brown algae

[big tuna]

have an brown algae outbreak in my 80 gal with 4 96w watt pc that were put in last week. tank has been running for 1 month and water parameters are ph 8.3 alk 3.5 cal 500 0 ites .3 ates 0 amm. .2 phos. have 3 damsels 1 tang 1 leather with 140 lbs lr and dsb. also have 20 scarlet crabs 35 sm. blue crabs 25 turbos. any suggestions???

 

[fred the fish guy]

Well what comes to my mind is the lights. Definatly think that they were what caused the algae. I had the same problem when i put 4 55's on my 55g. I Think the clean up crew you have will do its job but it may take alittle time. Also I was wondering how long you have been running your lights (blues expecially if you have them)? That is probably way too early for a tang but if he seems to be fine then i guess it is alright. Just be sure to repost about how long you run your lights or if the algae cleared up.Oh yeah try lowering your calcium to 450 that should help alot as well.

 

[clownman]

I will suggest from my experience. I think you are keeping the light for long time. Lower it slowly... (if you are keeping it on for 10 hours now, go to 9 and then 8 ...so on) or you can go right away, but I like to do it slowly.
Also, it hasn't cycled quite yet. Take nitrite to 0

 

[kris walker]

You probably want to be cautious of your phosphates as well. Your test kit only measured the inorganic phosphate, and 0.2 ppm is was a moderate level. So you may have always had the 0.2 ppm phosphate, but sounds like adding the lights is what started the bloom. Light + phosphate/nitrate = algae. If you don't already know, watch your feeding rates, decaying food is a common cause of increases in phosphate levels.
good luck,
sam

 

[saltwaterissocool]

Originally posted by rem1972:
<STRONG>have an brown algae outbreak in my 80 gal with 4 96w watt pc that were put in last week. tank has been running for 1 month and water parameters are ph 8.3 alk 3.5 cal 500 0 ites .3 ates 0 amm. .2 phos. have 3 damsels 1 tang 1 leather with 140 lbs lr and dsb. also have 20 scarlet crabs 35 sm. blue crabs 25 turbos. any suggestions??? </STRONG>
brown algoe is nothing, dont worry about it just clean it off and the next layer will be green. keeo yourwater clean. squueze your sponges ffrom your filter in your water change water one time to lower nitrite nitrate and ammonia

 

[big tuna]

thanks everybody for the replies my tank actully cycled pretty quick,my amm. and nitrites have been 0 for about 3weeks, and my nitrates have yet to go above 2.5. I thru in some phosgaurd to get the phos and silicates lower. i read sillicates causes diatoms, and i'll cut back the lighting slowly. i'm running 2 96w 7100k actinic and 2 96w 10000k white pc's. thanks again

 

[texasreefrat]

I had this problem, but wanted to deal with it naturally. I went down to the LFS and picked up a few more snails, and most importantly, a Lawnmower Blenny. The Blenny cleaned the 135 in no time, even eating the algae off the glass. Now all my rocks are clean, and the snails are maintaining the glass. The Blenny is working on the substrate now. He had the algae under control within two weeks.

 

[ubeturwrasse]

actually, to me sounds like a diatom bloom, especially if your tank recently cycled.
let it run its course and you will be good to go.