help !!!!!!

bigperm · 03-08-2002, 08:50 PM

my reef has only been setup for a month now
and today i came home to alot of brown algae over
my live rock and sand! is this normal , what should i do?

eses · 03-08-2002, 09:32 PM

You most likely have excess nutrients of some kind, nitrate, phosphates. All pretty normal in a new tank. You should cut back your feeding if you haven't already, do some water changes, and clean the brown algae every day. It will go away, but you will have to fight it.

If it is happening constantly in a specific part of the tank, try directing more current to that area and it will help break up the bloom.

If your tank has only been setup for a month it probably has not fully cycled yet, so if you've been adding food or animals to the tank in this time what you are probably seeing is the result of a cycle and a nitrate spike.

A water test will give you tons of answers.

rwag · 03-08-2002, 09:55 PM

Sounds like diatom algae which I believe is pretty
normal to go through with a new setup.
Ryan

mrok12 · 03-08-2002, 10:26 PM

What are you using for makeup water? This sounds like a diatom bloom which is often the result of excess organics like silicate. If you have it available then RO water will help with this type of headache. Also if the substrate contains silicates this can cause this type of bloom. But this is also normal and if it does not subside then it is time to start looking at a cause...

MROK12

rwag · 03-08-2002, 10:35 PM

I agree mrok! good point,Must use RO water.
Ryan

bigperm · 03-10-2002, 03:04 AM

is ro water the premix saltwater the store sells?

Northman_with_reef · 03-10-2002, 05:24 AM

No, its Reverse osmosis water(freshwater)
Its been filtered through a membrane wich leaves water close to pure H2O.

**scubadude** · 03-10-2002, 12:51 PM

I agree w/all the above...and if you dont have a good skimmer then get one...and clean it often.

03-08-2002, 08:50 PM	#1
bigperm Just Moved In Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 10	help !!!!!! my reef has only been setup for a month now and today i came home to alot of brown algae over my live rock and sand! is this normal , what should i do?

03-10-2002, 03:04 AM	#6
bigperm Just Moved In Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 10	ro water? is ro water the premix saltwater the store sells?

03-10-2002, 05:24 AM	#7
Northman_with_reef Stonehammer Productions ™ Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Norway(Scandinavia) Posts: 461	No, its Reverse osmosis water(freshwater) Its been filtered through a membrane wich leaves water close to pure H2O. __________________ They said aquariums would be relaxing......(yeah right) Saltvannsforum My LFS

03-10-2002, 12:51 PM	#8
scubadude Moderator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 5,293	Hi Bigperm I agree w/all the above...and if you dont have a good skimmer then get one...and clean it often. __________________ Rocky

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03-08-2002, 09:32 PM	#2
eses Council Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Seattle Posts: 270	You most likely have excess nutrients of some kind, nitrate, phosphates. All pretty normal in a new tank. You should cut back your feeding if you haven't already, do some water changes, and clean the brown algae every day. It will go away, but you will have to fight it. If it is happening constantly in a specific part of the tank, try directing more current to that area and it will help break up the bloom. If your tank has only been setup for a month it probably has not fully cycled yet, so if you've been adding food or animals to the tank in this time what you are probably seeing is the result of a cycle and a nitrate spike. A water test will give you tons of answers.

03-08-2002, 09:55 PM	#3
rwag Citizen Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: plymouth mi Posts: 165	Sounds like diatom algae which I believe is pretty normal to go through with a new setup. Ryan

03-08-2002, 10:26 PM	#4
mrok12 Mayor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Van Buren, MI Posts: 1,052	What are you using for makeup water? This sounds like a diatom bloom which is often the result of excess organics like silicate. If you have it available then RO water will help with this type of headache. Also if the substrate contains silicates this can cause this type of bloom. But this is also normal and if it does not subside then it is time to start looking at a cause... MROK12

03-08-2002, 10:35 PM	#5
rwag Citizen Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: plymouth mi Posts: 165	I agree mrok! good point,Must use RO water. Ryan

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