \|2 MP10 VorTech + MaxSpect GyreXF150\|Neptune APEX Controller\|Skimz Bio Pellets\| Emperor Aquatics UV 18W Sterilizer

07/09/2008, 09:21 PM	#5
guppychao Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: MD Posts: 130	thanks, ill get a phosphate test kit. dance, what did you do after finding your tap water was high in po4? I run a ro unit then the ro water pass through a di unit,does that not take out the po4? i also cleanse the brute storage unit once a month. __________________ were just 2 lost souls swimming in a fish bowl

07/10/2008, 12:16 AM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The RO/DI unit will remove phosphate, if all the filters are working properly. A TDS measurement might be useful. In general, the solution to algal problems tends to be nutrient control, i.e., less feeding or better export. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni