how to control brown algae

jbdug1 · 05/18/2009, 07:21 PM

I have a brown algae problem!!!!! I have a 30 gallon fish only tank with some live rock. I have two hanging filters and a canister filter. I have one clown fish, a bi-color blenny, a small sailfin tang, a flame angel, a green tipped bubble anemone, a peppermint shrimp, and a small clean-up crew with two emerald crabs, 5 hermit crabs, and 9 turbo snails. The nitrates and phosphates test normal. The temp. is around 77 degrees. ammonia tested a little high and calcium tested a little low, other than that all tests came back normal. I have two ehiem powerheads in my tank, and my day lights are only on for 8 hours, atenics for 12, and led's on for 12. The brown algae is out of control. I am attempting to grow coraline algae, and am having some encouraging success, but i can't enjoy the new purple and green colors because the brown is taking over everything, including the shells on my snails!!!! What do I do???????

Sisterlimonpot · 05/18/2009, 07:27 PM

Ammonia is high??? Thatâ€™s not good. What about nitrates and phosphates? What is normal to you? What about youâ€™re feeding habits? the algae strives on phosphates and nitrates so if you can get those down by better husbandry or other means than that should help out significantly with your problem? Have you added new sand lately?

And back to the ammonia an established reef tank should have 0 amm at all times. What are you using for biological filtration?

Aquarist007 · 05/18/2009, 07:34 PM

cut the photoperiod of the attinics in half with fowlr--or even less
Start some daily water changes until the ammonia level is down.
I would suggest 30 per cent for the first one as it might bring down the nitrate levels too.

If you have algae then you have nitrates and phosphates--it is that simple----they are consuming them as fast as they are being introduced so the levels test normal to zero.

For phosphates control, feed less flake and rinse frozen foods.
Are you using ro/di water?

Aquarist007 · 05/18/2009, 07:35 PM

btw

To Reef Central

jbdug1 · 05/18/2009, 09:24 PM

Nitrate and phosphate levels test zero, but i hadn't considered that they were being consumed so fast. I only use ro/di water. The ammonia level jumped from 0 to .25 in the past week. I just changed the media in my canister filter and added GFO in the filter to help with the algae, but it doesn't seem to be doing any good. After the innitial 30% water change how much should I change daily?????

SaltyDr · 05/18/2009, 09:30 PM

Are you sure it's algae and not dinos? They are a nightmare and difficult to control/eliminate. Post a picture of your "algae".

05/18/2009, 07:21 PM	#1
jbdug1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: veto ohio Posts: 2	how to control brown algae I have a brown algae problem!!!!! I have a 30 gallon fish only tank with some live rock. I have two hanging filters and a canister filter. I have one clown fish, a bi-color blenny, a small sailfin tang, a flame angel, a green tipped bubble anemone, a peppermint shrimp, and a small clean-up crew with two emerald crabs, 5 hermit crabs, and 9 turbo snails. The nitrates and phosphates test normal. The temp. is around 77 degrees. ammonia tested a little high and calcium tested a little low, other than that all tests came back normal. I have two ehiem powerheads in my tank, and my day lights are only on for 8 hours, atenics for 12, and led's on for 12. The brown algae is out of control. I am attempting to grow coraline algae, and am having some encouraging success, but i can't enjoy the new purple and green colors because the brown is taking over everything, including the shells on my snails!!!! What do I do???????

05/18/2009, 07:27 PM	#2
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	Ammonia is high??? Thatâ€™s not good. What about nitrates and phosphates? What is normal to you? What about youâ€™re feeding habits? the algae strives on phosphates and nitrates so if you can get those down by better husbandry or other means than that should help out significantly with your problem? Have you added new sand lately? And back to the ammonia an established reef tank should have 0 amm at all times. What are you using for biological filtration? __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

05/18/2009, 07:34 PM	#3
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	cut the photoperiod of the attinics in half with fowlr--or even less Start some daily water changes until the ammonia level is down. I would suggest 30 per cent for the first one as it might bring down the nitrate levels too. If you have algae then you have nitrates and phosphates--it is that simple----they are consuming them as fast as they are being introduced so the levels test normal to zero. For phosphates control, feed less flake and rinse frozen foods. Are you using ro/di water? __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

05/18/2009, 07:35 PM	#4
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	btw *To Reef Central* __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

05/18/2009, 09:24 PM	#5
jbdug1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: veto ohio Posts: 2	Nitrate and phosphate levels test zero, but i hadn't considered that they were being consumed so fast. I only use ro/di water. The ammonia level jumped from 0 to .25 in the past week. I just changed the media in my canister filter and added GFO in the filter to help with the algae, but it doesn't seem to be doing any good. After the innitial 30% water change how much should I change daily?????

05/18/2009, 09:30 PM	#6
SaltyDr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southwest Florida Posts: 1,191	Are you sure it's algae and not dinos? They are a nightmare and difficult to control/eliminate. Post a picture of your "algae".