Brown Algae keeps getting bigger!

[oompala]

I am new to all of this, my friend sold me his tank and fish he had. It has been up now for about 5 weeks. I used the sand he had and the rocks. When I filled the tank I used tap water. I have been doing water test about every other day (all good), but there are some areas in the sand that have some sort of brown algae with hair growing not sure what it is or how to get rid of it. One piece is probably about 8 inches long by about 2-3 inches wide and still growing (that is the one in the picture) and some smaller ones in other areas. Can I just scoop it out of the tank? and what is it? There wasn't too much circulation in this area, but yesterday I readjusted a powerhead to this area.

 

[roadie996]

Welcome to SWF forum! that looks like cyanobacteria not algae, how's your water flow around the tank? Do you have any powerheads for movement? What are your tank parameters and your test results?

 

[marchingbandjs]

Im getting some similar Red slime algae on the rocks... I just am increasing flow, and sucking out what i can with a hose during water changes..

 

[ups99rv]

When i get red alage i use ultra life reef product called red slime remover it works very well in my tank.you have to watch your o2 and ph.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by ups99rv
http:///forum/post/3126765
When i get red alage i use ultra life reef product called red slime remover it works very well in my tank.you have to watch your o2 and ph.

Use remover only a last resort, cyano can become immune to it...get the cyano out as much as possible by using a turkey baster, increase flow to the area, be sure that you do not overfeed and do small water changes every week.

 

[oompala]

Salinity - 35 ppt
pH - 8.4
Ammonia - 0 ppm
Nitrite - 0 ppm
Nitrate - 20 ppm
Temperature - 79
Should I be checking anything else?
Would it be ok to scoop it out with a net?

 

[meowzer]

Can you tell us what size tank, what do you have for filtration, lighting, and lighting schedule, what do you feed, and how much, what do you have for flow (powerheads)?
Also I see you use tap water...you might want to consider using ro water in the future.
OHHHH, scooping it with a net is not a great idea...use a turkey baster, and siphon it out best you can

 

[oompala]

Sorry for not giving all tank info first. I have a 90 gal and use refugium, use HVO lighting for about 6 hrs a day and then at night I turn light in refugium on for about 10 hrs (for cheato). I have two tangs and a chocolate chip starfish. I feed them twice a day Pellets and about every other day either Mysis or Brine Shrimp, I just put a small pinch of food in and that is all. I have three Hydor Koralia 4's (I think that should be enough flow) i have one on left side and two on the right side. I did adjust one so there would be more flow in the area of this bacteria. I have only been doing about 5 gal water changeouts weekly. I just purchased a RO/DI system and will use that now for the next water changeout.
I tried the turkey baster method, but I must be doing it wrong when i suck it up in the baster, when trying to remove from tank it comes back out???

 

[meowzer]

LOL...when you get the stuff in the baster...quickly turn the baster up...
In my opinion, you need to do larger water changes...a minimum of 10g's...that is only 10%...you may want to increase ethe water changes to 20% until you get this under control....Glad to hear you got an ro/di....
So you have 2 tangs and a star....no clean up crew (CUC)?
Tangs need algae in their diet, you cna get them algae sheets that hang off a clip that sticks on the inside of your tank....ALSO...pellets are no good, and neither is brine...I call them snack foods
Mysis is a good food, and you can buy frozen mega marine algae in cubes also....So give frozen ONCE a day, and if you want toss in a tiny pinch of pellet...maybe 1x a week..
Get the algae for your tangs, and maybe some vitamins like selcon to soak the food in...especially if you use the brine