[moby]

hope members , can help me out here with a question ,
i have a brown algae problem and the brown algae becomes a problem a few days after a water change where i have to rub off the algae off the glass and bottom of the tank .
i hope members have a solution ?

any advice would be helpfull also what would be the right time off the month to do a water change as i do mine tank atleast once a month ,is that right or should i do the change sooner ,

should i be keeping living rock in the tank as well as my rock has since died ?.

i hope members can help me out here

thanks moby

[Steven Pro]

If this is a new tank, I would not worry about the bronw algae. It is very likely diatoms, which tend to go away untreated after a few months.

[Reefland]

moby, are you doing water changes with NSW?

[ldrhawke]

Are you using RO/DI water? You probably have high silcates from not or need new filter cartridges.

[moby]

Originally Posted by Reefland

moby, are you doing water changes with NSW?

hi reefland ,yes i am making up new salt water every month or so i say every 4 weeks ,my tank is about 15 years old ,as i have a boi filter do u think i need to replace the bio balls and crush coral in my filter ,any help you would give i thank you
thanks again moby

[Reefland]

That's a possibility after 15 years. I would suspect there is a nutrient build-up somewhere, or some new nutrients being added somewhere. Have you started using anything new or different lately?

[Ninong]

Hi moby,

When you say "brown algae," are you talking about diatoms? I suspect that that is what you mean because you say that this problem pops up within a few days after you do a water change. That would seem to indicate that your new water is the cause of the problem.

What is the source of your water? Is it municipal tapwater? Well water? Are you running it through an R.O./D.I. filter? Are you running it through any sort of filter at all or are you using it as is and just treating it with dechlorination chemicals?

Whatever the source, chances are you have silicates in your freshwater when you make up your fresh batch of saltwater for your water changes.

Scott was asking you if you use NSW (natural seawater) but I take it you don't since you said you mix up your saltwater. Where in Australia do you live?

Did you set up this tank originally yourself? If so, what sort of substrate do you have in there? Is it crushed coral? Coral sand? Gravel? A mixture of all of those? How deep is it? Has it ever been changed out?

What sort of outside filtration are you using? You mention something about crushed coral and bioballs in your filter??? Is the water flowing up or down in this filter bed? How long has it been running without being changed? Is this something you built yourself?

Why do you think your "rock has since died?" Where did this live rock come from? How long have you had it? What does it look like right now that makes you think it has died???

Thanks!



P.S. -- Are you testing your tankwater? If so, what readings are you getting on NO3?