Brown Algae

[hoppsl]

I have just set up a 100 gal swim tank with about 40 lbs of crushed coral substraight and 25 lbs of live rock. I have a few damsels and the tank has been cycling for about 4 weeks. In the matter of 2 days I have watched brown algae cover most of the substraight and live rock. Is this normal, is there something I should do, or should I let the tank continue to cycle before attempting get rid of the algae.

[tnguy86]

brown algae usually indicates the presence of phosphates and silicates. are you using r.o. water?? for now, you can either siphon out the brown algae or go with my advice and use a phosphate remover like ROWAPHOS. have you been testing your parameters( nitrates, nitrites, ammonia)??

[hoppsl]

Thanks for the advice, I have not yet tested the parameters, I figured I would give the tank 5-6 weeks and then see where I was at. I will however, test them today or tomorrow and let you know
I dont know what R.O water means.

[Paidbychrist0825]

Reverse Osmosis its a water purification system used before putting the water into the tank. it removes almost all the impurities, and then you havhe nice clean water that wont mess up your marine tank.

[Telco Guy]

Also, try reducing the light cycle for a while. This will help curb the brown algae outbreak.

[hoppsl]

as promised here are the paramaters
Amonia is 0
Nitrite is .1
Nitrate is 2.5 low to 12.5 high.
PH 8.0
ALK is High.

Can anyone shed some light as to what all of this means. By what I have read, nothing here seems scary especially considering the Tank has only been set up for about 4 weeks. I have just added the phosphate sponge to the Ocean Clear Fliter and it seems to already be having an effect on the Brown Algae.

[Charles Poole]

The brown algae you are seeing, is most likely Diatoms. This is very normal in new tanks, and should subside in a short while.

Since the readings you posted show that your cycle is nearly complete, the brown algae will likely stop in a week or so.... :)

[hoppsl]

thanks for the info, Once the Brown algae stops will it just dissapear never to be hear from again, or should I continue to replentish the phosphate soonge?

[tnguy86]

it may come bak if you still introduce phosphates to the tank. so long as you use r.o. water, you shouldn't have a problem with diatoms.

[hoppsl]

Thanks, I appreciate the help. I will make sure not to add any more water that has not undergone RO.

[MikeS]

RO filtration alone will not remove phosphates completely....and even very small amounts of phosphates can cause cyano and/or algae blooms...RO/DI filtration, on the other hand, will remove all of the phosphates. (DI stands for deionization) Avoid those grocery store water dispensers that claim to be RO purified water, most of the time the filters in those things are old....I've got water from those machines a few times, and oddly enough it tested the same as the tap water at my house for phosphates and nitrates.... :doubt:
You can use distilled water in a pinch....it's basically the same as RO/DI water....

Mike

[Charles Poole]

All food contains Phosphates. So it is impossible and impractical to remove all Phosphates from your tank. Since most test kits do not read with any precision even remotely close to NSW levels of Phosphate, try to keep the level from being detected by these test kits.

No water removes Phosphates. Purified water simply reduces the amounts added to your tank through top-off and water changes.

Also, Silicates are a more likely cause of Diatom blooms. If tap water is used, then be prepared for all kinds of algae problems, as well as other water quality issues. Simply put, use a purified water source of some kind, whether it be RO, RO/DI, DI, or Distilled. :)

[hoppsl]

I installed an RO system yesterday and plan to use that for the water changes and Top offs thanks a lot for the info though

[Charles Poole]

:) :) :) :)

Glad to be of some help....

[MikeS]

No water removes Phosphates. Purified water simply reduces the amounts added to your tank through top-off and water changes.

Hmmm....I wonder if that depends on how much phosphates exist in your tap water to start with....

Most filter manufaturers I have looked into state that RO filtration alone will not completely remove phosphates. This could simply be a sales ploy to get you to buy the always more expensive RO/DI unit they make...But I have lots of test results to back that up...(I'm not trying to be argumentative clkeep, just stating my observations, you know me... :D )

I get my RO/DI water free from a coworker who has a large RO/DI setup because a family member of his is on dialysis, and can't drink our nasty tap water. In exchange for the free water, I gave him a bunch of my old aquarium stuff I was no longer using, and I perform routine tests on his RO/DI water to let him know when he needs to change the filters. At first he only had an RO filter. We have very high phosphates and nitrates in our tap water here. With the RO filter alone, the phosphates and nitrates were greatly reduced, but still present in quantities too high IMO to use regularly in my reef tank. He added a DI unit to his filter, and the levels became undetectable on my test kits. I suppose if the tap water here was lower in phosphate and nitrate, and RO alone would be adequate....

always the devils advocate- :evil: :D Mike

( I think I'll put that in my signature.... :D )

[Charles Poole]

I did say reduces the amounts, not eliminates... :)

[MikeS]

maybe I misread ya there...sorry....

Mike

[Charles Poole]

No Biggy.... Your information was correct though, that is the most important thing. :)

[hoppsl]

Sure enough you guys were right. I used the phosphate sponge and noticed a difference in the algae. After a couple water changes using RO water, the algae is gone. Thanks for all the help.

[Charles Poole]

Excellent... Glad we could be of some help...

:chuggin:

[romunov]

The tank is bound to go through brown and green algae bloom one day... So why fight it? It will disappear (as long as you use RO water!)... Please research more on reef tanks before setting one up. It will save you a lot of nerves and money. Not to mention sea creatures!

[ubasst]

can i use poland spring water instead of ro water if so should i add anything to the poland spring water??

[romunov]

It depends of the parameters the water has... I trust no water untill I test it. As less of inpurities the better. RO takes out 99,9%. Which is important! If you use tap/not good spring water you might end up with more problem than you can imagine. Like diatomes to name one.

[x Mouse x]

diatomes are definitely not fun... nor are they pretty... My Yellow Tang @ Turbo snails think its great, but they are the only ones :evil:

Lisa

P.S ... Yes I used tap water.. bad bad bad adivce :(

[romunov]

Maybe you should try RO water. Get in touch with your local reefer, maybe he can help you out to get "a taste". I hear you can buy it in your LFS... But buy with caution. It may not be A1 qualitette. I am 101% sure you will not regret (RO water :) ).

[Charles Poole]

Anyone that lives close to my area, is welcome to get some RO water from me. Just let me know a day ahead of time, so I have enough made up for you...

I used tap-water way back in my early reefing days. Never again. I won't even say that it may be OK, simply because I trully see no good coming from using tap-water in a reef tank.

[romunov]

Charles, is Slovenia "close"? When can I come by? :)