THE SOURCE OF THE SILICATES MUST BE IDENTIFIED AND ELIMINATED, IT TOOK ME 6 MONTHS TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE SALT AND NOT THE LIGHT. IN ORDER TO GET RID OF THE PRESENT BROWN ALGAE BLOOM AND PREVENT FUTURE OUTBREAKS. REMOVE ANY BUILDERS SAND, PLAY SAND OR OTHER MATERIALS FROM YOUR TANK WHICH DID NOT COME FROM THE OCEAN. USE ONLY RO OR RO/DI WATER WHETHER YOU PURCHASE AN RO/DI UNIT OR PURCHASE RO/DI WATER FROM A COMMERCIAL SOURCE.
CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR COMMERCIAL SEA SALTS CONTAIN HIGH LEVELS OF SILICATES. THAT WAS THE PROBLEM I HAD.
REMOVING THE SILICATES ALONE FROM YOUR TANK WILL ELIMINATE THE BROWN ALGAE PROBLEM. BUT, AS LONG AS YOU ARE GETTING YOUR TANK IN ORDER, YOU MIGHT AS WELL GET USED TO DEALING WITH NITRATES. THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TIME FOR YOU TO ESTABLISH A GOOD TANK MAINTENANCE ROUTINE WHICH INCLUDES KEEPING NITRATE LEVELS AT A MINIMUM. NITRATES WILL ALWAYS BE SOMETHING TO CONTEND WITH IN YOUR TANK. FOR FAST, IMMEDIATE REDUCTION, YOU CAN DO A WATER CHANGE, USING THE INSTANT NITRATE REDUCTION METHOD. THIS WILL REDUCE YOUR NITRATES AT THE FASTEST RATE, USING THE LEAST AMOUNT OF TIME AND WATER. THIS WILL ALSO GET YOUR NITRATES DOWN TO A WORKABLE (10 MG/L AREA) LEVEL BUT IT IS ONLY A BANDAID AND DOES NOTHING TO REMOVE THE SOURCE OF THE NITRATES. SIPHON OUT AS MUCH OF THE BROWN ALGAE AS POSSIBLE. YOU WILL PROBABLY FIND THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO USE SEVERAL OTHER METHODS (MANY OF WHICH AREPART OF A GOOD AQUARIUM MAINTENANCE ROUTINE) TO KEEP YOUR NITRATES IN CHECK.
 CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR COMMERCIAL SEA SALTS CONTAIN HIGH LEVELS OF AMMONIA/NITROGEN.
 PURCHASE AND USE A GOOD "NITRATE SPONGE".
 SIPHON UNEATEN FOOD AND OTHER LOOSE MATERIAL (DETRITUS) FROM THE SUBSTRATE.
 PERFORM PERIODIC WATER CHANGES.
BY REDUCING THE NITRATE AND SILICATE LEVELS, YOUR TANK WILL SOON BE HEALTHY AND FREE OF THE BROWN ALGAE.
:happy:
(CAP WRITING MEANS YOUR YELLING)
