brown algea on my nice white sand, how do i get rid of it ?

[jeffro63]

hello folks,
just hoping someone can help me with an algea problem.
i have nice white south down sand in a 55 gallon tank with 46 lbs. of fiji live rock. and now i'm getting this brown algea growing all over the place.
my question is, how do i get rid of it? will vacuuming it take care of it or is there something else i can do? i don't think i want to use an algea killing chemical, cause won't that also kill stuff growing on my live rock?
please help .......... i'm so confused
thank you for helping
Jeff

 

[loopy]

Vacuuming it will get rid of it.

 

[guineawhop]

vaccuming it will get rid of it for a little while...what i would do is get a cleaning crew if you're worried about the algae. stuff like hermit crabs, star fish, snails, kole tang aka yellow eyed tang is a really good fish to help you with ur algae. but do not use an algae killing chemical. will kill your live rock, any inverts you may possibly already have, and even fish

 

[bigdogzack]

Small hermit crabs (e.g. red legged or blue legged out of the Caribbean) and lots of them...

 

[jeffro63]

well there's 1 thing i forgot to mention.
this tank is still cycling, its only about 2 weeks old with no living crittrs in it yet. so a clean up crew would have to wait a while yet, am i correct ?
thanks
Jeff

 

[scubadoo]

Jeff...if you just set your tank up this is normal. What type of water are you using? Tap water is often high in nutrients and phosphates which feed the brown diatom algea.
I suggest using RO/DI water in the future for water changes and topoffs. Also, a refugium with some macroalgea will help as the macro use the phosphates as a food source.

 

[t11t5]

I just ordered the Typhoon III RO unit. It should be here soon. Now im going to the water place every two days for 5 gallons. At a cost of $2.50 a trip plus gas cost. So I think a RO unit is a good Idea. This will help the algea also.