What eats brown algae

[cofstl411]

I have a 125 gal tank that is about 1 yr old. I did not have any problems with algae until I started using my MH. I now have brown algae growing on my sandbed and in some of my rock crevices. I have a turbflotor protein skimmer and a 20 gal refugium. I don't think my light is strong enough in my refugium because my caulepra looks like spaghetti instead of having balls on it, anyway, different subject. I have had my MH working for about 3 months and I still have my brown algae. I have about 100 lbs of rock too. I have about 30 snails and 15 hermit crabs. I read on here that you should strain your frozen food to reduce nutrients which I will try. I would like to get an emerald crab but heard they eat snails and I am not sure if they eat the brown stuff. It does not seem to effect my colt or my fish but it does not look the nicest. My levels always seem to be fine but that could be because the algae is using up the nitrates. I have read a lot of articles on here about it but can't really find anything that will target it. My Foxface will occasionally nibble at it but I don't think he really likes it.

[Reefland]

For starters can you try to determine for us (or get a picture of the algae) so we can see if this is diatoms or cyanobacteria? Diatoms are typiclly ligh covering and a rusty color. Cyanobacteria is typically a good covering mat that is dark in color, mostly maroon or bue-green.

[cofstl411]

Actually, I only use the middle MH. There is a mat of the stuff on the substrate in the middle of the tank where the strongest light is. There is a lighter dusting in the areas farther away from the light.

[Reefland]

Is this what you have?

Picture is from Ninong's Tank In Progress thread.

[cofstl411]

That is what the outer edges look like. In the middle it is actually thicker.

[Reefland]

Diatoms are typically encountered with new tanks, not established systems. How long have you had the halides? You might just be experiecing a little bloom from the increased intensity? Anyhow for diatoms, Conchs are usually pretty good at eating through them.

[cofstl411]

I have been using them for a few months. I get some brown algae on the glass as well.

[Reefland]

Your best bet with the glass is manual cleaning, however Astraea snails work well for this task. Do the Conchs help out with the diatoms any?

[cofstl411]

I will be getting the conchs tonight if my fish store carries them.

[cofstl411]

Just introduced my fighting conch to my tank. I got a 4" fighting conch. You don't picture snails as active but this guy is. I put him on a rock and he jumped about 6 inches and scared the crap out of me. Hope it works because he was a $24 snail.

[Reefland]

Here is a thread with some excellent pictures of the S. atalus, is this what you got?
Fighting CONCH

[cofstl411]

Yep, I have a fighting conch. It is smooth orangish with the spines only near the back and they are not very big. It is very active and kind of surprised me.

[Reefland]

Awesome! Is it doing anything with the diatoms yet?

[cofstl411]

I made a mistake and set him on top of a rock. He jumped up about 3" and then came down along the side of the glass. He then continued to jump the length of my 125 gallon tank until he got to the other end. He has a large trunk like snout that he pushes the sand with. He also has four passenger astrea snails that I bought tonight.