Brown algae developing on the sand.

[matt2364]

Hello - I have had my tank set up for about 7-8 months now and I am just starting to develop a bad case of some sort of brown algae in the sand. I have heard that it is best to just leave the lights off for a few days to let this die out. Is this ok to do in a reef tank? I do not want to stress out my corals or anemone. I am kinda afraid the anemone will start to wonder if he is not getting any light. Let me know what everyone thinks, thanks.

 

[bigarn]

Sounds like Diatoms but can't rule out cyano bacteria either. Can you get a picture?

 

[matt2364]

Here is a picture, thanks for taking a look at it for me.

 

[matt2364]

Here is a FT shot so you can see how much there is:

 

[bionicarm]

Nice tank. Looks like diatoms to me. Diatoms usually from in newer tanks, but yours being 6 -7 months old, most should have died off by now, What type of sand bed do you have? Also, do you use RO/DI water, or treated tap water?

 

[mcbdz]

We can help you better if you give us as much info as possible.
Size of tank, filtration, gph, how you maintance your tank, what type of water you use(Tap/RODI), Your actual numbers to your water parameters, sg, temp, type of lights,light schedule, do you add any additives, livestock, what do you feed and how often, anything else that may help.
Usually if you see a change all of the sudden it is high nutrients or old lights, not enough flow?
I know this sounds like a lot but will help us help you.

Pattie

 

[matt2364]

Yes, I use RO/DI water. The tank is 55 gallons, 15 gallon sump, 1200GPH return pump, 2x175w 14,00K MH (3 months old) and 2x40 actinics, actinics are on from 12:00 PM to 11:30 PM and MH are on from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM. I use Bio-onic calcium and alkalinity buffer, those are the only additives. I typically do a 15-20 gallon water change once a month. There are also two #2 Koralia power heads, I think they are around 800GPH each. Skimmer is an Aqua-EV 120, I know I should clean it out much more but I usually only clean once every 2-3 weeks.
I am not sure how accurate these test kits are as they have never shown up with anything above 0, they are API test kits. Ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites are 0, ph 8.3, calcium 360, dKH 10. Salinity is 1.025 and temp is 79.
The only fish I have is a yellow tang, he is about a month old in the tank. I usually feed him 1 sheet or algae a day. The sheets are probably 8''x3''. Other livestock include a Haitian anemone, brittle stars, cleaner shrimp, fire shrimp, flame scallop, and a pistol shrimp. Then I have some corals.
Here is a link to my diary thread if you need some pictures of the set up. There have been a lot of equipment changes since the beginning so you would probably need to go through the bulk of it to see everything.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/308971/55-gallon-reef-tank-diary-my-first-tank

 

[matt2364]

Also, I have 25 lbs of sand that I got from tod at reef systems in Ohio. He is very knowledgable and recommended this sand to me. It had all been in his system for a few months before I got it.

 

[forsfed50]

The only experience I had with that was diatoms. Have you
checked your phosphates?

 

[chub]

Ive got the same problem, but only after the lights are on.

 

[matt2364]

I do not have a phosphate test kit or a remover. I would assume that I could have high phosphates. What exactly causes high phosphates?

 

[matt2364]

Alright, I just bought a salifert phosphate test kit and it read 0. Also, the salifert nitrate test came back as 3 ppm, this is a pretty reasonable level right?
I also have this algae that is growing on the back of my tank, now sure if this helps anything...

 

[michaeltx]

phosphates do not cause diatoms it will however cause algaes.
Diatoms are a single celled animal that when it dies the skeleton falls to the bottom. once there light can cause them to darken hence the get darker when the lights come on.
only time will get rid of them they flucuate but are always present in the tank when a new tank is set there is a lot of food for them to eat so they mutiple rapidly. clean up crews will help to shorten the period that you see them usually they get horrible then start to get better in a couple of weeks.
HTH
Mike

 

[michaeltx]

Originally Posted by matt2364
http:///forum/post/2827498
Alright, I just bought a salifert phosphate test kit and it read 0. Also, the salifert nitrate test came back as 3 ppm, this is a pretty reasonable level right?
I also have this algae that is growing on the back of my tank, now sure if this helps anything...

the purple is coraline algae and will keep other algaes from attaching where its growing. its good but can clogg filters if they arent cleaned regularly and can be a pain to clean off the glass if its left to grow for some time. I usually leave all non-visible areas of the tank along and let it grow.
Mike

 

[bigarn]

that's coralline algae .... most people desire to have it. it's a good sign of a progressing tank.

 

[matt2364]

Sorry, I should have specified. I am not talking about the purple coraline. I am referring to the algae looking stuff on the back wall. What is this?

 

[bigarn]

if you're refering to the green blotches that's also coralline, just the green variety.

 

[michaeltx]

are you talking about the whitish colored stuff or the green?
Mike

 

[matt2364]

The whitish colored stuff. It usually ends up on the front of my glass everday and I have to scrape it off.

 

[michaeltx]

it looks like a bacteria film buildup that has attached onto itself creating strings of it.
Mike