Diatoms do not go

[gokalp]

Hello

I am new to hobby. I installed my aquarium 3 months ago. I have 120X50x60 aquarium with a sump. Only bioballs. Since 2 months or more I have brown algae on the sand and on the rocks. I have 110 kg of live rock, got them from another hobbyist. Because of the rocks I have problems with the current inside the aqaurium. I have nitrates of 15-20 ppm and no phosphates. No nitrites no ammonia. I am using a RO unit and output is 13 micro siemens. I also put seachem phosguard 1 week ago. Still no change. I only have a alg eater blenny in the aquarium and think no problem wtih the PS.
There are also bubbles on the rocks where brown algae present. Algae is only on the rocks direct contact to the light and on the sand. My lights are new. And since 2 weeks I am only using 54w T5 actinic from ati.
I do not use the day light.

Need help.

Thanks

Gokalp

 

[Anonymous]

Do you have any corals in the tank? If not - turn off the lights.

 

[AF Founder]

Hello

I am new to hobby. I installed my aquarium 3 months ago. I have 120X50x60 aquarium with a sump. Only bioballs. Since 2 months or more I have brown algae on the sand and on the rocks. I have 110 kg of live rock, got them from another hobbyist. Because of the rocks I have problems with the current inside the aqaurium. I have nitrates of 15-20 ppm and no phosphates. No nitrites no ammonia. I am using a RO unit and output is 13 micro siemens. I also put seachem phosguard 1 week ago. Still no change. I only have a alg eater blenny in the aquarium and think no problem wtih the PS.
There are also bubbles on the rocks where brown algae present. Algae is only on the rocks direct contact to the light and on the sand. My lights are new. And since 2 weeks I am only using 54w T5 actinic from ati.
I do not use the day light.

Need help.

Thanks

Gokalp

With a new tank, once the lights go on you need to have an army of snails and crabs to control the diatoms and algae, I'd say a combination of one to a gallon of water. This will save you algae problems in the future.

 

[S!mon]

So if one has a diatom problem and has corals and clams in a tank, how long should lights be left on ?

 

[AF Founder]

So if one has a diatom problem and has corals and clams in a tank, how long should lights be left on ?

Can't answer that without knowing the depth of the water, type, wattage, color temperature of the bulbs, number of bulbs, height of bulbs above water surface, etc. If you give us more information we can give you more info about photo-period.