Algae growth?

[spmnarciso]

I'm starting to get a lot of brown spots on my glass and tons on my rocks. This is algae , right? Does this mean I need a larger cleanup crew? Will it always stay brown, or will I get some good color eventually? I was worried before that I wasn't getting enough algae growth and now I seem to be growing out my ears. Have you all gone through this?
:nervous:

 

[reefer44]

its diatoms if your tank is only about a month old they should go away once tank is totally stable. But if your tank is about 4 months old you probally have phosphate problems. If it is that old do you use tap water?

 

[spmnarciso]

It's 2 months old, and I just added 120W more of light. When I cycled I used only 45W. They look like small brwn finger prints on the glass and on the rocks it looks like brown dust. My pH is 8.2, Calcium high - 550. Have never tested my phosphates. I started with tap to cycle and have been using RO ever since.

 

[spmnarciso]

Should I use some type of silica removal?

 

[beaslbob]

Algae will grow out your ears or so it seems. Just the tank taking care of the phosphates, nitrates and carbon dioxide. the best way is to use plant life you like to starve the ugles of nutrients.
silica removal is not the problem and there are no removal kits I know of.

 

[spmnarciso]

I read in an article stating that diatoms (brown algae) can be a serious problem that can spread very fast. Especially if Playsand containing silica is used in your tank. The article also stated that there silica removal filters that can be used. Has anyone using playsand ever encountered this problem? Should I just wait it out or do something about, like scrape it off the glass or clean oft the rocks?

 

[beaslbob]

Good maybe thre is a silica removal thing.
IME the browns change to green after 3-4 weeks. Have read it is because the browns consume phosphates and the greens appear as phosphates are consumed.
either way plant life you think looks good is the answer. Or at least move the plants to a refug where you don't have to see them. As long as you have life in the tank you will have plant nutrients from that bioload. So it is best to just get used to having plant life. the only question is whether or not you like the plant life you have.