algae question

[roho]

My 10gal reff tank is 6 days old now and the pink and red algae that came on the live rock seems to be turning brown. I am using a 50/50 light bulb and it's on about 11-12 hours aday. I have been using PhosGuard since day two. What do I need to do? Also, I am finding brown anemone in holes on a couple rocks. They are not very big but there must be 6 or more of these things. I guess I should get me a Peppermint Swrimp now, don't you think? Thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

i wouldn't suggest getting a shrimp. your tank is still too new and cycling. can you give any more details about your tank?

 

[roho]

There is really not much more to tell. It is a 10 gal. with one 50/50/ light bulb, a Skilter filter/protein skimmer. There is about 13 pounds of Aquaculture live rock. On the rock came purple, pink, maroon coralline algae, two nickel size brain corals and several sponge corals. The algae is getting this brown on it and the coral is certainly dying. I have been using PhosGuard since day 2 and using a product called AragaMilk daily. I have not did any testing at the advise of two suppliers. "Use PhosGuard and don't worry about ammonia with no more than you have in the tank" they say. The temp is 75 degrees. As I have stated earlier, I run the light 11-12 hours per day.

I am more concerned at this time about the coralline algae being covers with a rusty brown algae than I am about the anemone's. I don't know if I'm using the light to much, using the wrong light or need to add something to the water.

Thanks again.

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you're going through a cyanobacteria bloom. Cut your lighting back to about 6 or 7 hours a day and stop dumping chemicals into your tank. The aragamilk is fine, but all it really is is finely crushed aragonite substrate in a liquid medium; it's not going to help your tank until its well established and the sand bed (it is a deep sand bed, right) is denitrifying properly.

Patience, grasshopper. Reefing is not an overnight thing. ;-)

 

[crazygirl]

I see your temp is at 75. You should bring it up to 79 or so very slowly. Also the coraline will grow back. When I first started mine it turned white and had cryo growning but now it is coming back full time. Just give it time and you will be fine.

Crazygirl

 

[roho]

Thanks to each of you.

 

[aquarist=broke]

I think that the brown algae is diatoms. Standard for all new tanks. If you aren't running a filter right now, try using a small power-filter that has a blue floss filter and some activated carbon. Rinse the filter daily and you will see many diatoms that were floating in the water colum, then put it away until needed again. I'd say that it should go away within two weeks, assuming you don't add more life or drastically mess up the water chemistry.