brown algee

BigHack2006 · 11/10/2008, 07:15 PM

I just set my new tank up, I had a 29 and now am in a 46 bow, no fish or corals yet of course, but i do have all my live rock in. I am having a problem with brown algee, it is thick. I have my lights on for about 3 hours a day to try and stop the algee growth but it isnt stopping. Is there anything i can do? I just have 36" PC's.

dnejdl · 11/10/2008, 09:03 PM

is your water ro/di water? your bulbs might be bad ? Temp of water ? There are several things it could be. Get some snails and crabs, a cleaner crew.

dnejdl · 11/10/2008, 09:04 PM

any water movement?

glaspie69 · 11/10/2008, 09:58 PM

The problem is your tank is cycling, with you changing things like lighting it just makes the cycle longer.

tibbs2 · 11/10/2008, 10:40 PM

I second what glaspie said. Its normal for a new tank.

billbigsbe1 · 11/11/2008, 12:49 AM

I just sold my 46 bow for that same reason. I fought the algae for years yet my larger reef tank has no problems. I was told that the 46g bowfront has the worst surface area (small) for gas exchange. I think that your only luck is to either drain and drill it for a overflow or get rid of it! Sorry for the negative responce, I just dont want you to make the same mistakes as me. P.S. I sold mine to a Chiclid guy

JSM · 11/11/2008, 08:45 AM

Lots of people have small tanks with no problems, you don't need to get rid of it. It's cycling, this is normal, you will also probably go through cyanobacteria and hair algae and that is also normal in a new tank. Don't get discouraged, if you do things right it will go away eventually.

Janna

PotRoast · 11/11/2008, 09:59 AM

Your tank is cycling right now.

You may benefit from a phosphate reactor.

But chances are the brown algae is actually diatoms, and the source is phosphates being released in mass from your live rock.

This happened to me, happens to everyone. In a month it should be gone. Now may be a good time to introduce blue leg crabs and astrea snails.

Modemagic · 11/11/2008, 03:31 PM

Happened to me as well. I found it helped if I harvested some of the bigger pieces.

11/10/2008, 07:15 PM	#1
BigHack2006 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Solon, Ia Posts: 78	brown algee I just set my new tank up, I had a 29 and now am in a 46 bow, no fish or corals yet of course, but i do have all my live rock in. I am having a problem with brown algee, it is thick. I have my lights on for about 3 hours a day to try and stop the algee growth but it isnt stopping. Is there anything i can do? I just have 36" PC's.

11/10/2008, 09:03 PM	#2
dnejdl Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Iowa, Posts: 369	is your water ro/di water? your bulbs might be bad ? Temp of water ? There are several things it could be. Get some snails and crabs, a cleaner crew.

11/10/2008, 09:04 PM	#3
dnejdl Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Iowa, Posts: 369	any water movement?

11/10/2008, 09:58 PM	#4
glaspie69 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Independence, Iowa Posts: 1,590	The problem is your tank is cycling, with you changing things like lighting it just makes the cycle longer.

11/10/2008, 10:40 PM	#5
tibbs2 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: IA Posts: 1,422	I second what glaspie said. Its normal for a new tank.

11/11/2008, 12:49 AM	#6
billbigsbe1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Des Moines Posts: 324	I just sold my 46 bow for that same reason. I fought the algae for years yet my larger reef tank has no problems. I was told that the 46g bowfront has the worst surface area (small) for gas exchange. I think that your only luck is to either drain and drill it for a overflow or get rid of it! Sorry for the negative responce, I just dont want you to make the same mistakes as me. P.S. I sold mine to a Chiclid guy

11/11/2008, 08:45 AM	#7
JSM Premium Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Altoona, Iowa Posts: 890	Lots of people have small tanks with no problems, you don't need to get rid of it. It's cycling, this is normal, you will also probably go through cyanobacteria and hair algae and that is also normal in a new tank. Don't get discouraged, if you do things right it will go away eventually. Janna

11/11/2008, 09:59 AM	#8
PotRoast Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 218	Your tank is cycling right now. You may benefit from a phosphate reactor. But chances are the brown algae is actually diatoms, and the source is phosphates being released in mass from your live rock. This happened to me, happens to everyone. In a month it should be gone. Now may be a good time to introduce blue leg crabs and astrea snails.

11/11/2008, 03:31 PM	#9
Modemagic Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Davenport, IA Posts: 339	Happened to me as well. I found it helped if I harvested some of the bigger pieces.