[TheApprentice707]

I have a good deal of brown algae growing in my tank. The tank has been running for about 3 weeks now. the ph ammonia nitrite nitrate temp salinity are all perfect. (or as close to it as possible) is there anything i can do to get rid of this brown algae. I run the lights for about 3 hours a day now to see if that helps. Please help. thanks!

[tray262]

Algea is a product of nutients, Phosphates are the biggest contrubitor. I would run some sort of phosphate remover. What is you water change schedule ? Also, are you skimming ? I've been running the poly-pad with a lot of luck for removing phosphates. They are evpensive but work really well.

[cdearing]

I am a newbie myself so take my advice with a grain of salt. My tank is about 2 1/2 months old. I had some brown/red algae which turned to green algae. I now have added a skimmer but it's only been about a week so not sure if that will make a difference. I have been told that my tank is cycling and that I need to wait to put any livestock in my tank. Unfortunately, I listened to my LFS and purchased a couple of fish, a CUC, a couple of soft corals and a sea hair (which is shrinking in size). Otherwise, all my livestock is really healthy. I have been warned by "the powers that be" not to add any more living things until my tank has fully cycled. Not sure how long that will take (at least 3 months) but I am learning patience. We all want to set up our tank and fill it up with really cool stuff right away and that is not necessarily the best thing for the creatures.

[2maroons]

Hey, I am fairly new to the saltwater tank as well but, the brown algaes that you see is telling you your biological filter has kicked in. It is nothing to be alarmed about. My tank is in that "stage" as well. To help take care of it you could always throw in a few turbo snails, and hermit crabs and a few cleaner shrimp. We have had our tank for about a month, and we have 3 hermit crabs, 2 turbo snails, and a cleaner shrimp. You can also but a magnetic cleaner to help clean the sides of your tank.

[Bullet]

What does this brown algea look like? Is it a light covering on the glass and rock? Its quite possible that it is diatom algae and should come to pass. Are you using r/o water? Is the tank stocked with any fish? Do you test for phosphates? My guess is the tank is in the maturation process, and the brown algea is diatoms. If so, it should eventually go away on its own. Good luck!

[leebca]

The typical brown algae evident during the maturing of the marine system is normal. As the tank matures and settles in, the brown algae should go away or come under fairly easy control. This statement assumes you are doing things right and not overstocking the marine system or stocking it too fast.

The 'brown algae' isn't an algae per se. They are not living off of phosphates. They live off of light and other nutrients present in an immature aquarium.

Let the aquarium age. You should be reading these kinds of posts:
Setting Up a FOWLR Aquarium
The Mature Aquarium
and
What is Water Quality

Always make sure you are using the correct (and pure) source water. This is a good read on that:
WATER - Source and NSW

Good luck! Ask if you have questions.

[warforged]

Marine Algefix made by Aquamedics I think. It kills Green Algae, Hair Algae, Brown Algae, and even Red Slime hybrid algae-bacteria. But measure very carefully not to OD this stuff into the tank.. in one night...you will see a big difference.

Personally I would use it in extreme situations when alge went out of control...and in new tanks having a Bloom is normal durring the cycle process...

Most algae can be controlled by a reduction of phosphate which is usually handled by a good protein skimmer....lighting well in salt...we need light so there goes that control factor =)

The natural route is get some Aethrus(Spelling) snails..white cone shaped snails.... 1 per gallon be good .... blue leg hermit crabs.... emerald crabs.. a sea hair ... great algae control friendlies to a tank.

hope the info helps

But the saltwater way of controlling alge:
Snails,crabs, Hairs , Hermits ..specific types ofcourse ..good tank maintenance friends.

Good Protein skimmer like a Needle Nose type by Coral life or CPR types.

Phospate remover media: Purigen beads...phosphate remover foams...

Lighting is important dont tone that down so much cause in salt Light is important part of the tank setup... I run mine 10 hours and i dont have the algae issue...but I have inverts that eat my algae .....they do a great job..especially those turbos!

[johnmaloney]

leebca is right, you don't really have an algae problem you have a diatom problem. This is the first stage of a tank's normal life cycle. Then comes graan hair algae, and then finally the nastiest cyano. After that you should have corraline growth. Get a clean up crew to take care of it so you don't have to. Constantly removing rocks for cleaning isn't good for your tank either.