Brown Algae Outbreak on Sand? Please Help!

soldier0117

soldier0117

Member
I replaced my Undergravel with a wet dry on dec. 23 and then pulled out the undergrevel a week later. I had crushed coral but I replaced that with a mix of live and dead argonite sand because it is more natural. But since I've done this brown algae has taken over all across the sand and when I stir the sand to break up the algae it just grows back. The tank is 5 almost 6 months old so why is this happening? I've lost my bta probably because of this and my condy looks like he's next to go. Can anyone tell me if this will stop? :help:
My Water Conditions
Ammonia: .25
Nitrite: .50
Nitrate: 20
pH: 8.4
I'm going to get a phospate test because I know phospates can contribute to algae growth. If the phospates are high what should I do? :help:
My Equipment
Filter: Proclear Wet/Dry Premier 75
Lighting: 260 watt PCs
Substrate: Argonite Sand (half live and half dead)
Protein Skimmer: CSS 65
Live Rock: 1 chunk of rock
My Live Stock
Yellow Belly Damsel
Ocellaris Clown
Yellow Tang
Cleaner Shrimp (deceased/molted then got caught up in condy)
Condy Anemone (soon to be deceased?)
Assorted Hermits
Emerald Crab
Nassarius Snails
Turbo Snails
 
nigerbang

nigerbang

Active Member

Originally Posted by Soldier0117
I replaced my Undergravel with a wet dry on dec. 23 and then pulled out the undergrevel a week later. I had crushed coral but I replaced that with a mix of live and dead argonite sand because it is more natural. But since I've done this brown algae has taken over all across the sand and when I stir the sand to break up the algae it just grows back. The tank is 5 almost 6 months old so why is this happening? I've lost my bta probably because of this and my condy looks like he's next to go. Can anyone tell me if this will stop? :help:
My Water Conditions
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: .25
Nitrate: about 15
pH: 8.4
I'm going to get a phospate test because I know phospates can contribute to algae growth. If the phospates are high what should I do? :help:
My Equipment
Filter: Proclear Wet/Dry Premier 75
Lighting: 260 watt PCs
Substrate: Argonite Sand (half live and half dead)
Protein Skimmer: CSS 65
Live Rock: 1 chunk of rock
My Live Stock
Yellow Belly Damsel
Ocellaris Clown
Yellow Tang
Cleaner Shrimp (deceased/molted then got caught up in condy)
Condy Anemone (soon to be deceased?)
Assorted Hermits
Emerald Crab
Nassarius Snails
Turbo Snails
Dont think the lighting will support the anemones....Prolly need more live rock, and more flow in the tank...and get that Nitrite down as fast as possible
and dont stir the sand...
 
rad

rad

Member
Im not sure if this applies but try searching diatoms. Lots of people with newly cycled tanks get brown algae all over and supposively its from diatoms. obviously I havnt done the research my self yet but Im just throwing that out there.
 
nigerbang

nigerbang

Active Member
Also might have to do with the Nitrite...Cant really say..I would do some water changes, and try and get the levels back to normal..
 
soldier0117

soldier0117

Member
Yeah I thought it was single celled diatom algae building up. Is there a good way to kill it w/o harming fish and inverts. My lfs said that macroalgae could cancel some of it out. Is that true?
 
catawaba

catawaba

Active Member
Water changes. Should be ZERO Ammonia and Nitrite.
Then increase water movement and make sure light bulbs are not too old.
 
soldier0117

soldier0117

Member
I just did a 1/2 water change w/ filter and skimmer clean out 2 days ago. I rinsed out the prefilter and media before bioballs then cleaned out skimmer and added bateria blend and nitrate sponge.
The algae isn't on the glass so much, it is covering the sand though, and I have cleaned what little does show up on glass. Remember the tank is 5 1/2 months old but sand is 2-3 weeks old because I replaced crushed coral with it.
 
W

wrenchsnipe

Guest
What type of water are you using? I have had these problems before in new tanks. I think it might have been the water I was using because I tried using well water. I went back to tap water in my 46 gal tank and started using RO water in my 90 just to see what happens. The 46 already started to have the algae go away. I also stired up the sand while syphoning during water changes. The snails also helped get rid of it, a few turbos and Astrea snails. Hope this helps a little.
 
soldier0117

soldier0117

Member
I use well water. Also I had to say farewell to my condy tonight
He was breaking down slowy though so it is best that I got rid of him because that breakdown probably added to the NH3/NH4 and NO2 and NO3 thats building up. I'm going to get a phospate test asap because well water may have a good bit of this and It must be eliminated to help stop algae.
 
cjml

cjml

Member
Ro/di water is the best way to go-well worth the expense-or you might be able to get some from your lfs! :happyfish
 
gmidd

gmidd

Member
Check this out...
Please do not post links to sites with advertisments in direct comprition of SWF.
 
kayak385

kayak385

Member
Please don't use any other type of water besides RO/DI water.
Also, the diatom stage in your tank is a great sign.
If you had more liverock in your tank it would have helped a bit on getting past that process. As for creatures that eat it, my flame angel loves it, but it looks like creatures have already been suggested and I wouldn't add a flame angel to any tank as a diatom eater, i am just letting you know what ate mine.
 
soldier0117

soldier0117

Member
Why is RO/DI water so important, my well water was tested by my lfs and everything in it was at acceptable levels even phospate.
 
cannonman

cannonman

Member
Sorry to jump in here but.. don't always trust what the LFS tells ya.. there really isn't any acceptable level of these things.. if there is any it will build up and or fuel algae outbreaks, by using RO water you eliminate these headaches before they can start. I recently changed from CC to LS and had the diatom issue for about five days, I keep my water perameters as good as possilbe by doing frequent water changes and testing regularly. If I were you I would invest in a test kit to monitor the tank- vs. going to the fish store, then you can test more often and thus have a better idea of what's going on in there. IMO getting rid of the undergravel was a great idea, I would consider putting some more LR in there also though.. you have to get control of those ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite problems (and maybe phosphates also) before you your problems will start to go away. If after all this you stay in it and keep working on the tank and it starts to improve then an RO machine is almost indespensable.
 
fishy head

fishy head

Member
have you tried any thing to help the sand, like some Nassarius Snails. for more info on them , click here also, you can get a lawnmower blenny, they are fun to watch and great for cleaning up your algae. i also had a bad algae problem in my sand, it will take some time before it cleans up.
good luck, i am sure your tank will be fine
 
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