Brown algae on rocks...?

[inkblue]

...what does this mean? good or bad algae?

:scratchch what about green aLgae...

 

[John]

What you are seeing are diatoms. Diatoms are single celled algae that are commonly found when first cycling a tank, overfeeding or using Tap water in the reef. Many other things contribute to this form of algae but basically what you are seeing is an over abundance of silicates in your water. The two biggest factors to this would be Tap water and or sunlight from a window shining into your tank.

 

[inkblue]

too much light maybe? how do i get rid of it? is it bad? :scratchch ...and the green algae?

 

[ScottK]

Is this the tank you just got MH for?

 

[romain]

Ink, did you check the phosphate?

 

[John]

Whats your lighting schedule look like? Its not so much as something bad as it is something thats unenjoyable to look at. If you cut back on lighting this may help first tell me a little more about your system how many times a day do you feed and what do you feed? What do you use as topoff water? Does your reef see any direct sunlight?

 

[inkblue]

12 hour sched...

 

[John]

If I were you I would reduce it to see if this helps any. Maybe using an 8 hour period for a bit would help this

 

[inkblue]

Is this the tank you just got MH for?

yes... but MH is not on it right now. i was traumatiz'd by the baLLast blowing :irked: order'd new buLbs, am waiting for them to arriVe :knockedou

 

[inkblue]

Ink, did you check the phosphate?

nope... dont have a test kit for that... i know, i know... need to buy one :banghead: :arg:

 

[inkblue]

If I were you I would reduce it to see if this helps any. Maybe using an 8 hour period for a bit would help this

i'll do that starting now... thanks John

I also read this articLe... Diatoms

 

[John]

Glad I could help ink. Many other things can lead to silicates in the system for instance some frozen foods have high ammounts of silicates in them which can lead to diatoms over time. If you are using ro/di and you have just started getting these diatoms it may be time to replace the membrane on the unit itsself aswell. If you have any other questions feel free to ask

 

[ScottK]

Do you use tap or RO/DI water for top-off and water changes?

 

[inkblue]

argh, i give them frozen food, and feed like once a day... so many factorS... i prefer my buLLdog, he just looks at me waiting for food, no aLgae growth on hiM :icon16: :yeah:

 

[John]

Ink with all the money you spend here to spend like $15 on fresh seafood from the fish store and freeze it yourself to make your own food is well worth it. I put it in ziplock baggies and $15 in seafood lasts me about a year of food. Feeding once a day and my fish love it. Simple Recipe.
Shrimp
Oysters
Clams
Squid
Phytoplankton
Some sheets of Nori
Some saltwater Blend it all together and freeze it in ziplock baggies I guarantee you the fish will loveee it. =]

 

[John]

Not to mention No more silicares =]

 

[inkblue]

noted! :approve:

 

[Deanos]

argh, i give them frozen food, and feed like once a day.

Be sure to thoroughly rinse your store-bought frozen food with phosphate-free water.

 

[Nsr250NYC]

i have that on one of my rocks. so how do you get rid of it besides lighting? anything eat those?

 

[herman]

Look man, I have not said anything so far but some of you guys are stocking your tanks way to quickly man. The whole thing about patience..... What ever happened to that.

Every tank when you first put in the new water and add the LR it will go through a certain cycling period. There will be that phase of algae before the whole thing stabilizes. After the tank has stabilized then you stock it SLOWLY to allow the bacteria to adjust.

Its that simple. If you want the complicated biochemists version, I will be glad to post that too.