[Pomme]

brown diatom algae?

i have just set up the tank and its been up working properly for about a week, although had about 30kg of live rock in a tub with the rught water for about 2 weeks before that, then when the tank had been running for about 4 days i added another 40kg of live rock, so have 70kg in my 100gal. but i jave only just got the skimmer going as i put the feed and returns the wrong way around in the sump? stupid me? burt i have seen that some of the corallinbe algae on the live rock has turned white in patches, and ive been told that it will do this as some of its is just dying off and the conditions whight not favour it? and also as i got the live rock from somebody that was selling up, so got it very cheap, and its the best stuff ive seen, admitadly that might not be much but hey i think its good, there was also some corals that i got like some polyps and mushrooms and some leathers.

well anyway yesturday i noticed that there was some algae on the substrate it looks like brown turf, is this the brown diatom algae you get when the tanks cycling? it has bubbles of gas occasionally going up to the surafce. if so how long will it be around and how much of the tank will it cover, will it cover the corals, and will they be alright if it does?

at the moment i have got 15 snails in there the normal small ones, and i already know the cleaned crew that i will get in the end:

30 normal turbos, (already got 15)
6 super,
12 nassarius,
12 cerith,

6 red legs,

2 cleaner shrimps

should i get and add the rerst of them now as there will now be algae for them to feed on or wait a bit longer?

thanx again in advance for the help,
andrew

[Poseidon]

Hey Andrew,

test the water for Ammonia and Nitrite first. If it tests out good, then get more snails!!! Especially the Cerith and Nassarius as they turn the sand bed by burrowing. The nassarious will need to be fed as they eat meaty foods, but the cerith and astrea may eat the brown algae for you... You can also remove the turf algae by hand relatively easily, reach in there and scoop it out... It doesn't cure the cause, but treats a symptom. Also while you are getting the water tested test for PO4 (Phosphate) it is a major cause for algae growth!!!

mike

[Pomme]

yeah all the test kits are really good, nothing of anything, the ph at 8.5 i think,
ammonia, nitrite and nitrate 0
carbonate hardness at 16, high i know?
phosphate 0 (both chelated and normal)
iron 0
calcium at 420

so i think thats okay?

so i reckon ill go and order some clean ups

but if you spot something wrong please say

[Poseidon]

Nope I see nothing wrong with that....

fill er up... LOTS O SNAILS!!!!

then get more SNAILS

and when you think you have enough.... MORE SNAILS!!

[Pomme]

i was thinking of manly snails and only a very few crabs,

30 super snails, the smaller ones,
12 nassarius,
12 cerith,

2 cleaner shrimps,

and 6 red legs,

hpow does that sound to you?

[Poseidon]

you have a 100 gallon tank right?


I have 120 astrea

50 nassarious

8 mexican turbo

12 cerith

and a hand full maybe 6 Trochus

so you need more!!!!

[Pomme]

what size tank do you have?