HELP! Brown algae taking over!

GoinSalt · 06-16-2005, 02:08 AM

My brown algae problem just seems to be getting worse and I nearing my wit's end.

100 gal
ph 8.0
am 0
trite 0
trate 15-20

1 yellow tang
1 bar goby
1 coral beauty
5 chromis
roughly 30 snails (nassarius, astrea, cerith)

Remora Pro skimmer with Mag pump
wet/dry filter basically serves as my sump. I have my skimmer, return pump and heater in there.

The tank was orignially set up in April 04, crashed in Dec. and restarted in Jan. I do 15% changes every week using ordinary tap water and Oceanic salt. In April I added four, 140w vho - 2 actinics, 2 10k.

Everyone says "it's just diatoms, wait it out" but it appears the problem is getting worse! Just about the entire sand bed and live rock is covered in brown algae and the cyno is growing in patches.

Any suggestions, help, ANYTHING.

HELP!!!!!

James · 06-16-2005, 02:32 AM

My guess would be this:

"I do 15% changes every week using ordinary tap water"

Big NO NO, probably why your nitrates are so high.

Try using RO water, and limit your lighting to no more than 10 hours a day.

GoinSalt · 06-16-2005, 02:35 AM

I have an RO/DI unit on order. Should be here next week. As for lighting, I currently run my actinics about 10 hours and 10ks about 8 hours. Should I cut back the time on both or just the 10ks?

Also, how will less lighting affect the fish? They don't seem to get active until the actinics come on, which is when I give them their first feeding of the day.

Nate

James · 06-16-2005, 02:41 AM

None of the fish you listed really require a certain amount of light, they should be fine. Having your lights on for 10 - 12 hours a day usually is only required if you have corals in your tank, or fish like clowns, that in their natural envirnment the sun is out for 10-12 hours a day.

GoinSalt · 06-16-2005, 02:58 AM

I forgot to add that I have a rock of ricordia. I eventually want to get more softies and LPS but I want to make sure that I have everything squared away first.

The ricodia was doing good when i first got it a couple weeks ago, but now even the rock it came on is becoming covered in brown algae.

the algae is the worst I've seen it. I've had this particular algae problem for about a month and half, and it just keeps getting worse!!

Arrrrggggg!!!!

06-16-2005, 02:08 AM	#1
GoinSalt Citizen Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NorCal Posts: 190	HELP! Brown algae taking over! My brown algae problem just seems to be getting worse and I nearing my wit's end. 100 gal ph 8.0 am 0 trite 0 trate 15-20 1 yellow tang 1 bar goby 1 coral beauty 5 chromis roughly 30 snails (nassarius, astrea, cerith) Remora Pro skimmer with Mag pump wet/dry filter basically serves as my sump. I have my skimmer, return pump and heater in there. The tank was orignially set up in April 04, crashed in Dec. and restarted in Jan. I do 15% changes every week using ordinary tap water and Oceanic salt. In April I added four, 140w vho - 2 actinics, 2 10k. Everyone says "it's just diatoms, wait it out" but it appears the problem is getting worse! Just about the entire sand bed and live rock is covered in brown algae and the cyno is growing in patches. Any suggestions, help, ANYTHING. HELP!!!!!

06-16-2005, 02:32 AM	#2
James Citizen Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: California Posts: 173	My guess would be this: "I do 15% changes every week using ordinary tap water" Big NO NO, probably why your nitrates are so high. Try using RO water, and limit your lighting to no more than 10 hours a day. __________________ One fish, two fish, green fish, blue fish... Last edited by James; 06-16-2005 at 02:35 AM.

06-16-2005, 02:41 AM	#4
James Citizen Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: California Posts: 173	None of the fish you listed really require a certain amount of light, they should be fine. Having your lights on for 10 - 12 hours a day usually is only required if you have corals in your tank, or fish like clowns, that in their natural envirnment the sun is out for 10-12 hours a day. __________________ One fish, two fish, green fish, blue fish... Last edited by James; 06-16-2005 at 02:43 AM.

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06-16-2005, 02:35 AM	#3
GoinSalt Citizen Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NorCal Posts: 190	I have an RO/DI unit on order. Should be here next week. As for lighting, I currently run my actinics about 10 hours and 10ks about 8 hours. Should I cut back the time on both or just the 10ks? Also, how will less lighting affect the fish? They don't seem to get active until the actinics come on, which is when I give them their first feeding of the day. Nate

06-16-2005, 02:58 AM	#5
GoinSalt Citizen Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NorCal Posts: 190	I forgot to add that I have a rock of ricordia. I eventually want to get more softies and LPS but I want to make sure that I have everything squared away first. The ricodia was doing good when i first got it a couple weeks ago, but now even the rock it came on is becoming covered in brown algae. the algae is the worst I've seen it. I've had this particular algae problem for about a month and half, and it just keeps getting worse!! Arrrrggggg!!!!

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