Brown algae

[trigga-luva]

Tank is 72 gal. bowfront with 50 lbs. live rock. 12 fish and a little over a year old. I am having a lot of problems with brown hair algae, any thoughts? I am skimming and doing a 15% water change each month. i don't want to use chemicals and my trigger and puffer eat snails and hermits like a gourmet dinner..

 

[beth]

Brown "hair" algae? Are you referring to diatoms [which you commonly get in large amts when a tank is new and, thereafter, always have it but to a lesser extend]? Or is this actually hairy?
Hey, I have a bow front 72gal too. What type of lighting fixture do you have on this tank? I was just wondering cause the bow tanks are a bit troublesome when it comes to outfitting with anything more than a standard light strip and I am researching now what my options are for upgrading lighting to fit my "bow". Also, lack of lighting could well be your problem with the "hair" algae. What are your nitrate and phosphate readings?

 

[trigga-luva]

brown and hairy looking...all over the rocks and overflow, etc..i have a 10k and a 50/50 and an actinic blue..all are 1 year old with original setup...no idea how else to put lights up there aside from hanging a halide which i have no desire to do...to tell you the truth i have never tested the water so i have no idea what the readings are.. i need to go to my lfs and get a test kit..

 

[burnnspy]

What are the water parameters and what kind and how much gravel? You probably have a nutrient rich comdition. That isnt much of a water change though.
BurnNSpy