brown alge on sand bed

1 sick reef · 01/14/2010, 10:04 PM

how do i get rid of it

MandM · 01/14/2010, 10:06 PM

Time, mostly. This is a normal cycle in a new tank. How long has the system been running?

1 sick reef · 01/14/2010, 10:19 PM

it has been running for about 8 months now i have 4 fish a star 3 shrimp and about a dozen snails and live rock and a sebe

mstng67 · 01/14/2010, 10:21 PM

Do you have a pic?

1 sick reef · 01/14/2010, 10:26 PM

lights just turnd off i can get pic in morning

MandM · 01/14/2010, 10:37 PM

Sounds like normal brown diatoms. Make sure you have good water flow and are not overfeeding. Regular water changes and good flow are very important. What kind of lightning do you have? (If you need to take a picture or just show off the tank to company, there's no harm in turning the lights on for a short time in the evening.)

1 sick reef · 01/14/2010, 10:40 PM

corallife pro 72" 3 150w mh 4x96W Actinic

MandM · 01/14/2010, 10:45 PM

That's plenty of light.

I found the brown went away when I started using chaeto in my sump to control nitrates and increased my flow with some Korallia 4s. I'm not experienced with MH bulbs lifespan but I would see diatoms start up when my PC bulbs were getting over 6 months old.

terri_ann · 01/15/2010, 02:57 AM

I believe you might want to increase the flow in the tank. You may be going through a mini cycle as well. Adding more sand sifters can help as well. What is your photoperiod and tank parameters?

01/14/2010, 10:04 PM	#1
1 sick reef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: east side wal-mart Posts: 112	brown alge on sand bed how do i get rid of it

01/14/2010, 10:06 PM	#2
MandM sick yet brilliant Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,497	Time, mostly. This is a normal cycle in a new tank. How long has the system been running? __________________ Sheila I was emo when emo wasn't cool If your not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate. Current Tank Info: 120g, 8g

01/14/2010, 10:26 PM	#5
1 sick reef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: east side wal-mart Posts: 112	lights just turnd off i can get pic in morning __________________ current tank 160g w/30g sump corallife pro 72" 3 150w mh 4x96W Actinic 2 Koralia #4 little giant 4 return asm g2 w/ serdra 5000 Current Tank Info: 160g 30g sump

01/14/2010, 10:37 PM	#6
MandM sick yet brilliant Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,497	Sounds like normal brown diatoms. Make sure you have good water flow and are not overfeeding. Regular water changes and good flow are very important. What kind of lightning do you have? (If you need to take a picture or just show off the tank to company, there's no harm in turning the lights on for a short time in the evening.) __________________ Sheila I was emo when emo wasn't cool If your not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate. Current Tank Info: 120g, 8g

01/14/2010, 10:40 PM	#7
1 sick reef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: east side wal-mart Posts: 112	corallife pro 72" 3 150w mh 4x96W Actinic __________________ current tank 160g w/30g sump corallife pro 72" 3 150w mh 4x96W Actinic 2 Koralia #4 little giant 4 return asm g2 w/ serdra 5000 Current Tank Info: 160g 30g sump

01/14/2010, 10:19 PM	#3
1 sick reef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: east side wal-mart Posts: 112	it has been running for about 8 months now i have 4 fish a star 3 shrimp and about a dozen snails and live rock and a sebe

01/14/2010, 10:21 PM	#4
mstng67 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Kansas Posts: 101	Do you have a pic?

01/14/2010, 10:45 PM	#8
MandM sick yet brilliant Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,497	That's plenty of light. I found the brown went away when I started using chaeto in my sump to control nitrates and increased my flow with some Korallia 4s. I'm not experienced with MH bulbs lifespan but I would see diatoms start up when my PC bulbs were getting over 6 months old. __________________ Sheila I was emo when emo wasn't cool If your not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate. Current Tank Info: 120g, 8g

01/15/2010, 02:57 AM	#9
terri_ann Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Marshalltown, IA Posts: 841	I believe you might want to increase the flow in the tank. You may be going through a mini cycle as well. Adding more sand sifters can help as well. What is your photoperiod and tank parameters? __________________ Happy Reefing!! :) Current Tank Info: 180g mixed 40B Anemone 5' raceway frag tank