Brown Algae Will Not Go Away!

mluntz · 11/04/2013, 11:19 AM

I have what looks like diatoms, which will not go away. I have been running Phosban in a reactor now for about the past two weeks plus carbon. I am diligent with RO water changes at 10% every week.

Salinity 1.026
PH 8.3
Nitrates 0 (Could this be a false reading?)

At this point in time I am running my lights on a 12 hour sunrise/sunset cycle at about 45% at its highest point in the day. I tried to cut the lights back to about 7 hours with really no difference.

Any help would be appreciated!

DRRosen3 · 11/04/2013, 11:26 AM

The sandbed looks almost reddish from my point of view. Can't really tell from those two shots. Try looking at it under pure white light if you can. If it's really reddish and not brown it might be cyano.

mluntz · 11/04/2013, 11:44 AM

I tried taking pictures under brighter light, but my camera sucks! In either case, help would be appreciated.

kylathwe · 11/04/2013, 02:09 PM

How old is your tank? Diatoms are a usually in new tanks or if you changed something big lately...ie sand bed. They tend to go away on their own over time.

darkiss · 11/04/2013, 02:29 PM

err the pics of sand don't look like algae but cyanobacteria

Sugar Magnolia · 11/04/2013, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkiss

err the pics of sand don't look like algae but cyanobacteria

Agreed. Increase your flow, cut back on feeding.

mluntz · 11/04/2013, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugar Magnolia

Agreed. Increase your flow, cut back on feeding.

I only feed once a day, a pipette full. I am already running 2 Koralia 1150gph powerheads. They are set up on opposite sides of the tank facing each other. Any ideas as far as that goes?

ivar85 · 11/04/2013, 06:30 PM

How you tried out some phosphate remover ?

reefguy24 · 11/04/2013, 06:56 PM

I got two small conch shells from the fist store.

They got this "elephant trunk" they use to suck up the brown stuff on the bottom.

They cleaned 75% of my tank floor overnight.

Highly recommended.

Tom39 · 11/04/2013, 08:54 PM

Not 100% sure but it looks somewhat like the algae I have in my tank and my emerald crab eats the stuff non-stop. It never fully goes away but he certainly keeps it at an acceptable level.

HIH
Tom G

mluntz · 11/04/2013, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivar85

How you tried out some phosphate remover ?

I'm running Phosban in a reactor + carbon

mluntz · 11/04/2013, 10:30 PM

I am considering increasing my flow with 2 Koralia 425gph pumps and using my smartwave controller. Do you think this is overkill considering what I have already?

11/04/2013, 11:26 AM	#2
DRRosen3 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Canton, MI Posts: 102	The sandbed looks almost reddish from my point of view. Can't really tell from those two shots. Try looking at it under pure white light if you can. If it's really reddish and not brown it might be cyano. __________________ My tank thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2301548 Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon FOWLR

11/04/2013, 08:54 PM	#10
Tom39 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Spotsylvania, Virginia Posts: 435	Not 100% sure but it looks somewhat like the algae I have in my tank and my emerald crab eats the stuff non-stop. It never fully goes away but he certainly keeps it at an acceptable level. HIH Tom G __________________ 150g cube, 40g sump, Rapid led, Neptune controller, LR, sandbed, ATS, PS Current Tank Info: 150g Marineland Cube

11/04/2013, 10:30 PM	#12
mluntz Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Millersville, Md. Posts: 727	I am considering increasing my flow with 2 Koralia 425gph pumps and using my smartwave controller. Do you think this is overkill considering what I have already? __________________ 46 Gallon Bowfront, (1)Ocellaris Clownfish, (1)Carpenter wrasse, (1)Coral Beauty, (1)Kole Tang

11/04/2013, 02:09 PM	#4
kylathwe Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Cordova, TN Posts: 244	How old is your tank? Diatoms are a usually in new tanks or if you changed something big lately...ie sand bed. They tend to go away on their own over time.

11/04/2013, 02:29 PM	#5
darkiss Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 569	err the pics of sand don't look like algae but cyanobacteria

11/04/2013, 06:30 PM	#8
ivar85 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 68	How you tried out some phosphate remover ?

11/04/2013, 06:56 PM	#9
reefguy24 Registered Member. Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 288	I got two small conch shells from the fist store. They got this "elephant trunk" they use to suck up the brown stuff on the bottom. They cleaned 75% of my tank floor overnight. Highly recommended.