Brown (normal) junk

[mytank]

My tank has been set up for about 1 month now and it has developed this normal brown alge junk, I know that everyone say's this is normal. But I don't like it, it is on the glass and everywhere. Would a water change take care of this problem? Will this keep coming back? How do I control this problem. Thanks in advance.

 

[nacl-man]

If you don't have any already, some snails and hermit crabs should help take care of the problem. Look at the reef packages on this site to get an idea of what needs to be added.

 

[mytank]

will these reef cleaning packages also work if I have a fish only tank with crushed coral base and no sand or reefs things????

 

[mytank]

I currently have one cleaner shrimp and 3 margarita snails not sure what exactly I need or how many

 

[mn1467c]

yeah they will work as long as the fish are not very small and the hermits are not very large. usually when you buy the reef package the hermits are small. Large hermits can eat fish. I would get like 20 snails various sizes that usually gets rid most of the brown algae. also check your nitrate levels if they are high you are going to get alot of algae also

 

[barry cuda]

If the tank has only been up for a month you may still be cycling...I'd check nitrites before adding any inverts, just in case.

 

[chris17]

I have a 30 gal and it has been running for about 2 months, all I have are 4 blue leg hermits and 2 Mexican turbo snails, they do great!!! but I also have no fish, just snails and hermits, and a few odd creatures I have never seen.........

 

[mytank]

how do you bring down the nitrate level? doing a water change, I know my amonia and nitrite (?) is at zero, the Nitrate I believe was at 20, if I remember correctly, I have them written down at home.

 

[mytank]

I meant my nitrate was 2.0 not 20

 

[chris17]

Usually a water change will bring it down, what type of substrate do u have??? if you have cc it is a nitrate trap.......I have cc but I am changing it as soon as I set up my new 75 gal.......

 

[fishphreak]

Do you have a protein skimmer? that would help a lot. also try leaving the light on for only 6-8 hours a day. I have the same thing thing in my tank right now, my tank is also 2 months old.
The products such as chemi-clean and stuff don't really help. You can't really do a whole lot other than wait it out.
I was told that it is BEST to wait it out because you tank will naturally produce the bacteria needed to remove the algae but it takes time. If you use something to get rid of it then you will have this occur again because you won't have produced the bacteria needed to compensate for it.
At least that is what I have been told.
Besides, nothing I have tried adding such as the chemi clean has made a difference anyway.